When I started running again several years ago, I was prone to injury. In particular shinsplints. It seemed every time I got over 6 miles in distance I would get shinsplints that were excruciating. Then a friend recommended I go to FrontRunner in Upper Arlington. I had never purchased shoes at a “specialty” store and was not sure what the difference was. That fateful visit has changed every aspect of shoe wearing forever.

Gone are the days of shoes that crowd my toes. Whether running or dress. With these shoes comes a freedom from injury that I have never thought possible. Gone are shinsplints and knee ailments. Instead I have shoes that give my toes the freedom to spread out and do what they were designed to do - support my body in movement. So where does that leave us? How to buy shoes?

There are many articles on this. People dedicated to the science of shoes and feet. When it comes down to buying running shoes there are three important questions to answer about running shoes.

So when purchasing that shoe think about this - is it worth it to spend a little extra to get a little more? I think so but everyone has their own path to run….

Keep on jogging!

Ran today and I’m not sick yet. Did a 5 mile treadmill run(boring) at the gym. I was going for 6 but they had half the treadmills sectioned off for an indoor triathlon and there were people waiting so I bailed on the last mile. The good news is I’m not sick yet. I am going to try another 9 or 10 tomorrow to see how I do.

I’m 5 weeks out from the marathon and am starting to get worried. I want to complete the marathon strong but my health has had me sidelined for most of the winter. I’ve got to get my mileage up. The last time I ran the half marathon for the columbus I spent very little time getting ready as far as training and I finished great. Much faster than I would have thought but that’s only 13 miles. This is 26.

I’m starting to put together strategies for finishing it without choking completely and am even thinking of pulling a galloway. What’s that you say? That’s taking walking breaks so that you can maintain longer. There are some people that do it that way. Personally I don’t like the idea, but it is legit if you finish.

What I’m thinking about is walking through water stations. If I walk through every other water station for the first half and then depending on how I feel through the last half that should give me enough to get through it. I don’t know. I don’t like the idea. But I have to finish it. I want to run 3 marathons this year and I can’t flake on the first one. Anyone ever pulled a deliberate walking combo through the marathon?

This morning I got a great 4 mile run in. Felt great. Did it at an 11 minute mile pace with some resistence to help simulate external running. Went to work, felt fine - went to lunch. Everything’s great. Sit down after lunch and felt like a mac truck had just barreled over me.

Everytime I have a good run I get sick. I’m taking the airborne stuff - for when you ride on an airplane to help you to keep from getting sick. Plush nyquil of course. I refuse to get sick this time. I am running this week no matter what. 6 weeks from now I’m running the marathon.

Today should have been a good easy slow run. But as I started I new it was going to be a struggle to complete even my fall back distance of 10 miles.

I set out to run 12 miles today. I wasn’t sure how the weather would be so I set a fall back of 10 miles as a minimum. It was a beautiful day for running. The sun was high, the breeze was light, and the temperature was cold. I ran down my favorite trail that is just on the other side of State St. I didn’t make it more than a mile or two and I could tell it was a struggle to complete.

There are pains associated with different phases of running, depending on a multitude of factors. I don’t stretch at all before I run so I just start out a little slower. During this slow starting period I can feel the muscles in my legs stretching. Today though my joints hurt. My routine doesn’t include painful joints. Then my feet hurt. That’s another sign that isn’t part of my routine.

Mile One - The pain starts in all of the normal places. I start to loosen up and then I notice the pains in my feet. Heart rate is good, pace is good.

Mile Two - I become numb to my feet, but my hips are feeling abused. Too early for what is left.

Mile Three - My quads start to feel empty. How can they be empty?

Mile Four - It’s downhill so not that bad.

Mile Five - Ok, now I’ve got nothing left. I have to keep going. Do I have the mental game to push through another 5 miles?

Mile Six - My legs are officially empty. My heart rate never crossed the 176 beats per minute but I feel so drained.

That’s it. I can’t go on. I stop. Bad news is I’m 2 miles from home. Good news is my cell phone is my mp3 player. And my wife comes to my rescue.

As I’m beating myself up over not completing my 10 my wife points out the obvious. Due to a release of new software at work, I worked 15 + hours a day from Sunday to Wednesday with minimal sleep and no training time at all.

Ok so maybe I’m beating myself up over nothing - but with 6 weeks left I don’t have time to wait. I have to complete my marathon.

St. Patrick’s Day 5K at Brewmaster’s Gate

Distance: 5K (3.1 miles)
Date & Time: Friday, March 17, 2006 @ 7:00 P.M.
Location: Brewmaster’s Gate