On shoes

I bought a new pair of shoes last week. Two really... well, actually three, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that I bought a pair of shoes for about $20 (discounted from $99 to $69 to $49 and again, what a steal!) and, more importantly, that these shoes don't fit like most of the shoes I normally wear.

What I'm trying to say is that after wearing these shoes for less than 24 hours I had significant foot, shin, calf, and knee pain because these shoes were new and different and because my legs had not been able to adequately adjust to them. Since I've felt this before, specifically due to marathon training, I knew what was happening and knew both what to expect and how to handle the problem. Left unsolved, this would likely have resulted in some sort of lower leg injury. To treat my legs all I had to do was stop wearing the shoes. All this is to say that you, dear reader and runner, are likely to experience this same event in the next 18 months and that some reading ahead (and hopefully helpful advice through discussion) may prevent the occurrence--or at least ignorance of events that leads to overwhelming fear--should you have a similar lower leg injury.

So learn from the links on shoes, ask around (to us or your local running store expert), and learn on your own since an abundance of opinions generally accompanies an abundance of minds.

My general thoughts are these: the way a shoe feels on your foot is often a good indication what the shoe is doing to your foot, stronger legs make for less-injured legs, less shoe makes for stronger legs (though unlike Tigger, I won't fully follow the barefoot man's advice), more pairs of shoes means less chance that your shoes go bad and cause injury, $90 is about as much as a pair of shoes should cost. Of course there's more to finding the right shoe that what I say here just as there's more to understanding what I've learned about shoes and my feet than what I say here.

And eventually my feet will become accustomed to my new shoes. Good thing, too, because they're good looking.

everyone will have these kind of runs every now and then

so today at 8 pm, i was dead tired. I didnt get great sleep the night before, and my total walking for the day was somewhere around 50 blocks or more. I was hungry. My friends were going to a movie, and others were hanging out eating. The temperature was 2 degrees outside... granted thats celsius, but its still too cold.. plus it was dark outside, and it was friday... but i had to get my run in. Every fiber of my being wanted to stay inside and rest, but somehow i managed to get to the closet, where i proceeded to put on the running shoes and get on the running attire. Every one of us will have times like this... its definitely not easy, but the more u decide to get in the run, the more easy it will be to make the disciplined decision next time.

Training Logs

Running, especially long-distance running, is a quite simple sport. That's probably obvious by looking at it. You don't need much more than your own body, a decent pair of shoes, and some cold water. Most of us have these already. Something else you'll need to succeed will be a distinct goal, accountability, and persistence. We've got these as well, though each will need to be honed if we want to get the most from our training. One tool that aids these is the running log. To many, running is not so much a competition with others as it is a competition with oneself. [Jason may find comfort in this during the many months preceding his team's loss.] A running log is a good way to keep track with what you're trying to achieve and what you've already achieved. It's also a good way to look back and see what did and didn't work. Most importantly it's a good way (when shared) to keep up the accountability with your training partners.

We've had a few suggestions for training logs, and I'm open to all ideas, but I'll throw out here a few things I'd like some feedback on. Here are four online logs we can try. Some of these I've used and some I haven't. Some feed through RSS and may be able to feed directly into our blog (how cool would that be?) and others are simple to share with others who want to view your progress. While I keep researching our options, check these out and tell us what you think.

Cool Running
Nike
Road Runner Sports
Running Journal

Additions:
running-log.com
the running log
athleticore
runnerslog

Mrs. Denisons v Mrs. Stranges

Okay, okay. I'm in.

Mrs. Denison challenged me, on behalf of the Mrs. Denisons and women everywhere. So how could I say no? The only reasonable thing to do was to say okay and go buy a jogging stroller. Which is what we did. And then we used said stroller despite Noel's general dissatisfaction with it to embark on a walk/jog through the blazing neighborhood.

It's hot here, ladies.

But not as hot as it's going to feel when the Mrs. Stranges squash the Mrs. Denisons at Houston 2009.

While I don't know about Scott's suggestion below

I do think that getting in shape and planning to run a marathon is natural. At least more natural than giving blood. I've wanted to put up useful information and where I look I can seldom find much information about how to get in shape. There's tons available concerning how to train once you've achieved a certain level of fitness--a level at which few of us currently find ourselves--but not so much about how to get there. Maybe these Mayo Clinic articles will be useful.

Aerobic exercise: What 30 minutes a day can do
Fitness programs: 5 steps to getting started
Fitting in fitness: Finding time for physical activity
Fitness training: 4 elements of a rounded routine
Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity
Fitness programs: 6 steps to guide your selection
Barriers to fitness: Overcoming common problems

and since we've got fans of the Cooper Aerobics Center here...

Walk for Life—A 12-Week Program for Beginners
Dr. Cooper's Aerobics Point System
For A Great Workout, Just Add Water
Running 101: Pacing is the key to improving your time
Winter Workouts

training suggestion

this would be a wise way to start your training:
click here, then when the page opens up, click on the bottom link on the tabs to the left

Service Request

To: all users herewith and posthaste, &tc &tc
From: the MSC
Re: an official message with much hot air and foaming at the mouth

Commence to start the message:

All service requests relevant to this blog and its comments shall be henceforth posted at the following broken link here. After clicking on the page and finding a little bit of something which might otherwise be called nothing, please drink a cup of coffee at your own expense and wait for further helps. Odd series of unclear instructions may never be posted, nor will anyone read any attempted correspondence about such matters. Upon completion of the lack of form, you should expect a response from our sysdmin, miler mstrange, in zero days. To express your satisfaction with his administrative customer service, you may plan to pummel him at the finish line of this supposed "marathon" unless, as requested, the Mr. Denison suggests some better way to disregard your needs.

Thank you for your time.

26 miles 385 yards?

While Strange runs 26 miles and 285 yards, the Mr. Denisons will be livin' it up at the finish line.

By the way, how is it that I'm the first one to notice this?

New Links

Apparently even though everyone can post and comment, only I can alter the layout. I'll be adding useful links, etc, with the helpful input of Scott and everyone else. If you see anything that needs to be added, let me know. For now, take a look at some of the new links on the left. I've found Running Times and Cool Running to be very useful. RT has better training information and CR has better forums, but either will get you to the information you seek. I find Runner's World at times helpful and at times distracting, but being the most circulated running publication they deserve mention. The latter two are wildcards. Let'sRun.com is a wildly useful site for news and information, if your boots reach high enough to safely wade the muck. The forum (frequently visited by the greatest runners and coaches) is full of... interesting topics and is sometimes a great way to spend a few mindless minutes. At least you can always get the pulse of who's the hottest collegiate track star this week by reading their forum... Marathonguide.com has a lot of information--you'll just have to let me know if it's useful.

More to come!

M-Strange Ain't Hot, Jacknut Ain't Hot...

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T KNOW THESE GUYS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO AL DAHFRA. I AM NOT NOW, NOR WILL I EVER BE, A PILOT.

I got sent this video today at work, and it is an amazingly accurate portrayal of deployed Air Force life. I think they made this in the middle of winter (based on the temp they give in the video), but I thought I would post it here just in case anyone was having trouble running in the heat. Plus, it's hilarious.

If you don't know what some of the lines or acronyms mean, just ask and I'll explain. Also, be sure to check out the original version if you don't know it.

Oh, one last thing. Sorry for the video quality, but I think it's good enough to get the point.

The Challenge

The challenge to run a marathon began as Scott told me he wanted to run a marathon in the States sometime soon. Scott really wants to run New York City, but being a lottery entry it won't be very easy to get a group involved. I suggested Chicago because of its world-class race and because it's a great place to visit. Scott vetoed that idea because it would make his travel schedule too difficult and, well, Scott lives the furthest away.

So Houston is the most nominated race, and it looks like Houston (January 2009) will be our rendezvous. Scott's suggestion was a challenge to me because I want to run another marathon, need to get in shape, and have been inspired to run after the pre-retirement of my high school coach. Tigger likewise was inspired to run, Jason owes us at least one marathon, and Chris, a veteran marathoner, will step to any friendly challenge (whether or not he will gouge away your eye-sockets in an unfriendly manner, I do not know.) So I challenged all of these muffin-necks to run a marathon.

Then Shelby volunteered to run. I would say she "manned up", but that statement is weak and cliche. Running a marathon, and likewise volunteering to run a marathon, is neither weak nor cliche. Then "The Challenge" ensued.

I volunteered two teams which I thought well-matched. Scott, myself, and the better Denison (aka The Mrs Denisons) versus Chris, Jason, and the lesser Denison. Several predictions have the teams at 12 hours each, but I gave soft predictions of Scott/Micah 3:30, Chris/Tigger 4:00, Jason 5:00, and Shelby 6:00. These times certainly can, and certainly should, be bettered, but we'll leave that for later.

And now Wes joins the fray. His admission is gladly received, though it does break the teams. Little loss and great gain for us, though, and as we may find room to add another runner or we may find a way to reorganize the teams, our team challenge can (and probably should) be finalized later.

For now, the prep. Today I purchased remaindered Boston 2007 adidas shorts and top on sale from Sportspectrum. Tomorrow: running.

Beer Mile Challenge

Aside from the Houston 2009 Marathon challenge... i throw out a challenge to one M. Strange, and to whoever else wants to participate in a beer mile that will take place the day preceding j.lowe's wedding. Be afraid of jack-nuts increasing capacity to run a stellar beer mile time.

Training

Okay, now tell me how I'm going to train to run? I have not run at all before and I don't want to set myself up to fail. Yesterday I ran for a mile and a half. It hurt me. And I'm going to do 26.2 miles? AAAACH! -shelby

Nike sponsorship, here I come.

I'm not thinking about making the team. I'm thinking about GOLD in Houston.

I'm also thinking the elevation chart looks mighty tempting. http://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/marathoninfo/marcourse1a0b.htm

Welcome

to the Houston 2009 blog. Let the conversation commence!