Autónoma loop again. I'm starting to feel a noticeable improvement in my running. Today a group of runners entered the main trail just ahead of me and were going at more or less my pace. Decided to try to pass them by upping the cadence on the Fives and blew by them with no problems on a hill. A bit later there is a bit you have to walk - basically there are steps down to a small bridge over a stream and then up again. After I had just reentered the trail a runner blasted past me so decided to chase him. Kept up with no effort but he lost me after about a mile when I had to slow down for a very gravelly patch. It literally felt like having another gear to switch up into.
I'm starting to think that the barefoot/fivefinger thing is 50% mental . Although the physical side - improved running form etc. is clearly important - I also feel much more in touch with the running and am not getting bored which has been a big problem for me in the past. I didn't have the GPS with me today so I have no idea if I actually have improved my pace, or what it was during the two roughly 3/4 mile sprints...but it certainly felt much better and if not much faster, I felt a lot stronger. With conventional running shoes I have never really been able to improve my performance significantly, even without injuries. This type of "pose" running seems to be the key.
It might all be wishful thinking but at least it's fun! On another note - I managed to hold a conversation with the Portero in the Residencia about cleaning schedules, when the sheets and towels get changed, and how to connect to the internet entirely in Spanish. Not great Spanish but they didn't try to switch into English - maybe they didn't speak English but in any case it felt like a minor victory. Then I had to go to the bank because my Caja Madrid ATM card stopped working yesterday - again, the transaction was conducted entirely in Spanish. I am thinking that I have the Fives to thank for that too but maybe that's a step too far :-)
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