Week in Review- 4/27/08

I've learned something really important this week. Always always try on your running sneakers before you purchase them. Yes, even if you're just walking in and getting the same exact pair, try them on! I learned this lesson the hard way. My dogs are barking big time because I neglected to try on my shoes before leaving the store two weeks ago and apparently the shoes just aren't a good fit for my feet. Although it's the same kind, size, brand and even color sneaker that I've gotten for the past three times I've replaced my kicks, there's something just off about the way these particular ones were built.

Which is ironic because I should know better. Susannah (my cousin and current running partner) just completed this school assignment where she had to take three pairs of the same size and style of jeans, try them on and then note the differences. The point was to show how even though something is supposedly the same, nothing is really made exactly alike.

So tomorrow I'll be going back to the running store, dropping my sneaks, thanking them for the super fabulous shin splints and trying on another pair. Wish me luck!

In terms of my runs this week, I think I only got three runs in and one walk. All the runs were fine for the most part. But my feet were not cooperating. I had to actually stop and take my sneakers off because it felt like my feet were on fire, like my arches were going to collapse. So I ended up walking more than I wanted to for any of them. I was trying to sorta power through the shin splints thing...which some say is stupid (Steve) and some don't even take it into consideration when giving me my running plan for following week (Hal). So I'm just taking it easy and not being too hard on myself. I got out four times this week. Which I'd like to point out is my magic number I think. I'd really prefer to just work out four days a week.

Which brings me to my next topic...I talked with Hal earlier this week and he had just come back from the Boston Marathon where his lady friend had participated after having foot surgery less than four months ago. Hal wanted to touch base with me because he said the lady friend's approach made him think about how I should tackle the marathon. This was very interesting to me for a few reasons:

1. Lynn (the lady friend) is about half my size and double my height.
2. She's a huge runner who has participated in a lot of marathons (a lot to me would be one at this point, but I know Lynn has done way more than that).
3. She's obviously crazy (unlike me, of course) if she had foot surgery four months ago and didn't use that as an excuse to stay off her feet and skip the f'n marathon this year).

Anyway, in all seriousness though, I really was curious because Lynn's a runner and has been for a really long time. So if Hal was comparing her marathon approach and thinking it'd work for me, I was doubtful.

But I'm really happy to report that I've heard this proposed plan and I'm love love loving it! Lynn ended up running five miles and walking one- yes in the Boston Marathon. She kept that up for the entire marathon and then ran the last 2.2 miles. Hal said that he estimated my finish would be about six hours easily if I ran a 12 minute mile and walked a 20 minute mile. I love that he was so conservative, cause really, my goal is to just finish. I was touched that Hal thought about this so thoroughly for me and went as far as to estimate my finish time. And I'm not going to lie, the thought of running five miles and walking one and repeating that takes a shitload of pressure off me and really makes me even more excited for the marathon.

So although my shin are throbbing and my feet feel super tired, I'm excited about the week ahead. I have a four mile run to get in. Which'll be the longest distance I've run in about 10 years or so. I have an appointment tomorrow to get fitted for orthotics. I'm going to return my piece of shit sneakers and get some new ones that will hopefully not make my feet feel like they're going to fall off. And I'm even thinking about going back to Double W.

And on that note, I say good night and have a great week!