Sunday, June 24, 2007

It's the skunk's fault

So I'm plodding along, nearly at mile 3 out of 5, feeling basically miserable, when I get an unexpected adrenaline boost - instead of the usual bunny, squirrel, deer, chipmunk or bird ,I get charged by a skunk! I don't think it saw me at first - it was just trotting across the road in my direction (whoever invented Pepe Le Pew got their little bouncy trot just right!) and when we saw each other we both kinda freaked - I muttered " get the $(%#@ away from me" and put on some speed; he arched his back and pointed his tail, but thankfully didn't shoot! That was the last bit of energy I had on this run - it wasn't long before I realized I had blisters forming on both feet. This was my second time out with new shoes - yes, even though I just bought new ones six weeks ago, I LOST one! How do you lose a shoe? I can't say, but I've looked in all the places I can imagine it having fallen out of the car, and all around the house. Back when I was still thinking of doing the Lake Waramaug triathlon (I didn't go, obviously or I'd have written about it by now) I needed shoes, fast, and had an hour to kill on Thursday near the Poughkeepsie Galleria mall. So I ducked into a random sporting goods store and grabbed a pair of Asics that seemed to have motion control properties. They fit similarly to the Sauconies - a bit too loose, so I got some inserts figuring I'd tinker with the combination of original soles and inserts til I got it right. My first time out, Friday night, was OK - a bit under 3 miles, and ended up with one foot with new insole plus half the original; the other foot had just the new one, and felt OK. But today it never felt right - aches, pains, and then blisters. I really want someone who KNOWS to look at my feet, hear my tale of woe (from the Nikes that were too small but I liked them, to the Sauconies to these) and tell me what to do. I think I could run better than I'm running now if I had the right shoes! It's just not possible (is it?) that with all the working out I'm doing, I'm getting slower and having less stamina so it has to be the shoes' fault, doesn't it?

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Shoes are tricky business and it took me some trial and error to find the right ones. I am frustrated right now because the shoes that I have that I *love* are a style they don't make anymore and I can't find them ANYWHERE. Sigh.

Maybe you didn't lose your shoes, they 'ran away' (HAHAHA...okay, it's early...)

RUTH said...

Of course it's the shoes fault! Had to smile at you running from the skunk.....actually that could be a new training technique.
Rx

Duane said...

It's the shoes, no doubt!

LBTEPA said...

The thing with ramping up your training is it's such a juggling act - more volume sometimes translates to slower/more tired. It will all come together soon, don't worry :)
Can you see a sports podiatrist for some shoe recommendations?
take care

Anonymous said...

My sister and I have been thinking about getting new sneakers for the triathlon. What does one look for in a running shoe? Is any shoe called "running" good? My problem is my feet get hot quickly. I've tried different socks but to no avail. Hawk

Herself, the GeekGirl said...

Make sure you're building in some rest weeks into your training where you don't increase your volume. Your body needs time to take in all the work you're doing. As for shoes, make sure you get fitted for them properly by someone who analyzes your gate e.g., pronator, supinator, etc. (Re: Skunk, isn't it amazing how we can put that burst of speed on when we need to??)

LBTEPA said...

long time no post, how are you going?