Category: regular

I’ve been keeping up with my C25K training…Tomorrow starts W5D1. As expected the running portions are getting longer, but I still feel like I can accomplish them and I’m getting stronger and better with each run.

A few weeks ago I bought these fly shoes:

They were comfy, BRIGHT, and on clearance. Sold.

They are great for work and running errands but not the best fit for running. They were smashing my toes. I have very long toes (TMI, but they go with my long legs). 

A few years ago I was professionally fitted for running shoes at The Running Lab in Orange, CA. My roommate at the time, Halyeface, and I went to get fitted for shoes together. I needed a pair to wear for working on set and standing on my feet for 14+ hours a day. They analyze your foot, gait, and stride when fitting you for shoes. It’s amazing and the right shoe really does make a difference. Especially with the sizing. I hate that I have giant feet and realizing that I need a 12.5 size women’s shoe for running is horrifying, but it makes all the difference. 

Since my BRIGHT kicks weren’t doing the job, I switched back to my tired and true Asic Gel Foundation 8’s. Sure I had worn them for 2 solid years and put countless hours on them…but they fit. 

My first few runs were good, I felt like I could focus on my run and not my feet. Then I started to notice some tenderness in my arches. Hm. Maybe I needed new shoes? Let’s check Zappo’s for sales…$100?! Hellz no! (See my previous post about not liking to spend money.)

Then, for my run on Wednesday morning I was dying…My right calf was on fire. I know I probably overcompensate with my right leg to make up for my Bionic Ankle…but this wasn’t cool. 

I knew what I needed to do…I had to bite the bullet and get new shoes or risk injury. 

Yesterday I was down in OC for my Tax Appointment (whoot! I have the best tax person, and we played water polo together so she’s wayyy cooler) I figured since I was so close to The Running Lab I needed to make a stop. I justified the purchase since I knew I would be getting a nice tax return in a few weeks. 

And I came home with these beauties:

Asic Gel Foundation 10’s. 

I cannot wait to try them out tomorrow. <—-Nerd

The consultant said the shoe would be a great fit for my bionic ankleness, and help keep my feet from over-pronating in the shoe since it has a solid base. <—-More Nerdness

If you think you don’t need good shoes, and you can run in $20 KEDS from Ross you are wrong my friend. It makes the biggest difference to have the correct fit and size shoe for your specific needs. 

The materials in athletic shoes break down over time. So you need to replace them every few months, years or miles depending on how hard you use them. Manfriend never wears the same pair of shoes two days in a row to help lengthen their life. Manfriend also has a zillion pairs of shoes. 

My new Asics are reserved only for running. No grocery trips, no adventures at Disneyland. 

I have my BRIGHT shoes for those silly things. Wear shades the next time you plan to walk around somewhere with me, for your eye protection of course. 

I think I’m unique, there’s lots of things that make me different. I can make a taco with my tongue, I learned how to ride a unicycle as a kid, and I’m lacking the shopping gene.

I always claim to be the anti-girl. I would much rather drink beer and watch college football than spend the afternoon shopping at a mall. Blah. Manfriend has the shopping gene. He’s a browser. He like to survey the goods available, take everything into consideration, and then make his purchase decisions.

Me? Not so much. If I have to shop for something I need to have a clear goal. Example: I need to find a dress for a wedding. <— This is my most hated scenario. Regardless I’ll set my goal and work to accomplish it. I hate trying on clothing. I think I always have, I blame my WaterPoloManShoulders and my BeintemaLengthLegs. Those two things make shopping for clothing near impossible. If I was an “average” size I would probably enjoy shopping slightly more. 

But, there’s another element involved in my lacking a shopping gene. I hate spending money on clothing. I would much rather spend $40 on a dinner with Manfriend, than $30 on a top I’ll probably wear at least 30 times in 6 months. What is wrong with me?!

Here’s another dilemma: where does a 26 year old woman buy clothing?  Target? Yea. That’s easy, I can pick up a poorly made top with a crooked hem while I grab lightbulbs and toothpaste. Forever 21? No. Their clothes fall apart when I wash them, and I think I’m 10 years too old to be shopping there. Old Navy? Perhaps. I am a fan of their “look” but they’re in bed with The GAP. Nordstroms? If I could afford it, yes. I love the idea of having a sales person just bring me clothing – no shopping necessary. Zappos.com? Surprisingly, yes. I enjoy online shopping, but the sizing mystery gives me anxiety. H&M? Naw. I can’t understand their crazy UK sizing. The GAP? No. Don’t even get me started on their unethical manufacturing practices. The RACK? Sometimes. But, I really have to put my game-face on and be ready to fight for my size 11 shoes. 

Sigh. So this is the question I leave you to ponder.

Where does a 26 year old, 5’12” lady, with WaterPoloManShoulders go to buy quality clothing at an affordable price? 

Riddle me that, Batman. 

I’ve never functioned well on land…exhibit A, bionic ankle. Sure, I played land sports. I did soccer (for a million seasons), volleyball, basketball, softball, track…but it was in the water were I felt that I excelled as an athlete. There was no running in water sports! 

I became very anti-running. We did some running for “dry land” practice but I struggled. I was super awkward. Did you see the Friends episode where Phoebe and Rachel go running. I’m Phoebe. 

Post NCAA career I struggled with not having an athletic outlet. A huge part of my identity was being an athlete. I didn’t know what to do, especially with all of my free time. I did a Super Sprint Triathlon with two of my Polo Alumni and I loved it! But, Tri’s are expensive with equipment, race fees, supplies…and I was a broke ass college grad on the job hunt. 

Cut to me working 80 hours a week and the only thing I want to do during my free time is sleep. Exercise? Hellz no! I stand on my feet for 15 hours a day. 

Then, I moved to Atlanta and my bionic ankle happened.

I’m totally on the track to be the next Kona Ironman, no?

This time last year I was broken, swollen, and affixed with an external fixator. 

This week I made it to the gym 3 days and ran 8 miles total on the Treadmill. <—-WTF?

Why? Why is the aqua jock with a bionic ankle running? Answer: Because I can. Sure it hurts, and it’s hard. But, I’ve recently read several stories about athletes with far more traumatic injuries than mine who are competing in huge athletic events. 

If they can do it, why can’t I?

I told you about my Mud Run on March 31. I’m also signed up for this:

Bonus, there’s chocolate and a sweet race jacket included! 

So let the training continue. I finally feel like I’m getting my “land legs.”