Tuesday, June 14, 2011

~New shoes, happy feet~

Ahhhhhhh I have new shoes. YAY! HAPPY BLISTER FREE FEET! I traded in my tired Saucony Pro Grid Ride 2 for a fabulous pair of Saucony Triumph 8. I got the last pair in November and trained for the half and ran the half in them. They were fine up until about 6 weeks ago when blisters started to appear. I went to a local running store and was fitted for my new pair. I have ran in them twice---blister free! I LOVE SAUCONY SHOES! YAY!

Good bye old:





Hello new:




This durable workhorse is a heel-striker's best friend. It props the heel up with a lot of soft cushioning and supplies a balanced, stable ride. Saucony dropped 1.5 ounces from the shoe by using lighter materials in the outsole and upper and sculpting the midsole. Overall, the Triumph's balance of stability and softness won over most of our testers, who appreciated its accommodating fit. Recommended for heel-strikers looking for a soft shoe with an outstanding fit.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Trail 5k recap

Yesterday my friend and I ran a trail 5k. It was my first trail race and her first race ever. It was at 10:30 am and it was very warm out already. I got there and was delighted to see that her 10 year old daughter had decided to join us. The 12k runners started first, then we were off. I had never ran on these particular trails and all I have is one word: HILLY. Good lord. The first half was OK, but about half way through my knee popped. PAIN. I literally walked the last half of the race. There was no way I could run the hills with my knee. I wanted to cry. I wanted to quit. I was pissed. I seriously considered walking around the finish so that my time was not recorded. But I thought about what that would say about me, and my character. But most of all what would that say to my friends daughter who ran that day? I finished, I literally walked across the finish line. I was still mad. My friends daughter finished 1st in her age group (I belive she was 9th OVERALL!!) and my friend finished her first race and she ran strong and did fabulous. Running is more than exercise, it is an emotional and mental challenge. I may not run well each time, but I run. I can not control my body, but I can listen to it. I can encourage and cheer on others, and hope to inspire others to run. Running has taught me so much more than I could have ever imagined when I started. After I digested the days events I look back and appreciate them. Because without set backs how can one truly appreciate moving forward?




P.S. to redeem myself, I did come home and go for a 10 mile bike ride with my husband. :)

P.S.S today my knee feels fine.........figures.