New, as in never used! Bought 2 exact pairs a year ago, S T R E T C H E D the first pair’s lifespan, its usability longer than I should have. Boy, you can sure feel the bounce in these bad boys! Took ’em out for a quick spin … a few light kilometers, they felt so incredible. Finished w/ a quick 1K testing them out … I swear, these require NO break-in, none whatsoever. In fact, I’m currently shopping for another couple of pairs, I love them that much. I may be a newbie runner, but I know what works, don’t wanna try experimenting! OK, not true, would consider a different model, but it has to be Saucony!
My first run since December 7 … says RunKeeper. Sitting, waiting for my noon consult appointment, figured I’d dust off my Saucony Virratas and give it a go. Beautiful, sunny day, I don’t mind the cold temp, and I knew roads were clear of ice, and traffic would be minimal, so off I went. Only two hundred meters in, my legs were so tight, I really didn’t think I’d be able to continue running, and I’m not joking when I say this … I never thought I’d be able to run … AGAIN. As in, I’ll never regain my form. But, I persevered and at my 5 minute audio cue was at 1.03 kilometers – a 4:48 km pace. Certainly not fast, but I’ll take it. And the only reason it dropped, was me having trouble, fiddling trying to get my phone out of my pocket to stop the activity. And, as I write/post this … my lungs are SCREAMING!!
… didn’t know what to title this post. Had a whole bunch of thoughts, things to say, figured it was as good a blogpost title as any. Today I tallied my RunKeeper numbers and this is what I’ve accomplished since I started running (took up running, to be precise) May 14th … and I ran for 25 consecutive days – 202 kilometers. I’ve only missed two days since I began. Unbelievable! Currently, I’m on a 20 day streak … riding it out as long, as far as I can.
… today was another good Saturday run, was running crazy fast from the get-go … 1.13K after 5 minutes, 2.3K after ten minutes … but at my fifteen minute cue, slipped a bit (1.08K), and I felt a 4K PR was gonna be too close for comfort, think I started panicking/tightening up … so I bailed, and clicked “stop” … a mere minute and a half away from my marker (douce-bag personified … I know) … and in 52 days of running, I’ve NEVER quit running hard to my halfway point. I was proud of that. That’s what I love about my circuit. Every step towards my 4K mark takes me further and further from home … and after those 18-19 minutes have elapsed … every step conversely leads me home. I run hard without any back-up plan, no one’s saving my sorry-old-ass … after hitting my halfway point, I know I gotta run home!
… I was on pace to equal my 17:45 PR
… a 4:19K split – my FASTEST ever
… days before my May 14th life changing day, I was getting into a groove, was waking up early, driving to my local high-school, and running laps ’round their track. Thing is, I was running in regular shoes, walking shoes … bullshit shoes, lol … what a joke I was. That’s when we went running shoe shopping. I had no idea of the brand variety, or of the assortment available … it was mind-blogging looking at that huge wall of shoes. Plus, this sports store was offering “buy one pair, get an equally or lesser priced pair for half price” on this weekend, so as you can imagine, the place was rammed. It was all I could to to commandeer a sales associate for assistance. I tried on a few pairs … keep in mind, I’m a novice, not really knowing what to look for. I do know fit and comfort are important, also I wanted a light shoe … but I wasn’t quite there yet in my selection process. After a few pairs, I was walking around (bouncing happily, lol) in my Saucony Virratas … I couldn’t believe the snugness, the way they felt … it was incredible. Oh, also the store’s busyness worked in my favour … it gave me time to do last minute reviews on my phone before purchasing … I had no idea what minimalist – zero drop shoes where, lol?! Also, I was becoming increasingly exhausted with the whole process – continually trying to get my sales associate’s attention (since he was dealing with many customers at once), then having him going to the stock-room and bringing out different shoes for me to try. I was just SO incredibly happy with the Sauconys, I just told him to give me two of the same … why bother looking for a different brand for variety’s sake I figured, I loved them! I was done! Side-note: Making this deal even better, two weeks later, went back for a price adjustment – which they weren’t obligated to honour, but for me they did, lol … lowering the price again – it’s sick what they cost. Recently am reading runner’s blogs … where I see buying/trying different brands/shoes appears the thing to do. Perhaps. Maybe I’m not there yet, it’s NEVER crossed my mind for that matter. As I’ve said, I couldn’t be more happier. I’ve always been blessed with good feet … nay, beautiful feet! Good circulation – no callouses, no bunions, no ingrown toenails, no problems whatsoever … if there’s an equivalent to having priest’s hands … it applies to my feet, lol! After 52 days – 427 kilometers of pavement pounding, and close examination of said soft tootsies (not even a single blister) … can proudly/thankfully say, it’s as if I’ve haven’t started running at all, haven’t ran a single day, a single kilometer … let alone four-twenty-seven-emm-effing-kay!!
… LOVE LOVE these – hardly look used
… second (brand new) pair, still in the box
… remaining thoughts: Can’t help but notice, I’ll be awfully close to having run a total of 500 kilometers by July 14!! My first two months running span. Yep, chuffed!!
… future goals: Achieving PRs – 4K, 8K, 10K, is obviously always there. But, after today’s PR pace per kilometer achievement – 4:19 … I know a 4 minute kilometer is in my sights. Also, I wanna achieve a distance PR for 20 minutes … on a perfect day, 4.6K is mine for the taking (I’m realistic, at the moment, I know a 20 minute, 5K is still a dream). I want that! I know I’ll want that 20 minute 5K too … one day eventually I’ll get it … one day!!
… ain’t shittin’ y’all, was literally dancing home those few stranded blocks when I hit “stop” after completing my 10K run!
Despite what you see, and what you may think, this IS NOT becoming a runner’s blog. It’s just that I’m in awe of what I’ve accomplished in such a short time, and am proud of my progress. Funny, after yesterday’s milestone run thought to myself since I have a great time (it’s a beautiful circuitous route starting and ending at my house – exactly 8K) under my belt, maybe next time when I’m feeling strong, will continue running and try for a 50 minute 10K. Today only three kilometers in, I was already thinking that … and thankfully because of my run yesterday, I mapped out in my mind, in my neighbourhood – to tack on those extra two kilometers. After 35 minutes (that’s another thing – I LOVERunkeeper’s audio cues … cutting into my music, w/ time, distance, pace … keeping me updated throughout it all), I could have easily pushed hard and finished under 39 minutes eclipsing my previous best (yesterday, lol) for 8K, but I knew I had my sights on setting a solid 10K time … and I did it!! Not only was it it sub 50 minutes, it was 49 minutes (ok, 49:02) … my first ever 10K, my first EVER recorded/legitimate 10K too!!
Also, I want y’all to know I’m the antithesis of a runner (… no shit eh? What else would ya expect eh?)!! No cool gear, no tight shorts, no lululemon … I’m strictly old-school, tattered T and short shorts, lol … I run to rub it into the face of the running establishment, lol!! Check out my dress socks (I LOVE them, cotton, very thin – plus black on black w/ my Saucony Virratas fucking kills – least for my skinny motherfucking avante-garde tastes ass anyways, lol). Ok ok, I’ll tone down the daily updates … or, on second thought, maybe I won’t … is MY blog after all …
danistrulytheman 