I know women love shoes but...

is it really possible to be in love with a sneaker?  Truly in love?

Yup.

I am not a runner, nor have I ever claimed to be.  Running is typically the furthest thing from my mind.  For years I've driven past runners and though of how tortured they looked, and vowed I'd never be one of them.  Well, thanks to the dash I'm officially one of the running population.  And this is where my beautiful shoes come in to play.  I did my research, like the good nerd that I am, and found that one of the most reasonably priced and yet comfortable/durable/liked sneakers was the Rockridge by Montrail.  In the category of running shoes that are designed for trail running, which I will be doing, these are not only the cheapest (not my deciding factor) but so highly rated that I had to take a chance on them. 

I had been running in walking sneakers up until they arrived, which were hot, stuffy, and a bit uncomfortable.  As I ran I couldn't help but think that I looked as tortured as those I saw and at which I had guffawed.  My wonderful Rockridge kicks have kept my feet cool and fairly dry in spite of my sweatiness.  I'm not saying they will make me any faster, which they won't, or make my running technique any better, which they won't, but by golly are my feet comfortable.  If I'm going to be participating in this tortured activity called running, I might as well keep my feet happy and thereby keep me happy.  I can't say enough about these shoes.  And it doesn't hurt that I found them for 59.99, got a 20% discount, and the grand total with shipping was less than $55 bucks.  Considering they're retailing everywhere else for much more, I'll take it!

As I continue my training, as we enter the "one month left to go," I'll keep you posted as to whether I continue to love them as much as I do now.  As long as they keep my feet cool and support me on all terrains, I can't see why I wouldn't love them.  Who knows, I might just make this running thing a habit.  Might.  ;)

Much love,

B

aren't they purty?!?

Reflections...(and not just my legs)

Okay, so I know that I'm pale.  Pasty white, to be exact.  That's what happens with Irish/English/Scottish/German blood lines.  Here's the fun part.  I've been getting out of work late, and don't have time in the morning to go for a run.   I went to my old high school (Marlboro High School) and ran the track for a mile tonight.  There were no lights on for the track, but lights on for the parking lot.  Well, I wouldn't need lights on for the track because...da duh daaaaaaaa!  I reflect light.  As I was running I looked down at my legs and noticed them nice and bright in the dark.  Apparently my skin reflected enough that I lit up the track by myself.  Stellar!  It brought me right back to college when I played tennis with a friend of mine.  We went at night, and he wasn't going to turn on the court lights because "your legs are bright enough to reflect moonlight".  Funny thing is this was coming from a pasty white Irish boy too.  That's how white I was. 

I did a run/walk at the town park the other day, and figured out it's a mile and a sixth one time around the park (Cluett Schantz in Milton, NY).  I did it one and a half times, and ran about half of it, though not continuously.  I was quite proud of myself.

Then I got a dvd/resistance band workout that kicked my butt.  Did that, and felt like I sweated more from that than from running.  Whew, it was intense. 

This week and next week we are babysitting my 2.5 yr old nephew, who's about 28 lbs.  He loves to be carried, so I'm using the up the stairs, down the stairs with the baby as impromptu workout sessions.  Hope it helps with my upper body and leg strength.  And on Saturday, I will be running around Benmarl in my usual 3" heels for a fun 14 hour day, up and down hills carrying lots of wine and doing a lot of tastings.  I figure with no time to formally exercise that day, work doubles as a workout.

So that's the end of week one.  One down, 5 more to go.  Hopefully I'll be in shape by 9/18.  Otherwise...eesh.  I'm gonna get creamed :)

Bye for now.  Will keep you posted as to the progress.

B

http://www.warriordash.com/
http://www.ccfa.org/
http://www.windhammountain.com/