Commuting

My walk along the Grand Canal, circa January, 1985.

I commuted to work this morning via my feet, for the first time making the 8 mile run in my huaraches.  I left the house at 6:20, while still dark, and had to rely on street lamps to make my way.  But as I came down Ridge Avenue toward the Wissahickon, a rose-colored glow appeared in the east, and by the time I passed under the Strawberry Mansion Bridge, morning was upon the world.

Why Dublin?

Trinity College ID, 1983

Took my huaraches outside for the first time this afternoon. A pleasant five mile run in damp weather. Still got to get used to that cord between the toes, but I’ve gotten much better at tying them. Fall leaves beautiful.

There have been two great cities in my life. One is Philadelphia, where I've lived for most of the past thirty years. The other is Dublin, where I spent the best years of my twenties, and to which my heart will always belong. When I was about to turn forty, nearly ten years ago, I marked the occasion by running the Philadelphia Marathon. As I prepare to turn fifty at the end of next year, it seems only fitting that I mark that occasion by participating in the Dublin Marathon.

I had three extended stays in Dublin. In spring of 1983, I spent a semester at Trinity College as part of a study abroad program through Temple University. From fall of 1984 through spring of 1985, I did the whole wannabe-writer-in-exile gig in a small apartment on Herbert Place. I didn’t get much writing done, but I took a lot of great walks along the Grand Canal. I forget at the time how I explained my long stay through the spring of 1989, but the real reason was that I had fallen in love with the sister of one of my friends. But that’s a long story.

Anyway, I spent enough time in Ireland back in the 80s to put me at risk for mad cow disease, according to the American Red Cross. Which is why to this day they will not accept my blood.

Dublin has remained in my life. In the past ten years, I’ve been back to a number of times with Donna, my fiancée. First, just the two of us, then with her two children, Erin and Alex, and the last time, with the kids AND her parents. To which I can only add, Whew!

All my old friends are now Donna’s friends too. My old stomping grounds her places to revisit as well.

Huaraches

Dan's Homemade Huaraches

I took my brand new home made huaraches out for their first test run yesterday. I did about three miles on Drexel University's indoor track.

A few first, quick impressions...

For the most part, they felt great. Not quite the same as barefoot running, but closer to barefoot running than Vibrams. Very liberating! And a lot of fun.

I haven't yet found the best tying method, and it does feel weird running with a cord between your toes. I'm going to be patient for the time being, and allow for a learning curve. The real test will be taking them outside for some longer runs.

I'll continue to report on my experiences. In the meantime, if you want to learn more, I purchased my kit from InvisibleShoe.com. The website provide a lot of great tutorials --  not just on huaraches, but on barefoot running techniques as well.

Persistence Hunting

Today's run: .5 miles (unscheduled). 

I reached the intersection of Walnut Lane and Ridge Avenue just as the 9 bus was taking off. Damn! I thought. At least 20 minutes until the next one. Then I thought, no, don't let this one get away. I started after it, as fast as my dress-shoe-clad feet would allow. It was soon out of sight. But as a good persistence hunter knows, it's all about the long haul. You see, just like a gazelle, a 9 bus can go a lot faster than a human being, but also like a gazelle, it has to stop from time to time. Catch its breath, so to speak. Unlike a reasonably fit middle aged man with delusions of grandeur. So there I was, running down Ridge Avenue, for blocks and blocks, an endeavor so stupid it can only be fun. And then, just as I crossed Manayunk Avenue, there it was, far ahead, trying to blend in with the other traffic, hoping I wouldn't see it. But I had. A renewed burst of speed. Caught it! Just in front of the train station.

Made my day, anyhow. And impressed the hell out of the driver.