Fickle Shoe Love

You may recall when I got new shoes here and here.  I have fallen out of love once again and returned the last pair of shoes and bought a new pair.

I took them for a spin on the treadmill last night and they felt pretty good.  Well, two spins actually.  I ran a quick 2 miles, hopped off to do some weight training, and then ran another slower two miles (because squats make my legs angry!).  I was very happy with the way my leg felt during both runs.  I'm hoping this is a long and loving marriage for the next 300-500 miles. 

I think the answer to my leg issue is to run outside more.  I went for a run with my dad over the weekend and felt really, really good!  The best part about it all was the I was too busy focusing on the not tripping over roots and rocks that I wasn't over thinking my stride/gait/whatever.  My leg never bothered me or crossed my mind once!  I tend to focus on how I am feeling and try to make too many adjustments in my stride when I am running on the treadmill...and I don't think that is a good thing.

Anyway, after my workout, Julia and I enjoyed a delicious, peach-strawberry smoothie :)  Alex had gone out for the night to a Hokie event so it was just a girls night in.  I have to admit some of my favorite moments are the ones where it's just the two of us.  What can I say?  I'm selfish and love having her all to myself (when she is behaving, happy, and quiet) ;)

Back to my usual self after I finish this smoothie!


Do you have fickle shoe love?

What's your favorite time with your kid(s)?

Now in Ecto-Cooler Green

On Wednesday I was feeling like life was pretty good.  Julia didn't have a fever anymore.  Alex trusted the couch to keep itself on the ground.  My leg felt a lot better.  Life was pretty good.

I teleworked that day and all the sickies went about their merry way.  It was pretty relaxing to get back into the normal swing of things without having to worry about our juice supply and making sure everyone was medicated.  On my lunch break I even took a quick run on the treadmill with my new shoes!

I have to admit that I love the color of these shoes!

My run felt pretty good.  My leg seemed to warm up quickly and wasn't giving me much trouble at all.  It felt so good to run that I felt like singing while I was on the treadmill.  Later that night we had dinner with Alex's parents.  Alex's cousin and her husband were in town so we ended up staying over there later than we had originally intended and by the end of things, I felt like I was falling apart.  I felt completely run down and my eyes were burning and I had the chills.  No bueno.  I thought that I was feeling tired earlier in the day because I had been sitting on the couch for the past couple days.  Apparently, it was my body asking me to give it some rest.  So Thursday I stayed home sick to nurse myself back to health.

Boo.  Unacceptable.  On the plus side, I made a pretty amazing pork chili in the crockpot :)  So simple.  You just put pork chops in the bottom of the crock pot and add one can of black beans, one can of kidney beans, one can of green chiles, 1/2 a can of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, and 1 cup salsa.  Turn it on high and let it cook for six hours.  Dinner is served!

Do you run when you get sick? 

Are you my Sole Mate?

What a lovely weekend!  On Saturday, Alex and I went to Edibles Incredible in Reston, VA for a cake tasting.  The guy Alan was lovely and very confident in his product.  I have to admit the cake was pretty yummy but I still can't imagine paying $800 for a cake.  It better make me poop gold for that price!  The best part was the remainder of the cake slices that he sent home with us.  It was enough of each of the flavors to share with both Alex's parents and mine.....we STILL had some leftover to let Julia taste after she can home from her dad's house.

Sunday was spent entirely at home.  Alex has been sick so he's been making sure our couch doesn't fly away.  I cooked up some pot roast in the crockpot and tried to busy myself with chores while it cooked.  I have attempted pot roast before and it was a FAIL.  This time it was actually pretty good.  Even though Alex hasn't been able to stomach much food today, he asked to try some.  This really isn't too surprising as I have never known him to turn down meat ;) 

In other news, I decided my Brooks shoes were not meant for me.  I took them back and traded them in for some Asics.  Real runners will scoff at me but I picked them up at Dick's Sporting Goods and I was actually impressed with the guy working the shoes department.  Usually, I get some high school student more interested in texting that fetching me a pair of shoes.  This guy actually runs and actually tried to sell me a pair of shoes that had recently been clearanced out but were still a great running shoe.  Loves to run and save money?  That's me!

I'm pretty excited to try these bad boys out!  Tomorrow I will give them a try on the treadmill and if all goes well, I will be heading outside sometime soon!  Wondering how my miles for 2012 are going?  Terribly.  Please, let these be my sole mate.  I need to put a dent in the remaining 980 miles for 2012.

What's your go-to running shoe?

It is possible to go wrong with carameliscious wedding cake?

Technology Hates Me

Well, the weekend was an absolute fail in the way of running.  I didn't run a single mile.  I did however get some new running shoes and shirt.  Dick's is having a clearance sale so markdowns were another 25% off!  Woo!

Source

Just invert the colors

Even though I didn't run this weekend, I still got a lot of stuff done.  My house had become overrun with piles.  Piles of Christmas gifts not yet put away.  Piles of mail.  Piles of toys....piles, piles, piles.  So I cleaned, did laundry, organized stuff, and did other boring but necessary things.  I also came up with my most wanted birthday present: a maid!

Since I didn't run at all Saturday or Sunday, I thought the least I could do is try out my new running shoes before work today.  I don't own a watch or an alarm clock because I use my cellphone for all of these things.  It was mildly irritating to find that the touch screen on my phone wasn't working last night when I was attempting to set my alarm for my morning run.  Somehow I managed to set it (but it hasn't worked since) and I got up and ran a quick two miles on the treadmill.  The shoes felt pretty good but I was still overcompensating for my leg.  I didn't feel like I ever completely relaxed and loosened up.  Ugh. 

What made my short run even worse was Ipod has officially broken up with me.  I can't make out anything on the screen and couldn't get it to play a song, the radio, or anything.  Good thing my treadmill is in the basement where there is no TV and I can just stare at the display on the treadmill as I run. 

Can you fix my phone and Ipod?

Will you come clean my house for me?

Rx for Bum Leg

I'm still whining about my leg....

Here's my solution:

I also got new shoes last night!  I hope they are the real solution!!

It's my Pimp Walk

No, I'm not cool enough for a pimp walk.  Yes, I'm more white than the driven snow.  I'm already getting frustrated with my goal of 1000 miles for 2012.  I'm trying to stay positive but it's difficult to do when you've only increased your mileage slightly and already your body is being dumb.  My leg hurts, wah wah.  My leg has been giving me problems for about a week now and I have been easing up on the pace but still running through the discomfort.  Usually my leg warms up after about two miles and feels fine for the rest of the run but then I walk like a pimp for the rest of the day.

In case you want to be a pimp too

I ran a 10k on the treadmill yesterday and by the end of the run, my left butt cheek was so tight because I am clearly over-compensating for the pain in my right leg.  So now my right leg hurts and my left cheek is sore.  Boo.  I'm taking today off as a rest day so I will probably do some walking and a TON of stretching.  So far I have 12 miles completed and 8 left for the week.  I have no doubts that I can complete them but I just don't want to aggravate my issue.

I have been thinking about getting new running shoes for a while but from what I have read, I should still have some life in the ones that I own.  Generally, you should replace your running shoes every 300 to 400 miles.  In that case, I should only replace my shoes once a year?   I did a little research online and the wise Internet told me that you should rotate a new pair of shoes in with the old ones to determine when you need to replace the old ones.  Apparently, when the new ones start feeling better than the old ones then it's time to throw the old ones out.  There is a also a twist test to determine when the midsole of your shoe has lost its support?

I'm also a little confused on the weight issue.  They say that overweight runners will need to replace their shoes more often.  How do my shoes know if I am overweight?  If it's just heavier people that have to change their shoes more often?  Since men generally weigh more than their female counterparts, should men change their shoes more often?  Are men's shoes typically able to withstand more pavement pounding?  Maybe men's shoes are a better investment for the overweight female runner?

How do you know when you need to get new running shoes?

Do you wear men's running shoes?

Sweaty Date Nights

It was a very unwelcome surprise this morning when I got in my car and couldn't see out of the windshield.  So far this year, I have been able to get away with using the windshield wipers to clear it off but this morning I needed my scraper.  I love spring, summer and fall but please, go away winter! 

I seriously need to get more winter running gear if I am planning on doing any outdoor runs for the next four months.  I have also been contemplating whether or not it's time to get some new running shoes.  For some reason, I thought I bought my current shoes a lot longer ago than I have.  It has only been three months.  Apparently, I should be buying new shoes every  300-400 miles but let's be real, I'm not keeping track (nor do I think I have run that much in these shoes).  I'll sit tight for now...

I have not been for an outdoor run since the race last Saturday.  Call me busy, lazy, or whatever.  It just hasn't been happening.  I would be more likely to run if I had someone to run with.  It was so great when I lived at home and could head out for a run with my dad.  I love having someone to talk to because it makes the time pass quickly.  I have often tried to convince Alex to try running with me....

He doesn't seem to understand how running a distance more than the 90 feet between home plate and first base would be worth his time.  I guess I can't complain too much though since he is more than willing to hold down the fort while I go for a run.  He's not opposed to other forms of exercise though.  For the first time last night, we did the P90 video together.  The couple that works out together stays together, right?



How about the couple that one works out
while the other documents the occasion?

Despite Alex's recommendation, I decided to exercise without any shoes on.  I have been intrigued about barefoot running and there was a small amount jogging in place during the P90 DVD so I consider that a small sampling of what it could be like.  Overall, P90 was good bonding time with Alex and any elevation in heart rate is a step in the right direction, however I will not rely on this to be my sole means of physical fitness.  Today I had some stiffness in my calves but that's about it.  Maybe the barefoot exercising worked in strengthening different muscles than I usually use when running?

Do you exercise with others or do you prefer solitude?

Would you try barefoot running?