I've got the new shoe blues

I purchased a new pair of shoes Tuesday. Ended up going with the Nike Zoom, after trying the Asics 2140. I loved both of my pairs of 2130s, but the updated 2140 just felt a bit too stiff. Not in the typical new shoe way - more like having a part of the shoe I expected to flex, binding my foot instead. The Nike Zoom was light, felt nice & springy, and didn't make me feel like I had my foot strapped to a board.

As comfortable as they were in the store, and loping around the parking lot, I'm not so sure about the Nikes now. I laced them up for an easy run yesterday, on the path at Riverside Park. By a mile or two in, I noticed my left foot was much happier than my right. Everything on the left foot and ankle - great. The toes of my right foot were starting to feel numb, my instep was beginning to ache... not good.

Stopped and relaced at the half way point, to keep my heels in place. (That's one thing I do miss about the Asics - the narrower heel.) The last two miles or so were much more comfortable, but I'd already messed up the right foot for the day. Spent the evening rolling my feet over a tennis ball, and taking an moment to stand with my arches over the top of the wooden door jamb when I'd make the trip out to the laundry room.

Seeing as how great the Zoom is on my left foot, I'm going to pop in the superfeet green arch supports for today's three mile run, to see if it helps. (Added to the 2130s while I was upping mileage last fall) If it doesn't, back to the running store, to find what will. Thankfully, it's a local store, with a fit guarantee.

The Silver Comet 10k is this weekend, and my 2130s will be fine for that distance. It's going to be raining, so wouldn't really want to be in new shoes for the race anyway. That leaves me with two weeks to figure out the shoes, and get them broken in for the ING Half at the end of the month.

Update: With my green superfeet supports in, the shoes were quite comfy for today's run. Will have to see how it goes with a longer run or two next week. If they stay comfy, I'll be ready for the 29th.

Gmaps Pedometer and Too Far, Too Soon

I'm a map addict. I love looking at maps, drawing maps, charting data on maps, plotting locations, playing navigator... all of it. It really dovetails nicely with my "thing" for outdoor exercise, not to mention my chosen line of work. But it's possible the map thing is getting out of hand.

I map runs and rides in my online training log at Runners World. Have been doing it for over a year now. Works pretty well, and makes it easy to pick a route from a list and have the mileage automatically pop up. Has been fun for seeing how last year's Long routes are this year's Easy. My only complaint is the straight line measuring. If I want to get an accurate number, I have to zoom in and add a whole lot of points. And, should I want to change the route later, I have to zoom in and slide point, after point, after point.

Enter the Distance app. GPS checks in every 30 seconds, and keeps me updated about pace as I go. I can also flip over to "View Route" mid run, to see where I am. (Not that I'm lost, I just like to look at the map.) When finished, the data can be uploaded to MapMyRun / MapMyRide, to keep track in a work out log. Except, I don't use their workout log, I use RunnersWorld. Still gets uploaded though, because when I quit the app, the data is forever gone. I need to be able to look it up when I get back home and add to the training log. Frankly, if not for Distance, I'd be running around staring at Garmin Data on my wrist, and I'm far too clumsy to stay safe with that kind of distraction.

And, from Google, Gmaps Pedometer.

O.M.G.

It automatically follows the streets. No more clicking 8,000,000 points to mark an accurate route. It even picks up park trails, such as official National Park Trails. Switch between satellite, hybrid and elevation. Check your calorie burn. Get the URL for your recorded route, so you can bookmark it, email to your workout parter, link in a blog post, whatever.

Seeing as how my last couple of short runs have gone pretty smoothly, I figured I'd map out a slightly longer route, and check it against Distance. Columns Drive is close by, has a clear bike/pedestrian stripe on each side, and is relatively flat. But, mapping to the end of Columns gave me roughly 2.5 miles, for a total of five. And, that little sandy gravel path through the Chattahoochee Recreational Area starts right at the end of Columns. And, the handy dandy automatic path would find it's way to and from anywhere I clicked. Even if I clicked on the parking lot off Powers Ferry, way on the other side of the park.

8.595 miles. Eight-and-a-half. No big deal. After all, I just ran 13.1 last week. I can do 8.595.


It was cold, so wore tights, and a half zip over my shirt. Remembered gloves. Chapstick. Brought along a bottle of water, too. Easy 8.595, if you're prepared & awesome, like me.

It was 43, but felt colder. And windy. Not breezy. Windy. Not in the dangerous way stalwart cyclists of Atlanta endured during the recent storm. I wasn't busy avoiding tornados or anything. But my complaints seem far less whiny if it sounds like I was heading straight into an arctic blast. (Which isn't the case, as it was a crosswind.)

Crossed from the end of Columns onto the path, and still felt pretty good. Mile four, still okay. Turn around point by Powers Ferry, not so great. Approaching the parking area to go back onto columns, uncomfortable. Crossing the bridge, with two miles to go, ouch?

My toes were not ready for 8.595 miles. The poor little deflated blister and purplish spot piggies (wet shoes & socks on Saturday) were only up for six. I had to drop to a 5:00/2:00-run/walk by the last mile.

I'm back in flip flops again. A couple of good notes:

1. My daughter is taking it as me loving the pink leather sandals, with all their sparkly gems. She bought the lovely "princess sandals" for my birthday, three years ago. I like them, because I love her.
   
2. I can play with Gmap Pedometer tomorrow, while I'm NOT running.

Now, to figure out how to protect the piggies during the next half. Body Glide didn't work out so well in wet weather. Maybe the socks with individual toes? Should do the trick, if its just that I need room to spread my toes which my regular socks don't allow.

Half Training, 2/9-2/16

Monday 2/9:
CrossTraining
Cycling, 25.62 miles

Tuesday 2/10:
Hot yoga, 90 min

Wednesday 2/11:
Rest Day
Sick child @ home

Thursday 2/12:
Rest Day
Sick child @ home

Friday 2/13:
Easy run, 3.06 miles. 9:06/mile

Saturday 2/14:
Run the Reagan Half Marathon, 2:09:41 (official time)
Watch time - 2:07:52, 9:46/mile

Sunday 2/15:
Rest Day
15-20 minute walk. In flip flops, because the tips of my toes are blistered.

With the addition of cycling, this was my first 40+ mile week for 2009. As the weather gets warmer, I'm looking forward to seeing my first 60, 80, and 100 mile weeks of the year. Won't be this week though, because we've snapped back to winter temps (40-50 degrees).

Also, I think it might be time to start shopping for new running shoes. I've been alternating my two pairs of Asics, and keep the "good" pair out of the everyday shorter runs, but my feet were a bit achy after 13.1 miles on Saturday. They only have 340 miles and six months on them (thank you, Runners World training log), so they aren't too beat up. It's probably time to drop them to short run (3-6 mile) status, and get some shiny new shoes. The oldest pair, which was actually my first pair of shoes specifically for running (14 months ago), will move to regular house & yardwork wear.

The Croc, as in what a _____

I'm so glad The Manolo posted this. I'd like to think this would quiet my daughter's pleas for the pink crocs, but it would really just make her want to get a second pair for our cat.

Not only are the crocs dopey, they are just not good shoes. I know the kids love them, and that's fine. In most situations, they're okay. But I see kids running and biking in these things (not mine), with their feet flopping about in the crocs. That's if they can even keep them on their feet.

Two weeks ago, when my little ones were climbing Stone Mountain in appropriate sneakers and trail shoes, I saw a rotund couple chewing their child out for her repeated sliding on the descending side of the path. The girl was wearing a bright red pair of crocs, just like the ones sported by the cat above. Crocs! On a hike up a mountain. What a crock! She had no traction on the smooth rock surface, and could not stop her feet sliding out of the roomy chunks of plastic. (I won't even get into my surprise with the parents for fussing at her when there was little she could do about it. They didn't even take her hand to help steady her. Ack!)

You don't have to have a specific shoe for each and every sport, but for goodness' sake, don't wear crocs for anything where balance and tread is needed.

Shoes I Like like.

I wouldn't say I love these shoes, but I like them. In fact, I Like like them.
They look comfy without looking like something grandma would wear to bingo.

These would be great in place of loafers with jeans when I want to make it just a tiny bit dressier. And with skirts, they also give the benefits of flats, without making my short legs look even shorter, as all those ballet flats do.

They're also available in brown, and it's a toss up which will win. It's just a question of which shoes will be retiring to make space for these or their lovely cousins.