Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[vehve]

Ben, yeah, Kimi might not have character, but he certainly is a character.

You're going to go through with quite a brutal training schedule. I couldn't even imagine attempting that. Avoiding the heel-strike is a really good idea, have you ever considered bare foot running? This isn't something to try out in the middle of training for a race, but if you get a off season at some point you might want to consider it. About four years ago I kept having foot issues, I had just been running with a pair of cheap New Balances, with a horrible amount of padding in them. Then I bought a pair of Feelmax Osma's, a completely unpadded shoe with a 1,6mm flat sole. Running on rocks was complete torture, because you could even feel a grain of sand on concrete with them, but they forced me to switch from a heel impact to landing with the ball of the foot. I used them for a couple of months while I learned the technique, and after that I've been using Merrel's barefoot line. They have about 4mm thick soles, so they protect the foot a bit, but still allow it to move pretty naturally. Immediately when I dumped the padded shoes I noticed that I was running a bit faster, and I could go longer distances. My stride was also shortened, and the pace of my steps sped up a bit. The first two weeks were complete agony, for two days after each run my calves were blocks of concrete. I could barely walk. But that was just the muscles getting used to a new technique. Now I couldn't even think about going back to those shoes that are designed to "protect your foot and lessen the force of the impact". Some people like those Vibram Fivefingers things, but they are really not designed for my feet, and while I consider myself to be quite open minded, there's a limit to how ridiculous I'm willing to look.

Of course the most comfortable way to run is to ditch the shoes completely, but it usually gets pretty nasty unless you're running on grass. It takes quite a while for the skin of the soles of your feet to develop a hard enough surface to run on harder surfaces like gravel or pavement.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Ben, yeah, Kimi might not have character, but he certainly is a character.

You're going to go through with quite a brutal training schedule. I couldn't even imagine attempting that. Avoiding the heel-strike is a really good idea, have you ever considered bare foot running? This isn't something to try out in the middle of training for a race, but if you get a off season at some point you might want to consider it. About four years ago I kept having foot issues, I had just been running with a pair of cheap New Balances, with a horrible amount of padding in them. Then I bought a pair of Feelmax Osma's, a completely unpadded shoe with a 1,6mm flat sole. Running on rocks was complete torture, because you could even feel a grain of sand on concrete with them, but they forced me to switch from a heel impact to landing with the ball of the foot. I used them for a couple of months while I learned the technique, and after that I've been using Merrel's barefoot line. They have about 4mm thick soles, so they protect the foot a bit, but still allow it to move pretty naturally. Immediately when I dumped the padded shoes I noticed that I was running a bit faster, and I could go longer distances. My stride was also shortened, and the pace of my steps sped up a bit. The first two weeks were complete agony, for two days after each run my calves were blocks of concrete. I could barely walk. But that was just the muscles getting used to a new technique. Now I couldn't even think about going back to those shoes that are designed to "protect your foot and lessen the force of the impact". Some people like those Vibram Fivefingers things, but they are really not designed for my feet, and while I consider myself to be quite open minded, there's a limit to how ridiculous I'm willing to look.

Of course the most comfortable way to run is to ditch the shoes completely, but it usually gets pretty nasty unless you're running on grass. It takes quite a while for the skin of the soles of your feet to develop a hard enough surface to run on harder surfaces like gravel or pavement.

Lol, you've obviously never done the ' cats eye bindi hop ' . Although on 45 degree days bare feet might make you run faster Ben. e

 

[vehve]

Lol, you've obviously never done the ' cats eye bindi hop ' . Although on 45 degree days bare feet might make you run faster Ben.

You Ozzies have some weird looking plants... Had to google that one. Looks like something that's dropped from the rear of James Bond's Aston Martin at the touch of a button.

As a kid I often spent the Summer at our cottage, I could go for weeks without wearing shoes, mostly running around on the bare granite. Stepping on pine cones and sharp rocks was no problem. I think I could of handled one of those as well.

Now I would be screaming like a little girl. (Or boy for that matter, often some boys tend to be more vocal about possible unpleasant experiences that their sensory receptors might experience)

 

[Bens-Hens]

Lol, the 'find the white line as it's cooler to stand on' dash?! Sorry to digress from the feathered interest here, but you have got me going on my other passion. I will try keep it brief, but just scroll on if it's not your thing.

I am not a fan of barefoot personally. I know a few, but none would run as far as I do without shoes. I have heard good things about the Merrell's though. I am with you on the Vibrams, just too weird for my liking, plus I can't see having something between my toes for 5-10 hours is going to feel good.

For the uninitiated, Vibram's are the funky five toe shoes!

Shoe choice is very personal. I just got some new trail shoes today actually, Inov8 Rocklite 243's. Might be a bit narrow for my giant foot, going to give them a test tomorrow. A very light shoe, 3mm drop with nice lugs but retains a rock plate. Something barefoot shoes don't have, but something I feel you need for trail work. Sure, rock plates add some weight, but save your feet from pounding pointy things that's sole purpose in the universe it to hurt me (ok, maybe they also are supposed to reproduce plants too)

Currently running on Mizuno for road shoes and speed work, lovely light shoe. Kind of funny now how most runner I know don't use the expensive brand name shoes that cost around $300 a go, we use brands not often heard of outside of running, and cost much less. Mine today were $132. Honestly, those big brands have a lot to answer for hahahaha.

So, back to the other important thing. The rambunctious Rock twins have been transported to the naughty coop. Hopefully some time apart from the flock will lower their pecking order standing. They are pretty high up, funny considering they don't even lay eggs yet. Maybe this separation from adopted mum Rosie might encourage laying from both. Rosie has not laid since she was broody either so it might help in that department too......have to wait and see.

 

[vehve]

Ben, I have a pretty wide foot myself, and the Merrels fit like a glove. (Imagine actually wearing gloves on your feet, that would look kind of stupid. Oh yeah, like those Vibram thingies

)

But my point is, if you can find them cheap, go for it. The Gore-Tex models add absolutely no benefit, so don't pay for that. But around here, I can often find the Merrels on nice discounts, original price is usually around 130e, but I can get them for 80-90e usually. And we have 24% VAT. I havent tried the Inov8's, but I've eyed some of their shoes. Mizuno's are a bit rarer around here.

 

[Fancychooklady]

What about old Cliff Young training in his gumboots? I had never owned a pair of gumboots till I moved to Tassie.

 

[vehve]

Oh, in addition to keep some chicken talk going. Our baby Sussexes have finally taken to roosting on the real roosts through the night. The lower one, but still. Should make morning clean-ups a bit easier. Also, that poop really lights a fire under the compost. 2½ weeks and it's starting to look like soil on the bottom.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Here's a blast from the past.

http://www.helloloser.com/2013/11/01/tortoise-and-the-hares-the-cliff-young-story/

 

[vehve]

Fancy, I've yet to find a pair of comfortable wellingtons. Wouldn't even think about running in them. However, we have this surplus army store around here who do all sort of funny things usually. One of their employees attended the Stockholm marathon in a pair of brand new unused Haix P3 combat boots. People were laughing at him at the starting line. The same people's feet were bleeding at the finish, this guy didn't have even the tiniest mark on his feet. I own a pair of those myself, and I can genuinely say that if you need a proper pair of shoes for hunting and walking in the forest, you can't go wrong with those. Only problem is that they turn to skates in -20C.

 

[Bens-Hens]

What about old Cliff Young training in his gumboots? I had never owned a pair of gumboots till I moved to Tassie.

I have some high top gummies, and you know what. After watching the Cliff Young movie, I tried a little run in them. Had to put on a second pair of socks hahahaha. That man did an awesome job running training in those!

Oh, in addition to keep some chicken talk going. Our baby Sussexes have finally taken to roosting on the real roosts through the night. The lower one, but still. Should make morning clean-ups a bit easier. Also, that poop really lights a fire under the compost. 2½ weeks and it's starting to look like soil on the bottom.

That good to hear, we used to worry about that, especially when we had a few younger birds. I didn't want them piling up. They figure it out eventually at bedtime. I have a poop drum that needs cleaning out actually, might tackle that later in the week.

Have you seen any squatting yet Felix?