Minimalist Shoe

Confession: I am not one who looks forward to my yearly physical - no real reason. I just never look forward to it. This year I was particularly unexcited, my doctor (who was amazing) had retired last May (which I am thankful she is retiring so she can enjoy this phase in her life) but it left me without a primary care doctor.

This past week I got a call from the doctors office noticing it had been over a year since my last physical and wondering if I'd like to schedule one, begrudgingly I agreed and they listed off the doctors who were accepting new patients. I know nothing about any of them so I told them I would prefer a female if that was an option and then felt like I was playing Russian roulette. I wanted a doctor who I felt comfortable around (I know if the first one wasn't what I was looking for, I could switch, but then I felt like I had an endless cycle coming of doctor switching.). They scheduled me for a new doctor at the clinic I go to. Blah I was getting the new kid, who I was afraid was going to be 12.

Much to my surprise, I hit a home run, the new doctor is wonderful. What makes her even more wonderful is that she has a vast knowledge of sports medicine (she has done a ton of work in it). When we were talking she was examining my knees (which have had 4 surgeries on them) and gave me some advice about maintaining them. I also told her a bit about how my one knee has been bothering me, it clicks, it swells, it's annoy (it won't keep me from running in January, I am too stubborn, plus she said I'd be fine). Anyways, she suggested that I start to work down to a minimallist shoe, she thinks it may help my knees. She also talked me through how to make the transition.

I do have a pair of Vibram 5 fingers shoes that I wear when I am just out and about and love them. However she warned me about what happens if I transition too quickly to a more natural shoe. I am excited to shoe shop again (since Asics no longer finds it necessary to make the same shoe that I fell in love with four years ago). I am excited to go try on some shoes and see if I can make the transition to a less supportive shoe. She suggested the Nike Frees after looking at my arch and all that good jazz. Whoop Whoop.

Anyways, so now that I am over my Asics (or at least trying pretending to be) I am ready to go to a bigger town than mine (seriously not many good options in terms of looking for running shoes in my town) and try on some shoes.

I am also jazzed that my new doctor isn't totally lame and won't be retiring next year (I would guess she is about my age).

134 items & counting

I am slowly but surely making progress on my commitment to the Give 500 challenge. My current goal is to have 500 items given away by March 1 (I figure it will get me through the winter and it can seriously be a winter project). I am in love with the process of going through everything, seriously before I moved to first call everything I owned (I owned no furniture other than my beloved papasan chair and didn't have a dog) fit into my car. It was freeing to know at any given moment I could pack up and move. Although now that I have a house (and copious amounts of furniture - or really enough to fill my house - this way of moving is impossible) and have acquired lots of stuff (some justified some I just don't need) I am realizing how easy it is for junk stuff to build up. So I have committed to downsizing. Not to mention in June Marc will be moving in and I should probably have some space for him to put his stuff too.

Count so far:

• 91 books (seriously I have way too many books after undergrad and grad school not to mention I LOVE TO READ) - I gave a bunch to the library (librarians were jazzed, or at least faked it if they weren't) and a ton of graduate school books to an old camper/camp staffer/friend who has just entered seminary (seriously nice to be able to pass the books off and know they will be used again)
• 4 pairs of shoes (why I have been hanging onto these shoes is beyond me, they were uncomfortable and I hated wearing them and still attempted to wear them when I forgot how uncomfortable they were - so I finally got rid of them)
• 38 pieces of clothing (seriously I owned way too much clothing - and some of it didn't/doesn't fit. Why in the world am I holding on to it?!)

Updated count: 134 items given away, 366 items to go

I will succeed.

Side note: I am also taking into consideration things I buy or acquire, so if I bring something new in the house 2 must go. I don't want to have this much stuff, more importantly I just don't need to have this much stuff! I must stop living in such excess! I am only donating stuff that people would actually want, I am also throwing some stuff away that just needs to go in the garbage. I am not donating things like socks with holes in them, throwing them away and those are not going in my tally.


Do you go through your stuff often?
Any tips on how to prevent crap stuff from building up in your house?
Where do you like to donate your stuff?

Post Race Hangover

I seriously feel like for about a week after a good race I have a bit of a hangover. It is a sacred window of time when the world seems totally conquerable and I can do anything. I am living in it right now. Before the race I was debating on which race to run in Fargo come May, but about a half hour after the race it was set in stone, I am half crazy, I enjoy the half distance as much as I hate it. My mind continues to race with fitness goals and my muscles ache slightly still reminding me of the joyful run this past weekend. For me a good run/workout seems to be the cure to any crankiness I maybe plauged with, I saw somewhere (my guess is pintrest) a sign that said "you are only one good run away from a good mood" and seriously it is so true for me. Note to self: this is one of the reasons you run, you love the post race feel good about life feeling.

My new quest before my run in January is I need to find new shoes! I hate this process, I want my old shoes, I have now finally come to grips with it isn't going to happen. I am not going to be able to get my beloved shoes back, so it is time I get over it and start the search. I semi-started looking at shoes on Friday before the half marathon and I tried on a couple pairs, at a big store that was super busy, so the staff didn't really have time to help me try on several pairs. None of them fit quite like I would like them to. One pair was too tight, one pair my foot sloshed around from side to side (no I don't have narrow feet), one pair was super heavy, and yet another was just uncomfortable. I am committed to finding a new pair of shoes. I am planning on going to an actual running store that specializes in shoes and I am going to try on a ton of them until I find something else that will work. Note to self: next time you fall head over heals in love with shoes buy a ton of them and just keep them on your shelves so you have them forever and never have to go through this process. I seriously think I am going through a bit of a grieving process over shoes [talk about first world problems here].

I also think it is time to update my ipod again. For some reason I hate the process of updating my running music. It is a fine balance of having music that is fast enough but not too fast and not getting any lame songs in there that drive me nuts after about three or four listenings. I also have discovered that I can't have slow songs, they break my mood and I seriously want to slow down when listening to them. It is strange, my music dictates my speed to a certain degree. I think my goal is to try and change my music at least between every half marathon. That is a lot of running and sooooo I listen to much of the same stuff time and time again. Note to self: go update your ipod even if you hate the process and you know that the first few runs with a new playlist won't be great until you get the playlist fine tuned and take out the songs you thought you'd like to run to but really you can't because they are too slow.

Sad Day

I will be the first to admit that this is a first world problem, however when I read the e-mail I still was very sad. I ordered some running shoes about a month ago and thought it was strange that I still haven't gotten the shoes in. I emailed the online company selling the shoes and asked why I hadn't yet received the shoes (my credit card hadn't been charged yet either) and I was hoping that my order had just gotten lost somewhere in the shuffle of things. This morning when I opened my email what I had feared had happened, they no longer have my size or my shoe available. SHOOOOOOOOOT. Not so excited to read that this morning. What this means, it means I can no longer get my beloved shoe.

I am seriously debating emaling the asics company just to see if they happen to know of someone who has these shoes sitting around somewhere that I could buy from them. I love these shoes, they fit like a glove and I love running in them.

Sad day, I think I am back to the drawing board and have to go try on shoes again. Stink. Stank. Stunk.





Any suggestions for shoes?
Any favorite kinds I should try?

Asics

Ascis Gel Frantic 5 - Women's Lime Green

I love my running shoes. End story. I love these shoes. They came out about three years ago (I am currently on my 3rd or 4th pair) - I LOVE THEM. The problem is I now don't want to transition to any other shoe. These ones feel like I am walking on clouds and are the most amazing shoe to run in. I love these shoes. I am now to the point that I order them online and in quanity when I can find them. They are getting harder and harder to find. I cannot say enough how much I love them. Coming from a smaller towm my options for shopping for athletic appareal is very limited so it is nice that I know exactly what shoe I love and what size I need and can just order it online, makes everything easier.

If you are looking for a running/athletic shoe, I highly recommend Asics. They are lovely! [no I was not asked to write this review, I just love these shoes enough to write a review of them]

I am now off to try to find somewhere online I can order another pair, mine are going to wear out before my January half marathon.

Evening Run

    Most eveings my fiance and I take Dakota (my sweet one year old golden retriever) for a walk. Last night as we were getting ready to head out on our walk we both happen to put on our running shoes to walk in (this is probably more rare than you anticipate, generally I am in flip flops, Marc is always in shoes). As we were starting out leaving my house, Marc began to jog, I think as a joke at first and I joined in. It was marvelous - the evening was cool - we both love a crisp night for a run and so we began to run together. It was fun to go out for an unexpected evening run. It wasn't record setting paces and we talked the whole time. Dakota thought she had died and gone to heaven, a second run in a day.
    Last night's run was liberating to a certain degree, I get caught up in what time I need/want to hit, and how many miles I need/want to run. I get caught up in the details of the run. I forget what first made me fall in love with running, the simple joy of being outside running, not the time or the distance, rather the love for running.
   We ran a good forty minutes or so (without the watch we sort of had to guess what time we left and we think we ran about forty minutes). I had a drawstring bag on my back (I was carrying my keys, cellphone, and bags to pick up after Dakota) - it was a little awkward and I would never choose to run with it - however last night in the midst of the improptu run it hardly phased me. I ran without an ipod (also a bit of a rare occurrance).
    I am thankful for last nights run for several reasons:

• it reminded me that a run doesn't always have to be about time or distance
• I love running short distances with Marc (he doesn't quite have the endurance or desire to go much further)
• the cool crisp air was a welcome guest after a hot and muggy summer
• I had an exhausted dog on my hands when we got home
• I enjoy running just to run

Nikon D60

I love my Nikon D60 and I have not gotten to use it nearly enough. I have realized that my go to camera is my point and shoot for sure, I don't know if it is because I don't want to carry the weight of the bigger camera or what, but I want to commit to using that camera more often. I want to take fun photos and be able to edit them and use them for stuff.
I should see if I can find a photo challenge type a deal online that suggests something to photograph each day to add to the challenge and fun. Sometimes I am stumped on what to take photos of, my puppy gets lots of photos taken of her (which I am not totally against, but I feel like I should have more than just pictures of my sweet puppy). I know there is a photo challenge of the day on instagram so maybe I will just borrow the topic from there and use my D60 to take photos rather than my phone.
Must use fun camera more often.
Unrelated side note: It is August 3 and I haven't drank any soda yet. Seriously, I know it is only three days but it is about two days longer than I thought I would make it. YAY for small victories (yes I celebrate small victories frequently)
Unrelated side note #2: I wish I had a group of people to run with in the morning before work. I enjoy running by myself but from time to time I would love to run with folks. I may sign up for the early morning swim group this fall through our community education just so that I get my butt out of bed still in the fall and swim with a group of people, I think I would push myself harder if I did. We'll see, community ed calendar hasn't come out yet for the fall.
Unrelated side note #3: I got a new pair of shoes the other day that I am over the top jazzed about, they are giraffe print Toms. Yes, some folks probably think they are ugly for sure, but I LOVE THEM! (I am fascinated by giraffes, and so in turn love that giraffe print has become trendy. I have loved giraffes since I was a little girl and am not certain what exactly made me fall in love with them.)

New shoes that I love
Generally I am a barefoot or flip flop type a girl
but these make me excited to wear shoes

Run Run Run Run Run Run Run Run Run

These are by far my favorite pair of running shoes, I love them so much that I actually bought a second pair of the exact same shoe before they quit making them. I love the way that they fit my feet, I love the colors, I love how light weight they are, and I love the way they mold to my feet. I haven't yet touched my new pair, I don't want to give up my old pair. I have begun to love this running stuff. 

Last night I began to map out my next year in races, I know they come up quickly and I semi-live in a strange place that there are not a ton of runs in the town I live in nor the neighboring towns but there are plenty in the area it is just a drive to get to them. So last night I mapped out some of the races I would like to run over the course of the next year. The problem is that all the long distance runs seem to fall at the same time and I know for certain that I cannot run back to back half marathons or my legs would HATE me. 

Here is my list of what I hope to run:

September 24, 2011: Waite Park 5k although the problem with this one is that it is getting a little close to the October run I am hoping to do..... we'll see how this one plays out...

October 8, 2011: Oktoberfest 10k [I am already signed up for this one]

November 24, 2011: Baxter Turkey Run 5k - I am hopeful that they will be running this one again, the website is currently listed for last year, but I am optimistic that they will still have it

[Here I have a massive break due to living in Northern Minnesota and the harsh winters, but I would love to find something to fill in here.]  

May 19, 2012: Fargo Half Marathon - I ran this one last year and hope to improve my time

May 28, 2012: Bataan Death March - I have promised a friend I would walk this with her here in Brainerd, it is a 20 mile walk. The story goes that the soldiers who actually were forced to march in the Bataan Death march were from Brainerd. I could be nuts being willing to do this one, but what the heck, why not?!

June 9, 2012: Sour Grapes Half and Half - I am going to have to run the 10.55k after what the end of May will look like, the race is here in Brainerd, so I would hate to miss it and it fits in with what my next summer schedule looks like so far.

[Here I am going to need to add a July and August race - but that seems a bit far out to be planning and my guess is the information isn't get out there.]

The goals above mostly for the May/June seem a bit crazy but I want to train and try it. I am excited and scared and nervous. I know my current shoes are on their last breath and the new ones are about to broke in.... I wish I kept better track of how many miles I actually run.

I think it is time to make a new running playlist, I am bored with the old one, any suggestions for music?

What are you doing to challenge yourself?