My New Running Shoes

For my birthday this year, I got a new pair of running shoes.

I have particular needs when it comes to a running shoe.  After two heels spurs and two years of plantar fasciitis in both feet, I need a shoe with lots of support and a ton of cushion on the heel.  I have a wider foot and always wear men’s running shoes as they seem to have a wider footbed.  And they have better colors.  I don’t know why it is assumed that I want to wear pink or purple shoes because I am a girl.  No thanks.  I’ll wear men’s. 

I’ve traveled the road of different shoe brands.  I used to love my Saucony’s and spent years in those.  I switched to Asics for a couple of years and then went to Brooks.  Now, I love and swear by my Hoka Bondi’s.

My Bondi’s are expensive.  These days, the going price for a new pair is $200, which has made me really shop around and determine if Bondi’s were still the shoe for me.  They are.  I pool my birthday money and then pick some associated masculine color best suited to my tastes.

When my Bondi’s came in this year, I put the box on my closet shelf.  With the quarantine, I wasn’t running as much and never ran a lot (or well) in the summer.  “I’ll take these out for my next training cycle,” I thought.

For some reason, this Fall stood out in my mind then.  I wasn’t sure what race it would be, but in my mind, I thought I would be in a training cycle for some race right now.

I’m not.

This is the first time in forever I’m not training for some race that is on the horizon.

It’s weird. If I think about it long enough, I can really relate to 2020 Thor.

There are virtual races.  Virtual races are races you sign up for online but run at home on your own.  Once you are done, you submit your time and then the organizers will send you a medal.  I think a lot of regularly scheduled races that got canceled have done this this year.

This past April, I was supposed to run another race with a group of other runners.  I have found that I can do these events even though I don’t like to socialize because running is the topic.  When our race got canceled, we all signed up for a conquer COVID virtual race.

It was lame.  I ran 6.2 miles on my treadmill and submitted my lame time.  A few weeks later, my lame medal came in the mail.  It wasn’t fun like races are supposed to be.  The medal was very unrewarding.

With Declan’s school schedule right now, I can run about thirty minutes every other day.  On weekends, the only motivation I can muster is for a walk or two. I am rotating through old running shoes that have gone way past their mileage.  My shoes are shot.  When I am out on the trails, my mind is back home to the box of shoes in my closet. 

Even though I have nothing to train for, I am happy the kids have their sports to keep them active and busy.  Catelyn has soccer and Bobby has football and basketball. 

And lately, the football coach that made Declan an honorary coach last year has been kind enough to work with Declan in the wrestling world—helping him get in shape and gain confidence physically.

I am always amazed at how outstanding this coach and his family have been for Declan.

I think it is time to accept that I will not be training for a racing goal for some time.  It might be time to open my birthday present.  The best part?  I don’t remember what masculine color I picked.  It should be a pleasant surprise!