My new shoes!

I went to Runner's Circle - the Mr. Olivander's of running shoes. It was a cool experience. First they give you a random pair of shoes and tell you to run. She looked at my stride and told me I had a mild pronation so she gave me some shoes with support. So basically you put a different shoe on each foot and run around and take off the one you don't like until you find a pair that you do like. Then she taught me how to lace my shoes properly so my foot can breathe and move. It was so cool! I learned a lot. Here are the shoes I got:

I'm Doing it for Science...

Ok so I don't want people to make the same mistakes as me, so I'm going to sacrifice. I made the huge mistake of not buying new shoes for the half-marathon and I paid big time. I got some serious blisters and nasty toe-nails.Here is just one of the many nasty blisters I got.

So today I'm going to buy new shoes! I'm very excited and I have found some good tips that I found helpful that I'm going to share with you.

Q&A

Here are some answers to some common running questions for beginners (like me):

Is running outside the same as running on a treadmill?
-They're about the same , but you won't burn as many calories on a treadmill.

When should I replace my running shoes?
- Wearing worn-out shoes is the biggest risk for injuries. You should replace your shoes every 300-400 miles. Don't look at the bottom of the shoe to see if you need new ones - rather, look at the inside sole.

How can I find a running program if I'm starting from the beginning?
- You can find lots of running schedules on-line for every stage of running experience.

How can I avoid muscle cramps?
- Stay hydrated. Many cramps are due to dehydration. Make sure you stretch before and after.

When should I stretch?
- There's no right or wrong answer to this, just stretch whenever you feel you need to.

What part of my foot should I land on when I run?
- You should land mid-sole. Land on the ball of your foot and then go forward to your toes. Running on your toes causes shin splints from working your calves too much.

How do I get rid of a side-stitch?
- A side-stitch occurs when your diaphragm cramps up due to improper breathing. If it's cold outside you may increase side-stitches so try breathing through a scarf. Also - try not to eat too closely to when you go running. In general, if you get a side-stitch try altering your breathing pattern. Take a deep breath and slowly let it out.

What type of socks are best to run in?
- Don't get 100% cotton because when it gets wet it stay wet and that causes blisters. Synthetic materials are the best for wicking away moisture.

What is Fartlek Training?
- Fartlek training is a technique where during your run you run little sprints throughout. You can mark a landmark, like a stoplight or a streetlamp and run faster than your normal pace for about 30 secs or about 200m and then slow down until your breathing becomes normal then continue with your normal pace. Repeat this several times to increase your speed and anaerobic threshold.

Why is jogging so good for me?
- Because it prolongs life and also:

• less thickening of the coronary arteries
• better heart muscle function
• higher oxygen uptake
• a more effective system for breaking down blood clots

You Can Do Hard Things

Saturday.
We ran the half marathon.
What a challenge!!
I woke up with a really bad feeling - I did NOT want to run. But for some insane reason I got in the car with everyone else, lined up at the starting line, and started running when they shot the canon (cannon?). The beginning was good. About mile 4 I was like "I'm alive! I'm doin' good! This is easy peasy!" But about mile 7 my body did the do-do-dee-do sound that your computer makes when it shuts down. There was a girl who was a little bit ahead of me the whole time wearing a yellow jacket and I tried my best to stay with her. But then she started walking a lot and I ended up passing her. About mile 8 Rebekka and Jason caught up to me and they were my saviors. They stayed with me the entire rest of the time! Going slow and just helping me. Thanks so much you guys - that meant a lot!
I thought it would never end, but then we saw the finish line - and did the moon walk over it. I saw Carmen (she finished about 1/2 hour before us) and we hugged and I started crying...haha! It was so hard, and I got some pretty awesome blisters. But I'm glad I did it - it's one thing I can add to my list of accomplishments! Here are some pictures that I got off the website (I didn't bring my camera this time becuase I was in denial...I REALLY didn't want to run:
Here's Carmen - crazy woman ran the whole thing without stopping even for water!
Here's us at the beginning - I was feelin' good! Oh yeah - did I mention it snowed the whole time?!
Here's us - Jason is doing some weird Russian dance...haha!
Don't we look happy at mile 8?
Finally! It's over - we're doing the moon walk over the finish....!
So, what have I learned?
1. I need to train more.
2. I can do hard things.