I'm Starting To Feel Like A Runner

It has been a week.  I’m sorry.  Things were crazy.  I have been in New York, New Orleans, Houston, Chicago, and Milwaukee.  I have been to amazing running stores in both New York and Chicago.  Fear not, I wasn’t cheating on Varsity Sports (www.varsityrunning.com ).  I still LOVE my local running store, but I do live in New Orleans.  New Orleans simply isn’t as big as New York and Chicago and doesn’t have the variety and options available in those cities. 

When I saw the running store in New York ---- New York Running Company (http://therunningcompany.net/new-yorks-homepage)  ---- I believe that my Facebook status update was, “I am like a pig in shit.”  They had the cool compression shorts that I had been wanting to try, and several different brands of them.  They had many different kinds of calf compression sleeves.  Plus, they had an amazing sale.  I simply couldn’t resist.  And, it was right next to my hotel so I had to wonder in.  In Chicago I went to a store called Running Away Multisport (http://www.runningawaymultisport.com/).  It wasn’t as large as the New York Running Company, but it was amazing.

 In between my trip to New York and Chicago, I was able to determine (with the help of a doctor) the cause of my achilles issues.  Even though I had been fitted for shoes, my shoes were too neutral.  As a result, it was straining my achilles.  The more mileage I was putting in, the more strain --- even with the calf compression sleeves (more about those later).  It wouldn’t have been something that Varsity Sports could have caught because to the normal eye (i.e. anyone but an orthopod, or truly a podiatrist) my feet seem appropriate for neutral shoes.  But, under careful analysis my feet pronate slightly and are somewhat flat and you can apparently only determine that with special machines.  Who knew?  Obviously, not me.  Bottom line, a great salesperson named Ashley took a ton of time to help me at Running Away Multisport.  She used the same special machine to look at my feet.  She watched me run at different speeds on a treadmill in different types of shoes.  She was extremely patient as I tried on many different types of shoes.  When all was said and done, the Nike Lunar Haze (http://nikerunning.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikeplus/en_US/commerce/women?hf=10001^12001&t=Women%27s%20Running%20Shoes#/?ll=en_US&ct=US&pid=395402&cid=1&pbid=INSPI_233941_v9_0_201011232309&path=lunHaz1101&piid=18679&p=PDPiD ) felt the best.  They aren’t pretty, but they feel good and I felt the relief immediately in relation to my achilles.  Those shoes, along with the new calf compression sleeves ( I bought several different brands between my New York and Chicago excursions) , and along with my icing and stretching regimen and I should be OK. 

I started to realize how funny I must look to the average person who knows nothing about running.  Calf compression sleeves, running shoes that are simply ugly, a Michigan hat and t-shirt --- and the piece of resistance otherwise known as the best birthday gift.  You see, a few days prior Gen and I had been chatting about hydration and water belts, etc.  Brooke and Gen were absolutely amazing and got me the water belt for my birthday (along with other incredible running stuff).  I was blown away, and I'm not someone who is easily blown away --- I think I kept it together, though, even though internally I was doing a happy dance.  So try to picture the complete ensemble.  I may look like a fool, but I have never been happier.  Moreover, if you care more about how you look than how you feel while running then my thought is that you really aren’t so much of a runner.  (I equate it to those women who put on makeup before going to the gym --- if you are really going to gym to work out, you are going to schvitz, so why bother with the makeup?)

It was absolutely amazing to be able to chat with Gen in person about the upcoming events --- Shamrock Shuffle in a month, our respective half marathons in May, and the Chicago Marathon.  (By the way, you can read all about her training on her blog Bring Me Sugar --- http://genruns.com ).    It made me even more excited than I already was.  I love having someone who I am doing these races with and to virtually train with; it makes it so much easier.  I have friends in New Orleans who I will be able to do some of the training runs with, but when it really comes down to it other than Liberdy (trainer extraordinaire) and Gen (virtual and actual running partner) I am on my own in terms of training.  I did feel terrible for Brooke, who had to endure hearing Gen and I “speak running,” but I had fun. 

I got to spend time with my amazing friends over the last few days.  It was the shot of energy that I needed.  Plus, my friends are amazing.  I hadn’t seen many of them since September when I was last in Chicago socially (I had been there for work in the interim but unable to see them).  Logically, I know that I have changed a lot since September in terms of weight loss, attitude, being in shape, etc.  But I “see” myself everyday and don’t necessarily realize these changes.  I guess I finally saw the changes during the past few days.  It was pretty neat; I’ll openly admit that.  (And, as an aside, they looked amazing as well and I got so caught up in everything that I don’t know if I got a chance to let them know that.)  We hung out and got to talk and catch up.  It had been too long and some things are just better in person than over email or the telephone.  I had my first cupcake in about 11 months (Brooke made AMAZING cupcakes that are apparently only 4 Weight Watchers points --- I don’t understand how the points work, but that is relatively low in points from what I am told) and I hope that I didn’t look ridiculous eating it.  It was SO good!  We had dinner at what is, in my humble opinion, the best new restaurant in the US for 2010 --- The Girl and the Goat (http://www.girlandthegoat.com/).  The food was amazing and was surprisingly healthy (obviously depending on your choices).  Stephanie Izard, the chef, continues to amaze me each time I am there and she is always lovely and fun to chat with.

Tuesday is Mardi Gras.  Mardi Gras is about excess and blowing off steam in preparation for Lent.  Obviously, y’all have figured out that I’m a Yid so Mardi Gras has no religious meaning to me.  But, in a somewhat ironic and very New Orleans twist --- Tuesday (i.e. Mardi Gras) is the day that my hard core training starts for the half according to the 12 week schedule that Liberdy put together.  I’m ready to go and ready for whatever pain comes with it.  My "Mardi Gras break" --- including the running stores and time with my friends --- has given me the fuel I need and extra motivation I need to kill these things (keep in mind, my definition of “kill” is likely different than yours).  Either way, I’m starting to see myself as a runner --- a half marathon runner and a marathon runner.  Thank you to my friends and family for helping me get there.

Happy Mardi Gras.  Happy running.  And if you see me in my ugly shoes, calf compression sleeves, water belt, Michigan hat, and Michigan t-shirt --- try not to laugh.  But even if you must, it doesn’t bother me in the least.