Shoes

I like pretty things.  I mean, what girl doesn't, right?  I'm not talking about frilly dresses and spiky heels (though, they have their place in the world, too), but I like things that are pretty or interesting to look at.  

Unfortunately for me, I have particularly picky feet and all of the "pretty" running shoes that I've tried in the past have caused me issues.  So I've stuck to my plain old Brooks Ravennas, which, while wonderfully perfect for my feet, would never have been called pretty.  (Sorry, sweeties, but you didn't want to be crowned Miss America anyway, right?) 

Brooks Ravenna 3 (my first shoes!)

After two years of running and being a loyal Brooks customer, somehow the pretty shoe fairy must have noticed that I needed a little pick-me-up.  The Ravenna 5s are out, and oh my!  Look! 

Aren't they gorgeous?  I can't wait to get my hands on these shoes.  Of course, I have to wait, since my husband got me the 4s for Christmas this year, and they hardly have any miles on them at all.  So it would be wrong for me to shell out $100 for another pair of shoes right now, right?  (Not rhetorical - I'm looking for someone to argue with me here!)  

*sigh*  But.  I will be getting these shoes.  They look fast, don't they? =)  

Do you care what your running shoes look like? Are you brand loyal? 

June Stride Box!

Over the weekend, everyone was Tweeting that they'd gotten their new Stride Boxes.  When I got back from NYC late Saturday, there was no brown box waiting for me.  Grrr.  Then, today, I discovered that my husband hadn't actually gone to the mailbox on Saturday!  Apparently he does not understand the importance of MAIL.

Anywho, I opened up the box today and found all kinds of goodies.  If you have not yet checked out Stride Box, I sincerely urge you to do so.  $15 a month, and you get to try out all sorts of things that you might not ordinarily try.

June Box with detailed "Stride Guide" that explains the contents

Power Ice - "Frozen, Refreshing Ice Bar with Electrolytes" 

Lock Laces - "No Tie Athletic Shoelace System" 

Skratch Exercise Hydration Mix, Pocket Fuel Almond Butter with Kick, and
Electro Delytes Energy and Electrolyte Citrus Bars

Ridiculously blurry picture of Blue Steel Anti-Chafe Cream

Due North - Foot Rubz Massage Ball

I am very excited to try all of the edible/drinkable stuff, since I am continually searching for new and better ways to hydrate and fuel during longer runs and races.  The massage ball will please my husband, since that means he can have his back (I may have "borrowed" it a few months ago).  Lock Laces are something that other people I know swear by, but I have never tried.  Now's my chance!  That's why I love Stride Box so much.  If I went out and tried everything that everyone suggested, I'd go broke.  This month, I get to try out roughly $27 worth of product for only $15 - AND I don't have to go anywhere or do anything.  It just comes straight to my door!  How can you beat that?  

Plus, if you end up liking any of the things that you try in the Stride Box, almost all of the products come with a coupon code for 10-20% off through the Stride Box website! Score!  

Have you gotten any fun mail lately?

Keepin' it in Stride

So, awhile ago, I read about Stride Boxes.  I was intrigued  so I signed up - after all, $15 a month to try lots of cool products? How could I pass that up?  With all the excitement of getting ready for my half, I kind of forgot about it.  Then this showed up:

After a brief "Hey! My Stride Box!" squeal, I opened it up, and was amazed at how much stuff they put in such a little box. 

So much cool stuff! 

A few of the items, I recognized, but others, I'd never seen before or had even heard of.  Fortunately, Stride Box comes with a handy-dandy "Stride Guide" that details the contents. 

It even tells you how much everything costs!

Since I wasn't pleased with my choice of fuel for my half this past weekend, I'm most excited to try out the Honey Stinger Energy Chews (even if Cherry Cola isn't really my thing), the Bonk Breaker Bonk Bites (who doesn't love PB&J, right?),  the Just Great Stuff bar, and the Vi Fuel Endurance Gel.   (The Jelly Belly Sports Beans I've had before)

The Klitch seems really cool, though my race bag has a separate compartment for shoes.  Still, it's an interesting idea.  Over all, I'm super psyched, and can't wait to try everything out - and for sure, I can't wait till next month to see what other goodies Stride Box has for me! 

Special Delivery

I love mail.  

A  blogger I read posted awhile ago about getting excited about receiving mail, and today, for me it was quite true.  Packages from Amazon, Running Warehouse, and Gone For A Run all graced my doorstep and I did a happy little dance.  The Amazon package was a surprise - books from my mom for my kids (awww!).  The other stuff, I actually ordered and have been (not so) patiently waiting for.

First, the bras.  So freaking excited, it's almost actually a little sad.  I wanted to find sports bras that had actual clasps in the back, but I'm on the smaller side, breast-wise (yes, I just typed that), so mostly what I end up with are compression type bras.  They're fine, they do the job, but some days, they are freaking impossible to get in and out of.  After a particularly bad run a few weeks ago, I had to pitifully call my husband in to help me get out of one, and then wearily explain to him that I was not trying to come on to him, I was just stuck and had wrenched something trying to get myself ready for the shower.  (Poor guy LOL)

So when Running Warehouse announced this week that they had select Saucony products on sale which included bras with BACK CLOSURES I was thrilled.  I bought the only two colors they had - black, and a dark pink.

Of course it's sideways... Pfft. How did that happen?  Anyway.  Saucony Curve Crusader Bra

Have not tried them on yet since I just got them, but I'm sure I'm going to love them, if for no other reason than I'll be able to get my self dressed and undressed.... something that I have been proud to be able to do since the age of, oh, I don't know, THREE.  

Moving on.  The box from Gone For A Run held two items.  First, these puppies:

13.1 Flip Flops from Gone For A Run

I saw these and immediately had to have them.  My "debut" half marathon is next weekend, and I'm not the bumper sticker sort, but I wanted something to commemorate the event, since I figured people would stare at me oddly if I wore the medal everywhere I go.  Since I pretty much live in flip flops in the summer time, I figured these would be fun.

The next item I purchased just a few hours before I found out about the Adidas shirts.  Kinda bummed about that, actually, since I'm pretty sure that the shirt I'm bought didn't benefit anyone except the people who made it, but oh well.  I still love the message, and will wear it a lot.

Love this shirt! It came out of the package mighty wrinkled, though, didn't it? 

I'm still waiting on one more item that I've ordered recently - I don't know what got into me, but I've been on a running-related spending spree lately.  There must be something in the water.  

How about you? Any fun running related purchases lately?  

I do what with my feet?

When I decided that I was going to start running last year, I went to a running store that I’d heard about to talk to an “expert” re: shoes.  A nice woman watched me walk barefoot, pulled out 4 different boxes of shoes, told me I needed inserts, and $160 later, I walked out the door feeling like a “real” runner.  I’m an over-pronator! I need “guidance” shoes! And inserts! And I know all this because some lady told me so! Yay!

Fast forward to three months later, when I had shin splints and had been pointed in the direction of a different running store where they did “gait analysis” and all kinds of fancy stuff.  After running on a treadmill in front of a camera, having my arch analyzed by some high-tech gizmo, and talking at length to another nice lady, I walked out the door another $120 poorer, feeling like THIS time, I had it right.  I don’t need “guidance” shoes! I need neutral shoes!  Yay me!

Fast forward yet again, to present day.  Err, today.  Took a short run this morning in my good ole “guidance” shoes (I returned the “neutral” ones after about a week, thinking that they didn’t feel any different than the “guidance” ones… because I still had shin splints.  Never occurred to me to take care of the shin splints BEFORE trying new shoes…  DUR.), and started thinking back over all the various aches and pains I’ve had, and how despite stretching and warming up and blah blah, my really good runs were few and far between.  I seem to have more aches and pains than other runners I know, even “newer” runners.  Maybe I’m not cut out for running.  Maybe I’m too fat.  Maybe I just suck.

Or maybe…….  Maybe I need different shoes.  Hrm.  Could it be?  Could the second lady with the fancy technology have actually been right?

So I finished my measly 3 miles, went home and cleaned up, and headed to yet another LRS to get a tie-breaking opinion.    ANOTHER very nice lady helped me, and guess what?  I’m back in neutral shoes.

I ran two miles in them tonight, just to test them out, and it was amazing.  No foot pain.  No shin pain. No calf pain. No ankle pain.  NO PAIN.   It was – and I don’t use this word lightly –  AWESOMESAUCE.

So. Moral of this story?  I *heart* Brooks! No, actually, the moral of this story is to not try new shoes when you have shin splints!  Also, don’t wait nearly a year to try new shoes again!  Dur.  =)

Skirting the issue

Not running for three weeks is enough to drive anyone crazy - add to that the fact that I'm trying to save $$ and curb spending, and you have a full-blown insane girl on your hands.   So what has this insane girl been doing?  Web window shopping, of course!

A few months after I started running, I discovered these skirts and have been a fan ever since.  I have four of the Gym Girl Ultras currently, and had to retire a white one after it got washed with something it shouldn't have and turned a horrible gray shade.  I tried dyeing it, but that did not go well, and I had to chalk the skirt up as a loss.  :-(   I love the skirts for their practicality - long shorts underneath keep my thighs from chafing, they have pockets that will hold my key, phone, tissues, whatever I need.  They also have a hole in the skirt for your headphones so that if you listen to music while you run, you're all set.  I also love the way these skirts look and feel.

THEN I discovered Lululemon and this skirt.  I am IN LOVE with this skirt.  I don't own one yet, but I have a few friends who have it, and they love it.  I think it's just too freaking adorable. This skirt is going to be my "reward" after I finish my Half Marathon this spring.  Unless I cave before then.  So! Cute!

Are you a skirt runner?  What are some of your favorite running pieces?