New shoes......................................

I decided that I absolutely could not wait for sidewalk sales to get new shoes so I went to the running store yesterday to see if they would give me a ten percent discount on a pair to get me through until sale time. I ended up getting two identical pair for thirty percent off or to put it another way...FOR THE SIDEWALK SALE PRICE! Another reason why it never hurts to ask, and why I am a firm believer in going to a specialty running store for my shoes. Clothes I will get anywhere, but shoes and socks (I have found the hard way) are important to get from someplace that knows running.

How cool is it that I don't have to fight sidewalk sale crowds??? The store was so NOT crowded that I ask the guy to check out my stride and foot strike. You run at your comfortable pace on a treadmill and they have it hooked up to a computer that takes a video of you running and then they can slow it down and show you what you are doing right and wrong. The best news is my calf's DID NOT look fat in the video! Yah!!! The other good news is the guy said my foot strike was good and I come down on my mid-foot rather my toe or heel which would be not so good. He also noted that while my right foot looks good, my left foot was toeing out a bit. I am hoping this is only because I was having some pain from not having good shoes in my left lower leg. I am planning on going back in a few weeks and having them look again to see if it corrects itself now that I have the proper footwear.

About my fifteen mile run this morning....................

It was terrific! I had everything laid out the night before, my Gatorade stashed on the side of the road, camel bac filled, and mind looking forward to an early morning run. I tried to get to bed early, but I just couldn't get to sleep. At least I was relaxing so it was okay that sleep did not come until eleven.

I laughed when I reached three miles and my watch said only 34 minutes had passed. I still don't know what it was about that radio show that slowed me down, but maybe I should try listening to it the next time I want to go to sleep.

I have decided that I get my best ideas around mile seven. This week I decided it would be cool if when I reached home at mile ten I could snag (my) Mister and have him do the last five (his scheduled amount) with me. I didn't put much hope on the notion as he might not even be up yet considering it was not even 7 AM.

I completed the 10 miles in 2 hours and 9 minutes. I went into the house to use the bathroom and (my) Mister was up and willing to throw on some clothes and do the 5 miles with me. It was our first official run together. I woke up the youngest and had her come up on the sofa to sleep in case anyone woke up in the next hour and needed something.

(my) Mister worked really hard and did a great job running. He is still needing to walk a bit and has to fight the "I cant's" that seem to jump out of no where, but he is a great sport, and really only needs to get his time up slightly to be at my pace.

Ready for a laugh?

Running (and walking some of) the last 5 miles at a slower pace, and completing 15 miles (2 more than last week) I still finished FIVE MINUTES FASTER than last week. 15 miles in 3 hours 10 minutes. Much closer to the pace that I plan to run the marathon at. Good job Patty!

P.S.

Almost forgot to tell you...fifteen miles is the farthest I ever ran at one time! So far that is! I am looking forward to breaking that record in a couple of weeks. This distance thing is getting addictive.