It's Over. And a New Beginning.

I'm sorry about this.  It's been a long relationship.  BUT - the last 7 years have been rough.  I'm always looking, but faithfully return to you.  You let me down every year.  I still go back.  Today - I'm ending it.  I am reserving the right to change my mind.  After all, we have had some good times.  Literally!  You won't be completely thrown to the curb; I always need a back-up.  It's just that I am replacing you with not 1 but 2 new options.  Well actually, 1 new option.  The other is the one I dream about.  I have always wanted it back.  I think it's going to work this time.  Don't worry - there are plenty of fish in the sea - or......feet on the pavement.  Someone new will love you like I tried to.

Yes, I bought new running shoes today.  I even tried them out!  I bought Asics Gel-Kayano's.  I also ordered a pair of Brooks Dyads.  I am running some runs in orthotics with cushioned shoes, and other runs in stabile, motion control shoes.  I am a SEVERE over-pronator.  I get injured every year.  I can run fast - just not for long.  I even ran under 7 minute miles at times for a pace.  My 5 mile time this July was sub-40.  That was at the Freedom Run in Sheboygan.  That is quite fast for me.   Last year I did the 2 mile in 14:20 or so.  I remember my 1st race when I had just started running.  The Brat Trot in Sheboygan - when it was from the YMCA - same start/finish as my July Freedom Run race.   I think my time was 15:14, and it hurt.  I was probably 22 or so.  I ran in asics back then.  My feet felt like they were in heaven.  A few years later, my foot issues began.  I went to get new shoes and they changed my size - which did help some.   In 2002, I found Movin' Shoes. I love that place.  They fit me with running shoes appropriate for my stride/gait/foot, etc.  So began my relationship with New Balance.  I have been to Fleet Feet and Endurance House.  I have learned things from them, certainly.  I just love the service and their policies, and their discounts at Movin' Shoes.  I was there for well over 90 minutes today trying shoes.  They always bring out Nike - I just don't like those shoes.  Surprisingly, they did not bring out Saucony.  Just 4 brands.  I really liked the Brooks Dyad's - they were so comfortable.  Better than my current New Balance model that is supposed to be equal on the cushion scale.  They just didn't have the wide width that I needed.  They were close, but a bit too pinchy in the toe box - so we had to order them.  Then came the stable shoe.  I was torn.  The New Balance model was the one I wore a year ago for my marathon.  I got injured in those shoes, but I wore my orthotics in them.  I think I was over-corrected.  They were comfortable, but when he asked me which shoe felt best in the arch - it was the Asics.  The toe box isn't quite as deep so he grabbed a 9.  It felt better.  It felt ... the best.  I am getting back together with the shoe it all began with.  Hopefully we have a lasting relationship.  One that is problem free.  I also decided to buy some compression socks.  They are CEP size III.  They weren't as tight as I thought they would be, but felt good.  Rob thinks they are dorky.  I don't care.  He doesn't have foot/leg issues.  I do.  I did run 2 miles tonight.  Felt good.  Besides the few times my ankle was tweaking.  I blame that on P90x.  Hopefully that will get better the more I run. 

Speaking of P90x, I'm officially done.  The last 2 weeks were spotty.  I have to weigh myself and do the final measurements yet.  I won't tell you what it says except whether I improved or not.  I can tell you that I feel stronger in the upper body.  I didn't think the legs workout was that bad.  I plan on starting my pre-season this week.  I will continue lifting with the P90x workouts - just not doing the cardio workouts.  I am going to bust out the trainer this week and start doing my spinnervals workouts.  I also am going to try to run a couple of times a week.  I will probably start swimming 3 times/week now too as the girls swim team is done practicing in the mornings.  The boys team has less kids, so we can go back to our M, W, F schedule.  Except I will probably skip W and swim either T or Th. 

The handy shoe dude is a 5 time Ironman, so he was giving me some pointers.  I had a plan developed based on Rob's advice and my own thoughts.  Rob followed "be Ironfit".  I think I may put a run back into the mix after talking to the shoe dude.  (I wish I would have gotten his name - just because he was helpful).  I had taken a run and made it a brick, but I think I better run a little longer than what I had written.  My thoughts were to do 3 swims, 2 bikes, 2 runs, and 2 bricks per week.  Plus lifting 2 times and doing a yoga workout.  And a day off.  Seems insane.  I would probably drop the lifting and yoga later in the season, but I think it will help me in the beginning.  I don't know where to put another run.  Anyone else follow a dedicated plan? My actual training starts on Feb. 14th.  I am just going to build a slow base to February.  I really want to work on my bike fitness and dropping some time in swimming.  There isn't a whole lot I can drop there.  I think I am strong time-wise already.  I will concentrate on going long later.   I could do the swim tomorrow - I just don't want to get burned out on continuous long swimming yet.  I like intervals.  Some fast and short - some long -- and fast.  I also love doing different strokes.  I may swim some master's meets.  A nice change from the triathlon season.  I may give the garmin a break.  I am pretty competitive.  OKAAAAY - REALLY competitive.  I think I need to go with heartrate training and lose the pace on the garmin.  Maybe Rob can loan me his watch and heartrate strap.  Perhaps I will even wear it to the pool for a test!  Now I am treading the high end of the dork scale if I show up at the pool with that! 

Oh - and after a great 3 week hiatus from sugar, caffeine, and alcohol - the last 2 weeks have been a bloodbath in those 3 areas.  SOOOOO - tomorrow begins another strict plan. The other night - I evened out the pan of brownies - because I didn't like that it was uneven.  AND = I was simply going to be putting them from the pan into a tupperware container.  That was sad.  I indulged in a Large Latte and a Large bowl of ice cream tonight.  Tomorrow - it's back to caffeine-free tea in the mornings, and carrots for a nighttime snack.  Hopefully I can stick with it.  I will allow for 1 decaf latte a week.  No sweets except special occasions.  I have to remind myself what really tastes good and whether it is worth it.  Hopefully these last 2 weeks will not show unkindly on the scale tomorrow....