Tag Archives: running shoe

All About Running

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Wednesday night, I got to be an athlete training with a team again! And boy was it fun!!

For a while now, I’ve been thinking about joining a running group, but I’ve never taken the time to see what is out there, make a decision, pay the money, and join. But last night I think I finally took the plunge, and I think I found what I’ve been looking for. :)

It was actually a counselor who suggested joining a running group so I could geek out with other runners. (I finally got some counseling for all the things stressing me out these days, but I was pretty disappointed in my counseling sessions though. I really didn’t learn anything and didn’t felt like I received any help.)

Anyway, Wednesday night I met the Skinny Raven Training Group (Skinny Raven is the local running store.) at The Dome for an indoor track workout.


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We started with some light jogging then proceed to stretch and do some dynamic warm-ups. (Just like the good old days of running in college. :) )

Then we completed the following track workout:

3 x 10 minute tempo runs (10 mile to half-marathon pace)

I average about 7:08 – 7:15 minutes/mile pace.


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It was fun and felt so good to run fast!

I didn’t really know what to expect from my body since I haven’t been doing a lot of running recently and only a couple of speed workouts recently, but I ended up running with a couple of the top women for the first two intervals. I was feeling good on the last interval, so I took off and surged on ahead. It felt great to be one of the fastest women in the group (at least for this workout).


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The running group also got me excited for my next marathon!

I do not know for sure which marathon I will run, but I am hoping to run Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN again. I ran it two years ago and had a blast!

I normally haven’t need a race to train for, but lately I’ve been lacking a feeling of direction in my training, so I started researching training plans for a marathon early this summer. I’m excited!

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I’ve already completed my goal of reading one book a month.

I recently finished reading a book featuring the life of Dick Beardsley. Dick Beardsley is a famous person in my family because a.) he is from Minnesota and b.) because he went to the same college my parents attended—at the same time, too (a small junior college in my hometown that is actually now a prison). Both my parents and my sister have heard him speak, and when my mom went to hear him this fall, she got a signed copy of his book for me for Christmas.

I enjoy reading biographies, but I was not expecting to be so engrossed in the story! Beardsley is well-known for his lost to Alberto Salazar by 2 seconds at the very end in the 1982 Boston Marathon, but he was also a dairy farmer and addicted to pain killers, which I had no idea about.

I would highly recommend this book! I woke up at 4:45 a.m. one morning (not on purpose) excited to read the book!


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(Source)

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I finally picked out a new pair of running shoes. They were much needed seeing that I’ve been running in the above pair since August. (I go through about 3 pairs of shoes a year.)

I chose the new Saucony Triumph 9 running shoes with the new 8mm heel-toe drop, which in theory is supposed to help support a more natural stride. I’m excited to try out this new design!


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We are getting dumped on with snow today. . . and then it is supposed to turn bitter cold again—> 0 – 5 degrees for the high and below zero at night. Seriously, this winter it has either been dumping snow or bitter cold. Grrrr!!

Okay, so that isn’t running-related, but it is because I’m debating if I should try running outside in the morning or go to the gym and run on the dread-mill.

Meant for Each Other

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Some things are just meant for each other:

sweatshirts + fall

sunshine + happiness

cookies + the freezer

my husband + cheese

Costco + spending lots of money

and especially. . . . peanut butter + banana + muffins!! Three of my favorites all wrapped together!


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Peanut Butter-Banana Muffins

(based off this recipe)

Ingredients

1 cup old-fashioned oats

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

3/4 cup soy milk

3/4 cup mashed ripe bananas

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients.

2. In a separate bowl, combine the egg, milk, bananas, peanut butter, applesauce, and vanilla.

3. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients just until moistened.

4. Fold in chocolate chips.

5. Line muffin tin with paper liners or grease with cooking spray. Fill until three-fourths full.

6. Bake a 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

7. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Serve warm.


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Another thing that goes together quite nicely: me + running shoes.

I’m pretty sure I own more running shoes than any other type of shoe. . . combined!


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I’ve had these for a couple of weeks, but wanted to try them out before reviewing them.

I purchased the Mizuno Wave Inspire 6 at REI for about $70 because the new model is now out.

Notes:

Lightweight – However, it seems as though this results in the shoe breaking down a bit faster than some of my other shoes (primarily Asics, especially the more expensive ones), but then again I could buy two pairs of these for the price of a new pair of Asics Kayanos, which retail at $140. So, meh, kind of a toss up.

I can tell these shoes are meant for someone who pronates (feet roll inwards) because the inside of the heel is built up a bit. I noticed this at first, but after a while I forgot all about it.

Mizuno seems to run just a hair on the small side, but I think going up a half of a size would have been too big.

Even with my orthotics in the shoes, my heel does not slip out–always a plus and something that can be difficult to find.

Overall, I really like this pair of running shoes, however, I don’t know that I will be purchasing them again–mainly because of the medial (inside) of the heel being built up more than I’m used to.


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And another added bonus about these shoes: they look sweet and the bright colors are fun!

I’ll admit it, I do care how my running shoes look. (Although I have purchased shoes that were kind of “ugly,” in my opinion.) I know that’s not how it is supposed to work, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t consider what the shoe looks like before buying it. And frankly, I think, Mizuno has some pretty awesome looking shoes.


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One thing that was not going together today though: me + work.

My voice is about an octave lower, my throat is scratchy, and trying to project your voice in a large gymnasium was just not happening today. Plus coughing up phlegm is not something most people want to hear or be around.

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Question

If you are a runner, what is the make/model of your favorite (or current) running shoes?

What is something that was meant for you?