New Circle running route

My biggest problem with running on a treadmill was that I never got anywhere. That's why I always rode my bike in Japan, because in addition to being great exercise, it was also a fun and environmentally friendly way of getting around the rural area I lived in.

Now that I'm back in the US, I once again have a car and the distances are so much greater that cycling to work is out of the question. Luckily there are great running routes to be had, with spectacular views of the Bay Area to boot.

I've been wearing the five fingers shoes... Not gonna win any fashion contests, and I can already hear all my friends making off-handed remarks, but I really feel light on my feet during the run. It's a totally different feeling than my previous experiences with running shoes, where my knees have felt the brunt of the pain.

I've been warming up the past couple of weeks on smaller 2-4 mile circle routes, but I had visions of something bigger:

Everything started out fine, but by the time I had reached Cipriani in Belmont, the padding under the balls of my feet were KILLING. I've got blisters all over the padding there. By Cipriani, I could only run in short bursts because I'd get this awful pain caused by the blisters rubbing against the "shoe". I've got work tonight, so hopefully my dainty feet won't be suffering too badly with socks and shoes.

At least the five finger contraptions don't make my feet stinky, which I can't say for the Pumas I wear to work.