Mama gets a new pair of shoes!

So...check this out: on the advice of my cousin Renee, I decided to get good running shoes. I wasn't having problems, but I've not been running long, so I thought, why take chances? 

I decided to go to the New Balance store that I've heard so much about, and let them do their gait analysis. 

This charming sales clerk took some measurements, had me walk for her several times, and had me stand on a machine which analyzed the pressure points of my feet. She determined that I have a high arch which causes my feet to lean in when I walk-she called it pronation. I did actually know all of that-I've seen how my shoes wear. But it's good to have it confirmed by people who make this their living and more importantly, she found shoes that are designed to support my feet in the exact way they need. For only $120ish. 

Josh was so impressed that he had her do a gait analysis on him as well, and while he did already know that he has the flattest feet on the planet, he did not know he's been wearing shoes one to one and a half sizes too small...for YEARS! He bought new shoes, too. She was GOOD at her job!

We asked her to do an analysis of our son's gait as well. He will need extra support as he gets older. This is good to know. 

Anyway,  we shopped for like two hours after that, and my shoes felt great. I decided that was sufficient to count for my walk/run today, especially since I carried my 50 lb son around for awhile as well. But then on the drive home, as I knitted and thought about it, I felt like I really wanted to run. 

So I did. 

2.78 miles, 43:47 was my time. Here's how it went...there is a route I like, which I've walked for years, which is quite hilly. My recent runs have gone about two thirds of that route--skipping the largest hill. Today I decided to run the whole route. I walked the first three minutes, then started running, breathing deeply and slowly as Renee told me. There are four major inclines as I run there and back. On hills one and three I did have to slow to a brisk walk for one minute each time to control my breathing. On hill two and four, I was able to run through, though I did have to slow my pace. Just before hill four, around the two mile point, I started feeling it in my thighs. Not pain, just fatigue. I mentally heard Shaun T saying, "Push through" and it became a point of pride that I run the rest of the way home. I did it! I ran the rest of the way. Then to cool down, I walked another half mile at a moderate pace, but that's not part of my time.

I have to say...I'm feeling pretty good about the 5K on March 22nd.