First Gear

Unlike Amy, I'm able to find my running shoes. And for nearly half the cost. Any of you that know me, know I don't like to pay full price for anything. However, I will if it's important. And shoes are important.

I too was fitted at the wonderful Marathon Sports in Cambridge. I tried a few pairs before angels started singing and rainbows filled the skies. These shoes felt like nothing I've ever felt before. And my leg pain stopped immediately after I started wearing them.

So when I found my Brooks Adrenaline GTS (on one of my favorite sites for workout gear), I jumped at the opportunity. I only bought one pair, but I'm going to buy a second, so I don't find myself unable to find shoes before the marathon.

Speaking of that marathon... so far my training has consisted of finding shoes, and keeping up some sort fitness level. I'm taking 2 continuing education classes right now, and my energy has been focused on that. I'm still trying to find the schedule that works best for me. I've been sporadically running at the gym and on the occasional Sunday outside.

I'll be stuck in first gear for the next few months until my classes are over. It's actually a great time for me... I'm ending my 27th year with some classes, and starting 28 training for my first marathon. Since the majority of my training starts in May, I won't be posting as much as Amy. But when I find a good deal on gear I'll keep you updated.

Gotta Get My Kicks Somewhere

Well, I'm just about to finish up Week 3 of training for my half marathon in April; today is 40 minutes of cardio (which I'm mostly doing because the past couple days have mostly been 40 minutes upon 40 minutes of booze and burger eating) and tomorrow I finally get to up my long run mileage to 5 miles.

But what this weekend really is is "time to get new sneakers" weekend.

These types of weekends make me scared, sad and excited all at the same time.

The pair of sneakers I'm retiring - my Saucony Progrid Hurricane X - were something I picked up in a pinch: I had worn out my pair of Brooks sneaks with all my marathon training, and I needed a new pair to go on my peak run of 20 miles. I walked into Marathon Sports up in Cambridge, fully expecting to just pick up my new pair of Brooks in my size, and walk out. But....they weren't there.

Now, Marathon Sports is pretty much the only place I will ever buy running shoes, because the staff are all runners, and they undergo hours upon hours of training to find the right sneaker for every individual (which is something we'll probably end up talking about in the future, after I wear out my new pair today before Chicago). So I wasn't about to run all over the city of Boston looking for these Brooks. So I got refitted.

My Sauconys' first run with me was my 20 miler (which is actually awful - you still need to break in running shoes like you would any other shoe. I knew this at the time and that I was kind of being an idiot). A week later, they ran me through a marathon in a 42 degree N'oreaster that I pulled 15 minutes off my previous marathon time. About 6 weeks after that, my Sauconys ran a 10K in an hour. This past Wednesday, they ran a 5K with me on some nice snowy sidewalks in about 27 minutes. Now their green tread on the bottom is starting to feel smooth. Their white mesh is stained with sweat and mud puddles and miles of city running.

My nostalgia regarding a pair of sneakers probably seems off-kilter to some people, but the truth of the matter is that those sneakers supported me through a few hundred miles - literally. They're designed for all my body's running quirks (bad knees, foot placement, mileage - like I said, this will not be the last time I write a love letter to sneakers on this blog). My sneakers are a portion of the reason I can train the way I do and not get hurt.

My running shoes are also something I frequently cite as something I can't live without. Because at the end of the day, when I'm running, it's only me out there. All the other stuff going on - job, boyfriend, friends, family, whatever - is all gone when I'm on the road. All it is is my sneakers, hitting the pavement and my legs turning over again.

And so, my sneakers are like old pals. If I take 6 weeks off between races, they don't ask me where I've been or complain that I was gone. They just pick up and go with me.

So yesterday, I was browsing for my Progrid Hurricane X's...and they're no where to be found. Which is heartbreaking on a couple levels: 1. I can't just find them on some discounted website and buy a couple pairs for the price of one (these run about $130-$140) and 2. It means I'm going to have to be fitted....aaaaagain. And start my attachment and relationship alllll over again.

The next generation of my sneaker are out - but the Hurricane 11's - will they be the same? Will they fit like my X's? Will it be like any other relationship - where at first I notice the differences, but after awhile, I won't even think about my X? I guess the worst thing about having to get new shoes so frequently is that to the naked eye, it doesn't look like there's anything wrong with my current ones; most of the wear and tear is internal. That internal cushion is essential and pretty much the only reason I'm not in excruciating knee pain 90% of my life, and I know it's important, but, still. I got these sneakers....exactly 5 months ago this weekend. I think I have stuff that's been in my freezer longer. But with the miles I put on them, 5 months is about the life expectancy of a running sneaker (or about 300 - 400 miles, depending on a handful of factors).

So, tomorrow when I hit the road for my 5 miles, I will be in my Hurricane X's; our final farewell run before I hang up their worn treads. They served me well.

Title & Registration

Inaugural post!

There. Got that out of the way.

So Val and I are running the Chicago Marathon this year. (Yes, on purpose.) We thought of starting twentysixpointtwos so that everyone we know can follow us through the whole thing (and confirm suspicions that we are, in fact, completely insane). But we figure not a whole lot of people actually understand (a) why we run (b) what goes into running something like a marathon (c) that we will admit that sometimes, it sucks as much as everyone thinks it sucks.

We'll be writing and sharing a bunch of stuff for the next 35 weeks because this will be Valerie's first marathon (!!!!!!!) and my third (on my way to my goal of 5 by 2012). It'll range from goals to thoughts to training schedules and to other things like playlists, sneaker shopping, and Gu preferences. Hopefully we get some cameos from our trainers because they're like...professionals and get paid to know things, and we're just kind of winging it without them.

We hope that this will not only give everyone a glimpse into the feat that is a marathon, but that we get everyone excited about it. Because I know that I would have never been able to make it through my first marathon (or second, for that matter) without knowing that I had friends and family along the way and at the finish line (my Dad still owes me 26 feet of running, by the way).

There's approximated 980 miles between Boston and Chicago - but all that really matter to us are the last 26.2.

First step of that finishing that run is starting. So:

Let the miles begin.