OK, you guys have talked me into going and getting fitted. This afternoon, I went to my nearby "big town" (about 30k people) and hit the two places I thought runners might go for shoes. One had a bunch of cheap, heavy-looking shoes. The other had about 5 styles, and the salespeople ignored me. So I came home and got out my trusty Runner's World magazine. It sent me here: http://www.runnersworld.com/storefinder
So I went, and lo and behold! I found a store that's a little closer. Instead of 120 miles, I can go to a store that's in a city about 80 miles away. About half that journey is on a freeway where the speed limit is 70 mph, so that should get me there pretty quick. The plan right now is to head out tomorrow (open on Sunday, wooo hoo!!!). So instead of sitting on my rear typing, I better go clean my car and get ready for my drive tomorrow!
Our nearest store is about 110 miles away. I as about 5 miles away for DS's eye appt. on the 1st but didn't have a dime to spare. I vow next time I am close I am getting new shoes.
hooray Windchime! I can't wait to hear how your (more professional) shoe shopping experience goes! I come from a town in New Mexico with about 35K people and I would probably get the same service (none) and selection (none) as you and then I'd probably make my way to El Paso or even Albuquerque for more serious shopping. It's a trip, but it's worth it in the end!
Zinke, hope you are able to arrange it soon. It's not always easy to splurge on these things. I used the money I saved from quitting smoking, otherwise it would have been tough (of course I ended up with the most expensive pair, just by process of elimination, but still!).
"Freestyle jog", LOL, that's cute! I was scheduled to do W6D3 last night but thought I would hold of in favor of hopefully having new shoes tonight. I drove around and have mapped out a nice route on the road that is 3.3 miles. Instead of going out through town, I'll go up the other way. Interestingly enough, there was an article in this month's Runner's World about the very thing I've been worried about, which is having other people observe me run:
So hopefully I'll be back later this afternoon with my new shoes and feel confident enough to hit the road.
Zinkermom, I wish you luck with shoes as well. I've been googling around and understand that I could end up spending as much as $150 on a pair. I hope not, but if that's how it happens then I'll just do it because I want to see if good shoes make a difference!
Windchime - Another thing I thinking about when I was running this morning. You said you have been running on a track. Are you changing directions at all? Often they bank the corners just a few degrees.
I know if I attempt to do walk/wog/run on anything that isn't level I hurt. I also have to be careful when I run on the road because there is so much crown around here. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to find a flatter spot on the shoulder but quite often I end up running right down the white line. Thankfully we don't have to much traffic on the state highway where we are at.
Last spring I was running on it and often ran right down the yellow line. I was glad when they came out last fall and did the stone chip crap because it leveled it off a little so I didn't have to run down the center, lol.
I'm back! 80 miles was WAY off; it was more like 120 but that's OK; I left the house at 10 am and it's now 4 PM so I had plenty of time to get shoes, hit REI (sporting goods store), buy a healthy lunch at the grocery store and do the drive.
Only mine have a pretty raspberry color instead of the green. I think I'm really going to like them; they're very comfy and I can easily wear my socks with them. I also tried on a pair of these:
They were really nice but about a half size too short so I got the other ones since I didn't want to wait.
The experience was nice. They didn't do a gait analysis on the treadmill, but he did watch me walk and determined that I have a very slight overpronation but not bad at all. I think I tried on about a half dozen pairs. Because of the "big foot" issue, he tried to put me in a men's shoe but they just felt too wide and floppy, with my heel slipping out.
Hopefully these will work out well. I'm optimistic! I feel like a little kid. I put them on as soon as I got home, LOL.
Yay!! that's so cool! love the shoes and I totally get that you feel like a little kid! I had the same feeling. In fact I put them on and made everyone go for a walk with me in the park later that day
so glad you made the trip and I'm sure it will prove to be worth it!
Well I just got back from taking the new shoes for a spin and they feel GREAT. Unfortunately, the trip to Issaquah did something to my asthma. I could feel myself getting symptomatic when I was over there, but just barely and by the time I got home I felt OK. I decided to do a big girl run on the road tonight, and part of the route I had mapped out goes past my younger son's apartment. That turns out to be lucky, because I got about a mile from home and......ran out of air. Just plain ran out. So I started walking back, and by the time I got to DS's house (about .3 miles walking), my chest was killing me. He gave me a drink of water and drove me home. We tore the house apart, but I don't have an inhaler. I must have tossed them all when my new medicine started working (or so I thought).
So my run was aborted, but the shoes DO feel really good and I think once I get the asthma squared away, they'll be very good to run in!
I just ran 1.13 miles nonstop in 12:45. That is a pace of 11:17. I am ecstatic! I think I could have went further if it wouldn't have been for the rocks in my shoe.
Windchime: Sorry to hear about your asthma attack. I sure hope you and your doctor can find a great solution for you!
Zinke: Way to go!
As for running shoes...I treated myself a few weeks ago too and I love them! When I went to the running store, they watched me walk (just around the store not on a treadmill) and said I have a high arch and need good support. I think I tried on about 10 and walked/jogged around the store in each before I bought!
Just did W6D1 tonight and it was harder than I thought! I had been thinking "huh, if I can do 20 straight minutes then this week should be easy " yeah not so much. I struggled a bit but got through it! It didn't help that my shorts kept falling down so I had to keep hiking them up! Not that I am complaining that my clothes are getting big on my just....glad I run on the treadmill in the basement and not out in public! LOL
It didn't help that my shorts kept falling down so I had to keep hiking them up! Not that I am complaining that my clothes are getting big on my just....glad I run on the treadmill in the basement and not out in public! LOL
Heh, we'll have to start calling you "nekkidMomOf5k" pretty soon!
I got an inhaler today and went out for another go. This time I went back to the track so that if I had an attack, I wouldn't be miles from home. I didn't last long; I didn't have to hit the inhaler but I really ran out of steam very quickly so something's still not quite right. My doc doesn't work Mondays so I may give her a call tomorrow and see what she suggests. I'm kind of bummed....I hope this is just a blip in the road.
I'm gonna guess maybe your lungs just need an extra day to recover.
I went a little further/longer today. I managed 13:30 before I died. The 1.23 miles I did puts me at 10:59 min/mile. I broke the 11min/mile pace
I think if I would have been on a treadmill today I would have stripped down to my bra and panties. It is HOT out. It was 80* when I left with pretty high humidity. It is official. I'm one of the idiots out running that I used to shake my head at in the past while driving by in my air conditioned vehicle.
Last edited by zinkemomx2; 06-23-2009 at 11:40 AM.
I thought I should update. DH & I are still plugging along. We're on w7d3 tomorrow. We've had to switch to mornings because it's too hot at night. Yesterday morning we almost got attacked by a roving pit-bull mix. It circled around some parked cars to surprise attack us and was inches from my shin. DH yelled for me to run, and luckily I can! Then we both yelled at it to scare it. Probably not the best choice, but it worked. Why do some pet owners think it's ok to let their little darlings out loose to terrorize the neighborhood. I'm glad that we didn't bring our dog--I'm afraid that we would have been in a fight.
w7d3 done! This morning we brought our 1 yr old Beagle mix along and she did great! Today it was a big scary Black Lab that charged us. It's super humid and DH was struggling, but we made it! Next week we're heading for DC to visit DD22 for 2 weeks. DH is trying to map out some interesting routes for us in the Arlington/DC area.
I vow next time I am close I am getting new shoes.
woot!
" yeah not so much. I struggled a bit but got through it! It didn't help that my shorts kept falling down so I had to keep hiking them up! Not that I am complaining that my clothes are getting big on my just....glad I run on the treadmill in the basement and not out in public! LOL
