Venus has turned to eating raw vegan to help her combat the effects of the disease. By eating a high raw vegan diet, she has dramatically lessened the fatigue and pain. She talks a little bit about this and her recent tennis matches in the following video.

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Joel and I in our "frog toes" after finishing the Bolder Boulder 10k

The Final Frontier

I used to hate running. Then I started to want to overcome it- I jokingly called it “the final frontier,” that one thing I don’t want to do that I really probably need to do. So I started out slowly. Music helped a little, but I really wasn’t getting anywhere. Then I read Born to Run and everything started to change. The stories of the races, the explanation of our evolution into creatures made to run and breathe differently than any other animal, and the imagery of beautiful Mexico, wonderfully quirky people and traditional recipes- it all made me crave running as much as black beans with lime, jalapenos and freshly made organic corn tortillas. Once I understood that running differently could take me to the next level, I was all in.

Radically Different

The next book I picked up was ChiRunning and it’s the one that helped me change my whole way of looking at running technique and helped me understand how running can (and should be) a form of meditation. Now I’m looking forward to practicing sitting meditation, yoga, and running for the rest of my life. I look forward to the mental strength crossing over into other areas of my life. Being able to focus on something, push through the hard moments, and appreciate your progress- it’s what makes running an amazing metaphor for life.

Racing Myself

Joel and I are heading to Colorado this weekend to visit friends and his parents will go with us to cheer us on as we run the Bolder Boulder. Joel and I have totally different time-goals (he’s been running for years and picked up minimal running very well so he’s like a ninja gazelle who’s also run the Bolder Boulder eight times before) so we probably won’t be starting the race and definitely not finishing together which is kind of a bummer, but hey- it’s another metaphor for life and marriage- gotta run your own race at your own pace and just high five at the end of the day!

It’s my first race ever (unless you count a mile race when I was a kid) and I just started running, so while I’m hoping to finish strong, I’m always aware of my safety first. I’m aiming to finish the 10k in under an hour- but I won’t beat myself up if I don’t make it. It might be a tall order for a beginner like me, especially when I had to totally revolutionize the way I run when I started wearing Vibram Five Fingers instead of sturdy, supportive, inflexible running shoes. But I’ll never go back now- my feet and ankles have strengthened and yet loosened significantly. I used to get shin splints a minute into a run and always felt like my ankles were prone to twinges of pain and possible injury. Even once I started to walk and run in my Vibrams, I was reluctant to hike in them, but when I finally put them on for a hike in Sedona, it was one of the best hikes of my life. I could feel every curve of the terrain, grip my foot around every rock face and use my whole foot and toes in a way that feels so natural now.

Running gait and running injury expert Jay Dicharry, MPT, says running in shoes with a near-level profile is an ideal situation because it allows the body to run in the most natural position possible without having to compensate too much for how the shoe is trying to dictate the movement of the foot.

Injury Free, Pain Free

The pain of my bone-jutting bunion developed from years of wearing high heels is beginning to subside and become corrected. It didn’t start to subside until I took off all the tennis shoes and dress shoes alike and moved to a pair of Merrells. Finally, relief! I truly believe (as much as it flies in the face of popular understanding) that taking off the sturdy boots and cushioned running shoes is the way to avoid foot problems including the dreaded plantar fasciitis. Stretching the calves, Achilles tendons, and taking care of all the tendons and ligaments in the feet and legs is so important.

“As runners, our feet are what keep us connected with the ground and offer important tactile, sensory feedback, which makes the structure and design of the shoe on our foot essential in shaping our experience with the surrounding terrain. By wearing a shoe that eliminates unnecessary gimmicks and gadgetry (and, most importantly, a big, cushioned heel), I am allowing my foot to operate more effectively, efficiently and naturally while freely relaying proprioceptive information back to the rest of my body.”
-ANTON KRUPICKA, Riding the Wind

While we were moving and traveling recently, I thought nothing of it when I put on my old Nike tennis shoes to schlep totes up and down our apartment stairs. My feet felt fine, but I noticed I had a hard time jogging to load the car with good ChiRunning form- it’s actually nearly impossible not to heel strike in thick-heeled shoes! Then I wore the tennis shoes in the car while we drove across a few states. When we got to Sedona, it was so beautiful, we set out for a run. I couldn’t get my ankles to relax- they were just so stiff and felt prone to injury. So I did the “old man shuffle” home and Joel (who has been wearing his Vibrams quite religiously for about a year) ran off into the sunset.

We’ve tried running a little bit totally barefoot and it truly feels amazing, but it will take a while to condition our feet to be ready for running different terrain, and we need to run the way we plan to run the race, so we’re sticking with the Vibrams for now. Here’s my wish list for the minimal shoes I’d like to grab. We’re also looking into making DIY huaraches, just like the Tarahumara.

The amazing human foot is comprised of 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, ligaments and tendons. It is totally wild to me that we have decided to immobilize them all and then expect them to work the way they are intended to. I never thought twice about it before, I’m just so glad I know now how to strengthen my feet and correct my stride to protect my body from the shock and stress that actually results from incorrect footwear and form. Here are some of the shoes I would buy if I were given a million dollar shopping budget. I actually think I will grab some of these depending on what kinds of shoes I end up wearing to work. Hence the two “top six” categories- shoes for fun & runs and shoes for work and life- just for the times when I can’t be barefoot of course!

Suzanne’s Top Six Minimal Shoes: Sporty & Sweet

1. Jambu JBU404-Water Ready Barefoot

2. Vibram Jaya LR (I can’t decide between natural & white- they’re both so great!)

3. Altra Zero Drop Eve

4. Skora Form

5. Merrell Barefoot Run Pace Glove

6. Merrell Barefoot Water Swift Glove

1. Merrell Barefoot Life Wonder Glove

2. Tom’s Lina Woven Ballet Flats

3. Call It Spring Winnike

4. J.Crew Cece Ballet Flats [Editor's Apologies: These are cute but I would not have put them in the picture had I not mistaken them for another pair- for one, they are very expensive for what they are; two, the color shown is now sold out; and three they are suede which at this price is surely made from an animal.]

5. Yosi Samra Samara Burnished Flats

6. Corso Como Balletsox

Featured Image

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Here’s a list of some of this great athletes:
Albert Beckles – Bodybuilder
Alexander Dargatz – Bodybuilder, German athlete, 2005 Body-Building World Champion, and physician
Andreas Cahling – Swedish Bodybuilder
Anthony Peeler – Basketball Player
Anton Innauer – Olympic Gold Medal In Ski Jumping
Aura Andrew – Bodybuilder
B J Armstrong – Basketball Player Star
Bill Pear – Bodybuilder
Bill Walton – Baskeball Player and Sportscaster
Billie Jean King – Tennis Player
Brendan Brazier – Professional Ironman Triathlete, Speaker and Author – Vegan
Carl Lewis – American Track and Field Athlete, 10 Olympic medals including 9 golds, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were golds
Chris Campbell – American world champion wrestler
Chris Prince – Vegan Muay Tai and Mixed Martial Arts Fighter
Christine Vardaros – Profesional Cyclist (Cyclo-Cross)
Cory Everson – Bodybuilder, 6 Times Mr. Olympia
Craig Heath – Professional Figure Skater
Dave Scott – Triathlete and Coach – Six times Ironman World Champion – Vegan
Denise Nicole – Professional Model and Bodybuilder
Desmond Howard – American professional football player
Donny Lalonde – Canadian professional boxer
Dr. Ruth Heidrich – Triathlete, Health Books – ‘Extreme mama’
Ed Bauer – Bodybuilder
Ed Templeton – Proffesional Skateboarder
Edwin Moses – Track and Field athlete, Olympic champion – 4 Golden Medals
Elena Walendzik – 2005 German featherweight boxing champion
Eustace Miles – Tennis player and author, 10 time British Tennis Champion
Giacomo Marchese – Bodybuilder
Jack LaLanne – American fitness, exercise and nutritional expert, celebrity, lecturer, and motivational speaker
Jacque Vaughn – American professional basketball player
Jim Morris – Mr America 1973 y Mister Olympia 1996
Joel Kirkilis – Bodybuilder and Lifter, Victoria (Aus) Bodybuilding champion, 2009
John Salley – Basketball Player
Johnny Weissmuller – Swimmer and Actor of Tarzan
Judy Ledenlge – British world hang gliding champion
Jutta Müller – German Skater and Skating Coach, windsurfing World Cup champion
Kathy Johnson – American Artistic gymnast and commentator
Kenneth G. Williams – Professional Vegan Bodybuilder
Killer Kowalski – Canadian professional wrestler, He trained WWE professional wrestlers, including Triple H
Leroy Burrell – American track & field star, Olympic champion
Leslie Marx – American fencer and two-time national champion
Luiz Freitas – Bodybuilder
Mac Danzig – Professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighter and Instructor
Marv Levy – Professional American and Canadian Football coach
Murray Rose – Men’s Swimming at 17 – 4 Golden Medals for Australia
Paavo Nurmi – Finnish long-distance runner and 12-time Olympic medal winner
Pat Reeves – Marathon Runner, Personal Trainer, BAWLA Coach and Fitness Consultant
Patrick Reiners – Bodybuilder
Peter Hussing – Boxing Champion
Ricardo Moreira – Vegan MMA Fighter
Rich Roll – Athlete
Rob Bigwood – Profesional Armwrestler
Robbie Hazeley – Vegan Bodybuilder (53 years Old)
Robert Cheeke – Vegan Bodybuilder, President of Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness – VeganBodybuilding.com
Robert Lichtenwalner – Mountain Biker
Robert Millar – Scottish professional cyclist who won the King of the Mountains competition
Robert Parish – Baskeball Player, NBA Star
Roy Hilligenn – Bodybuilder, Mr. America 1951
Ruth Heidrich – American Health Educator and Three-time Ironman Contestant
Ryan Wilson – Strength Athlete, Strongman competition
Salim Stoudamire – Professional Basketball Player in the NBA
Scott Jurek – Ultramarathoner
Sebastian Grubb – Fitness Trainer, Nutrition Coach, Professional Dancer
Silken Laumann – Canadian champion rower 2 Golden Medals
Tiffany Croker – Weightlifter
Tim VanOrden – Track & Field, Road Racing, Mountain Running, Stair Climbing
Toni Innauer – Sky Jumper
Tony LaRussa – American Baseball Team Manager
Tonya Kay – Professional Dancer
Torre Washington – Bodybuilder
Weia Reinboud – Masters High jumper
Willie Austin – Former World Class Athlete, internationally recognised As Strength Trainer

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Another interview in our “Low-Fat Raw Vegan Elite Athlete” series.

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Sound Mind Sound Body Campaign by Asics via Women's Health

I saw this ad in Women’s Health this month and it really caught my eye. Right away I liked the bold graphic nature of the composition, but then I looked closer and saw all these little words- rage, fear, sadness, insecurity- on the left side, before the runner is breaking through the sheet of water. It speaks to the way exercise clears your mind, and I know this to be true.

My favorite yoga DVD Dance the Chakras Yoga Workout – Ana Brett & Ravi Singh focuses on the mind and the breath and I find it so refreshing. I love the positive narration and the beautiful imagery they describe. At one point they talk you through a pose explaining that when energy flows in that area you can “turn anxiety into energy we can use for creativity and self healing” and invite us to “perform that alchemy now.” I love how yoga pushes you, reminds you that the mind and body are inextricably connected. I constantly call on this concept whenever I am challenged, either physically or mentally. Exercising to the extent of my abilities trains me to breathe through the tough parts and stay focused on balance and good form.

I’ve just started to train 6 days a week with intense Bolder Boulder 10k next spring and possibly the San Diego Rock & Roll half-marathon the week after… which is a huge challenge, considering I’ve never really been “a runner.” Running is the last frontier for me, the thing I don’t want to do that will stretch me to the limit. My best friend from San Diego wants to run the half-marathon and several friends here want to run the 10k, so I really have extra motivation and good company. I need to learn to appreciate the body/mind meditative state that results from long time & long distance exercise. I love this Asics concept because it’s all about the cleansing power of running I want to discover which I already know a bit of through dancing, yoga and cross-fit workouts. It’s about finding those dark corners of your mind and body, the places it’s hard to go, and going there. Pushing for change, envisioning a new version of you. Believing that you can reach heights you never thought possible! Personal trainers and coaches are invaluable because they see where you need to be pushed. Think of all you could accomplish by taking stock of where you could improve and asking for feedback and ideas from friends and family about lofty goals you could set.

I’ll leave you with this quote by Michelangelo we’ve been discussing at work lately, which applies perfectly.

The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.

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