Shoe-In

This week marks the passage into the second half of my Running Factory Learn to Run clinic. I want to say that running has become easy and that I'm actually enjoying the measured minutes I spend outside pounding the pavement but I'd be lying. Not that I really despise it. It's one of those love/hate scenarios that keeps me guessing.

I relish the idea of being a runner, but if it wasn't for this structured program that includes weekly jogs with group leaders and other participants, I wouldn't be pushing myself this hard. I missed one homework sessionn due to a crazy weekend and paid dearly for it. The group sets an unrelenting pace, every week adding minutes to our run time. I think I'm improving because I stay in motion and haven't collapsed, but it's hard to tell when the bar is constantly raised!

Sometimes I enjoy it. Once I warm up and become oblivious, if not grateful, for the chill outside, when the discomfort in my legs numbs to a faint ache and my ragged breathing takes on a rhythmic pace resembling life -sustaining oxygen intake. Somewhere in the midst of it all there is a moment or two where my body is in perfect harmony and I can take a look around me and think, "This isn't so bad, I can do this". It's a brief feeling that is soon overridden by muscle and joint complaints as I begin to fatigue.

I like the feeling when the run is over. Knowing I got an intense workout in and it is done for a couple days. The tired, spent feeling that says it's okay to relax a little now.

That's the poetic side.

Last week, our clinic began with a talk about the importance of footwear and Joe, the owner of the Running Factory, did a great job. Good timing too. I have blogged about my knee hurting but on this particular night I could barely finish because the bottoms of my feet started to burn and cramp. Ouch! I started to panic when the pain began. Maybe I had bitten off more than I could handle with Level 4 and was going to sustain an injury that would force me to stop running entirely.

Fortunately, I decided to retire my favorite running shoes, which I have worn for almost every workout over a 2-3 year period. Joe said that running shoes should only be for running because even standing or walking in them lowers the compression life of the sole. My fav sneakers still look great but the sole was dead and buried in terms of compression.

I had another pair of runners that I bought at the same time as my preferred pair but had worn them very little due to the style. Next time I went for a run, I laced those ones up instead. What do you know? Joe is smart. My knee pain eased up a little and that nasty cramping and burning on the bottoms of my feet has completely disappeared. Imagine if I bought a really good pair of new sneakers...I might actually experience some pleasure in this activity!