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I'm basically a n00b when it comes to running - I've tried a few times in my past to get into it but never kept any training up longer than a week or two. So, no bad habits to unlearn. I've done a lot of reading lately into barefoot and minimalist running and so switched from "running" (currently walking and jogging, with occasional sprints after the walk/jog if I have the energy) in the sneakers that I own (a pair of Nike Prestos which I bought at a thrift store and are a bit too big for me, but having just done a Google search to see what they were I see them described as "proto-minimalist" so maybe not that bad...) to a pair of Keds. I had no problem in the Keds until a treadmill run this past Sunday, when I was focusing on maintaining a forefront strike. I don't remember my feet hurting during the run, but later that night and the next several days I've had foot pain. It almost feels like a bruise on the bottom of my foot, outside side. Doing jumping jacks is still really painful. Jogging on the balls of my feet feels okay, but a quick lap around my apartment (wood floors, bare feet) hurts. Standing in any position is fine - it seems that the impact is what causes the pain. I have a few questions - is this something that somebody else here has experienced? Have I totally ruined my feet? Should I wait until I can do a jumping jack before doing any jogging? Should I never wear Keds again? Thanks in advance!

I know what you're thinking...What the hell kind of name is that?!? cline made me do it. No, not really, but the challenge name idea came from her with a remark about my daughters Pinewood Derby race last challenge, and the more I thought about it, the more it fit with what I'm planning to do this challenge. No, I'm not going to sit around drinking Yoohoo, eating Crunch 'n' Munch and sitting on my ass watching infomercials about working out on TV. That would make me look like a powder-puff. Although... Wait, where was I? Oh, right. After getting sick and injured during the last challenge, I've decided to attempt a challenge without attempting to push my heavy lift maxes. In fact, they aren't a priority. This challenge will be MRT and MCT kettlebell and bodyweight circuits almost exclusively for resistance tranining and I'm going to focus on my 5k time. Why? Because before this challenge ends I want there to be less of me. In fact, I want there to be 5% less of me by the time this challenge ends. This ain't gonna be easy because I've been working to get down to 200 pounds for years. In fact, the first time my weight dips under 205, it will be the first time in over a decade. So, 200 will be a challenge. So... Goal #1 - Don't workout like a powder-puff: I'm going to try to stick to a workout plan. Rather than coming up with my own variations every time I workout, I'm going to follow a plan. The one I've picked happens to be a 4 week plan, so I'll pick a new one at week 5. It's the Turbulence Training Extreme Fat Loss workout. I did a few of the workouts last week between challenges, and they are hardly powderpuff like. Despite not using heavy poundages and low reps, I had a hard time finishing the workouts without gasping for air and taking breaks. It involves 3 workouts a week that include 3 circuits per workout. A "traditional" resistance circuit of the ol' 3x10 set/rep combinations on some compound body movements, followed by a Tabata-like resistance circuit of 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off for a variety of resistance exercises, followed by a similar circuit with more conidtioning moves instead of resistance moves. Grades are: >92% compliance - A, >85% compliance - B, >78% compliance - C, > 70% compliance - D, <= 70% - F. STA +2, DEX +2, STR +1 Goal #2 - Move faster than a powder-puff: With only 3 days a week in this plan, I've got 4 other days of the week to do something. So, I'm going to work on my 5k times. At least 2x week, I'll be running and I'm going to cover 6.2 miles or more a week. I might be doing sprints, I might just be running for pace, or whatever. But, 6.2 miles a week is the goal. At the end of it all that's 37.2 miles. Grades are: > 34 miles - A, > 31 miles - B, > 28 miles - C, > 25 miles - D, <= 25 miles - F. STA +3 Goal #3 - Stop looking like a powder-puff: Shedding the pounds. If I want to lose weight, I need to watch what I eat. I've tried the Primal thing and it works for a while. But, as the only non-SAD eater in my house, temptations abound. The problem is that when I fall off the wagon, I fall into the deepest rut the wagon wheel just dug. So, for this challenge, I'm restorting to 100% paleo breakfast and lunch and trying to limit non-Paleo items as much as possible during supper time. My hope is that by allowing some of these foods here are there, I won't fall in a hole so big it takes days to climb out and get everything back to normal. If this turns out to be too difficult to maintain/manage/monitor/<insert your own 'm' word>/etc. I may have to resort to...Ack!...calore counting. Grades will be based on the results of the medieval torture device known as The Scale. Right now I'm at 212 pounds. 5% takes me to 201 if you round up the weight loss to 11 pounds. Grades are: > 9 pounds - A, > 7 pounds - B, > 5 pounds - C, > 3 pounds - D, everything else, FAIL. CON +2, CHA +3 Goal #4 - Stop treating my family like a powder-puff: More time with the family and less time being a slave to the work monster. More vacations, more girl scouting, more car racing, more Lego building, more train building with the kids. More time spent with my wife conversing about grown up topics and not who is picking up who from what activity when. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to grade this one. I just know that last challenge, spreading out the work on my To-Do list at home allowed me to get more done and spend more time with my family on the weekends. But, that's not enough. I want more time throughout the week too. What can I say, I'm greedy. I got a reminder of what matters and I want more of it. If I come up with a grading system for this I'll post it. If not, this one will be very subjective. WIS +2 Side Goals? I don't need no stinkin' side goals. Why? Cuz, I'll abandon them anyway. This challenge is about focus. I need to drop that weight so my next challenge can be about finding my abs before summer starts.