Twins!

My new babies.  They are not identical...more like mirror images of each other.  See for yourself.

In anticipation of running a marathon, I have started walking.  Baby steps.  So I walked for a few days.  I got up early (which we all know I hate doing) and went for a walk.  Ladybug goes with me too.  The first few days were hard for her.  I told her she is Ethiopian and therefore born to run.  She got on board after a few days.  I mapped out a 1 mile route.

The problem is -- after a few days I developed shin splints.  In both legs.  As a former  runner (and wanna be runner) I recognized it.  So I decided if I was going to be serious about this I needed the right shoes.  The wrong shoes can destroy your feet and legs and hips.  And for me, who already has an old foot injury and knee injury, I really need the right shoes.  And since my current pair of sneakers is old they are beginning to break down.  Shoes have a shelf life -- who knew?

So I went to a special shoe store.  All the sales people are specially trained.  They make you walk.  They make you stand on one foot.  They watch your feet and legs.  They diagnose your walk.  And then recommend the right shoes for you. This is a vast improvement to how I did it when I was a runner.  I would buy the runner's magazine the reviewed the new shoes and read every word.  I would study my feet and walk -- and I have no knowledge in anatomy or physiology.  Then I would go to the store and try on every good possibility.  It would take hours.  I would try one and run around the store.  The try the next one and run around the store. Over and over.  And then as a narrowed them down I would try them over and over.  Until I could tell which one I loved and which ones I did not.  It took hours.  And I am sure it drove the sales person insane.  But this place does all of that for me.  After a 5 minute review of my feet and legs he pulled out 3 shoes that deal with my issues -- I over pronate and I have high arches. 

I tried on the first pair -- Brooks.  They felt good.  The toe box seemed really roomy to me.  Almost too roomy.  I guess I like a snugger feel then they provided.  Then I tried on pair number 2 -- Saucony.  I felt nothing wrong about them.  They felt snug without cramped.  The arch hit me right.  This might be the one but I needed to try number 3 -- Asic.  The moment I tried them on I knew the were not the right ones.  The heel was wrong, the arch was wrong, nothing felt good about them.  And it the end the Sacony won.

I was happy.  But my shin splints were too severe to be resolved by just a new pair of shoes.  I am on huge amounts of anti-inflammatory and I have stopped walking.  In 7-10 days I should be able to try again.

Mean Mama