Posts Tagged ‘New Balance’
Distance: 5.16k
Time: 35:52
This was the slowest time for a run I’ve had in a long time. There are many things I could potentially blame, such as the cold, windy weather, or my (still) sore knee, or my still having a bit of a cold. But all those things were there on Sunday, and I got my best time. So, I’ll just have to blame it on running slowly. In spite of the time, this was one of the best runs I’ve had for several days. There’s no single reason why, but I felt better after this run than I have in a while. My knee was sore, but it actually got better the longer I ran. My foot pain from Sunday night vanished, despite wearing my old runners, and my toe pain on my left foot (which I haven’t really talked about) was gone, too. I think most of that pain was due to pulling the laces on my shoes too tightly. I loosened the laces for today’s run, and my feet feel much better. I had actually thought it was due to the shoes being too narrow, so my new shoes are wider, but I think I can tighten them up a bit, once I start wearing them.
I think part of why this run felt so good was because of where I was mentally. I’ve had a lot of stress the past few days, worrying about getting this job, and about getting enough hours at work. Although I was hoping to be working today, I decided to let it go and just enjoy the day off. I also wanted to really enjoy knowing I have this job, because even though I’ve known about it for a week, it didn’t feel real until I found out my schedule yesterday. I kept worrying that something would happen and I wouldn’t get it. Now that I have a schedule, it finally feels real to me, and I’m letting myself be happy. Also, I had to leave a lot of stuff up in the air pending this job, because I didn’t know if my schedule would change, like the Times-Colonist 10k in April. So, I got to go on my run without the burden of all this stress weighing me down.
Oddly, I’m not worried about the Edge to Edge Marathon in June, although I probably ought to be. I’ve already booked it, and I don’t know yet if I’m supposed to be working. I just have a feeling that it’ll work itself out. I think I’m less concerned because it’s still 3 months away, so I have time to figure something out.
Again, I’m hoping to be called in to work tomorrow. But if I don’t, I’ll probably go for another run. Maybe this time I can go a bit faster!
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Posted in Running Marathon | 
Tags: Edge to Edge Marathon, knee injury, marathon, New Balance, runners, Running, windy | 
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Distance: 5.13k
Time: 40:19
Wow! Nearly two minutes faster than yesterday! Of course, today’s run program had me run for 20 minutes straight before a 3 minute break. In fact, including my 5 minute warm-up, I only walked for 8 minutes of the whole run. Not so much as a peep from either leg. It was cold out though; I actually saw a few snowflakes during my run!
As I promised on my last post, I have compiled my top 5 list of running necessities. Here they are, in no particular order:
This first one is a combination of the iPhone itself, and my favorite app, RunKeeper. I know this isn’t the most useful suggestion unless you know someone who already has an iPhone, or you want to spend some serious coin, but it is the coolest way to track your runs. Both the free and pro ($9.99 on iTunes) versions use the GPS from the iPhone to track your course, keep time and even calculate your pace and speed. The pro version lets you set up run programs (such as the “couch to 5k”), take photos that are tagged along your route, and set up the iPod to play when you start the timer. If you sign up online, you can also see a map of your course, your splits, and the number of calories burned. You can then send this information automatically via Facebook or Twitter. If you happen to have a runner and a nerd on your holiday list, this is the present for him or her.
This next accessory for the iPhone (notice a pattern here?) is the XtremeMac Sportwrap for the iPhone, but it could also be used for the iPod Touch, or the old iPod. It’s made of neoprene, which is waterproof, and it has openings on both ends, so you have access to the headphone jack regardless of where it is. According to the website, they’ve improved on this model, adding a space to store your spare headphone cord, but it’s not out yet. I got one of these through ebay for $15.99, with a bit of hassle – read my blog to find out the story. Now that I have it, it works great. Haven’t tested it in the rain yet, though.
The next thing I can’t live without are my oh-so-comfy running shoes. These are New Balance 758’s, and they rock. I personally like New Balance because I have pretty narrow feet, and they make all their shoes in multiple widths, so my feet don’t slide around in them. If you want to get the runner on your list a new pair of runners, though, I would take them to the store so they can try on different pairs. Or, you could buy them another pair of their current runners, if you know they like them. Everything I’ve read says to replace your runners every 500 miles (800k), and each pair of good shoes costs at least $100, so if you have a serious runner on your list, a new pair of shoes is always welcome.
Next, is the softest running shirt ever. Yes, it’s made by the evil Nike, but it’s totally worth it. I read a review that complained about the seams, but I didn’t have any problem with them, and it’s super-soft. Oh, and the colour is pretty, too. I bought it for around $50. The only problem I have is that it’s not very warm on its own, so it would make a good mid-layer with a rain jacket. I read that the weather in Tofino is still pretty cool in June, so this may very well be the shirt I wear to the marathon.
Last, but certainly not least, is my cold-weather shirt, the Run:Spirit Pullover by lululemon. It ain’t cheap ($119), but it’s functional and cute. This photo doesn’t really do it justice but I couldn’t find a better one on the website. lululemon clothing does tend to be on the pricey side, but you can’t deny they pay attention to details. This top has a zippered pocket in the back, perfect for keys; a hole in the hood for a ponytail; thumbholes with pullover cuffs to keeps hands warm; a side zipper at the neck to prevent rubbing; and a hood that does not slip off in the wind. The fabric is also supposedly reflective, although I have not had a chance to test this. I would recommend this top to anyone doing some cold-weather running, although our “cold snap” here is not as bad as the rest of Canada.
Hopefully I’ve given a few ideas for the runners on your list. Again, if anyone out there has any other suggestions for gift ideas or any running stuff they love, let me know. And if any of my family is reading this, I want running gloves and running socks for Christmas, or gift cards to any running store. Happy shopping!
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Posted in Running Marathon |
Tags: armband, Christmas, gift giving, iPhone, lululemon, New Balance, Nike, RunKeeper, Running, XtremeMac |
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