Hoka, Lime, and Sneaker

(Get it?)

I had been in search of Hoka One One sneakers for months.  The regular price ranges from $130 to $170, a pretty penny indeed.  I was hoping to find a discounted pair online, however they were never available in my size, Delicate Petite.  Instead, the ones that are marked down tend to be Size Clown or Sasquatch (No offense to clowns, sasquatches or anyone with feet larger than a women's 6.  I'm sure your feet have served you well.   Mine just happen to be unusually dainty and attractive.)  (Oh, I'm kidding, they're just as calloused and stinky as yours...).  I finally came to terms with the fact that I will have to pay full price.  I called a local running store that went ahead and ordered a pair in my size.  They come in many styles and colors, I wound up with the Cliftons in coral.  Not my first choice (I preferred lime), but beggars can't be choosers.  I was happy to learn that everything in the store is 15% off, so I paid $120, including tax.

The next day I couldn't wait to try them out.  I laced them up (wrong) and the first thing I noticed was that I was now tall (relatively speaking).  Cool!  It's like wearing high heels without the excruciating discomfort.  I pranced out the front door and began my 6.4 mile test run, not before tripping down the path to the sidewalk.  I worried that I might be falling all over the place due to this new height, but luckily that was my only misstep.  So what was it like?  I told Freighbor it was like running on pillows filled with clouds and rainbows!  The cushion felt great on my bones.  Plus, they are so lightweight, it's literally like running on air.  I have been running in them ever since with no hip pain or stumbles.  You might say, I'm Hoka-ed (Get it?).

left to right: Right & Left 

Friday (5/22/15) - 6.4 miles

Saturday (5/23/15) - 3.5 miles

Monday (5/25/15) - 9 miles - Tough run at 1pm in 80 degree humidity at the Massapequa Preserve.  There were a lot of people enjoying the holiday on the path, I was not one of them.  I wished my running buddies were there with me.  

Tuesday (5/26/15) -3.66 miles, 32:10, 8:47 pace - Around the reservoir in Hempstead Lake Park with Pete.  Hot and humid again (And it's not even summer!)

Thursday (5/28/15) - 6 miles, 49:30ish, 8:15ish pace - Early morning run in 70 degrees.  

Total Mileage - 28.56 miles

What's New, Pussycat?

In my last post I said I had four more days before I would return to running.  Well, it was actually a whole day. The fall weather has just been so ideal, I couldn't wait.  I tried, really I did.

Thursday (10/15/15) 3.91 miles - My first day back I ran with my neighbor, GM, who is tapering for the New York City Marathon (She is one of three on our block, including myself, who had a marathon on tap for this year. Freighbor is the other, who just rocked the Marine Corps Marathon this morning! Go Freighbor, go Freighbor!). I wore my brand new Hoka One One Huakas which felt great once I figured out how to do the laces ("roller blade laces" which are great because they'll never untie and trip you). GM definitely had more pep in her step. I had to breathlessly remind her it was my first day back, dammit.  I mean, I can run faster. I just choose not to... (pant, gasp, pant)

Friday (10/16/15) 3.86 miles - Regular 4 mile (?) loop solo.

Saturday (10/17/15)  4.6 miles, 40:26, 8:42 pace - I ran 20 minutes east from Owl's Head Park to the Verrazano Bridge along the Belt Parkway, and then back again. It was a crisp, beautiful sunny morning. No wind.

Photo bombed!

Sunday (10/18/15) - Off

Monday (10/19/15) - 6.03 miles, 53:46, 8:54 pace

Tuesday (10/20/15) - 5.92 miles, 52:42, 8:54 pace

Wednesday (10/21/15) - 5 miles - I met a friend, JT, from high school who I have not seen since high school. She is a personal trainer out east and the mother of three very tall boys. She and I were on the cross country team together freshman year. By sophomore year, my co-dependent relationship with Phillip Morris got more serious and I wound up pursuing him, rather than continue with the team. JT stayed on cross country, getting faster each year. Decades later, we reconnected via Facebook and finally found time to get together doing something we haven't done together since we were 14! It was a blast!

Thursday (10/22/15) - 5.93 miles - 51:50, 8:44 pace

Friday (10/23/15) - Off

Saturday (10/24/15) - 6.82 miles, 57:25, 8:25 pace - I ran from Hofstra University east on the bike path along Hempstead Turnpike. It was 50 degrees and overcast. Perfect running conditions.  I felt light on my feet and ran a little faster than I planned. I turned north on Merrick Avenue and ran outside the west gate of Eisenhower Park to Old Country Road. I turned around and headed back. I only passed one other runner on the path whom I spontaneously high-5'd as we passed. He was very amused and chuckled. It's fun sometimes to acknowledge how lucky we are to be healthy, active, outdoors, and awesome with fellow runners.

Sunday (10/25/15) - 5.04 miles - Originally, I was going to run 7 miles with my son on his bike. My two little girls caught wind of this and were "not going to be ignored" (Quick! What movie? Hint: Rabbit Stew). The more the slower merrier.  My 6-year old rode her bike, too, and the "baby" (she's 4) went in the jogger stroller. The baby fell asleep while the other two did great. No complaints or requests to do a shopping/eating detour.

If you saw this motley crew barreling down the sidewalk 

toward you, would you run away screaming?

I would too.

What else have I been up to, you ask? Why was I at Hofstra University? Well, after many people telling me for years that I should be a Personal Trainer, I finally decided to take a look into it. The day I Googled, there just happened to be a free information introductory session at Hofstra that evening for a continuing education personal training certification course. I went. I was hooked. The thing that got me was this particular course is more scientific and principle based than others. I signed up the next day. I already finished my Anatomy prerequisite and CPR certification this past week. The actual Personal Training classes start next week. When JT and I got together, she gave me a ton of helpful information on working at a gym, as well as seeing clients privately. Once the course is complete, I will take the certification exam and then be on my merry way doing something that I love and completely makes sense for me, for a change.

I know!! I'm excited, too!!! 

She Is Out Running Happy!

I admit it.  I might have a problem.  I have a lot of sneakers (9 or 10...or 12 pairs?  Who's counting, though?).  One might say, it was an addiction.  To be fair, I'm only running in two pairs these days, my Hoka Cliftons for my easy days and my Adidas Glide Boosts for my speed and tempo workouts.  While in Newport, the family and The Nun did a little shopping at the Navy Exchange.  50% off clearance items, the sign said.  I only looked at the kids shoes (for my kids, not me), until The Nun handed me the box (See?  It's her fault!).  Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14 in my size (My REAL adult size, not a translated children's size).  I don't need new shoes, I thought.  I just got my Hokas a little over a month ago (and I almost completely forgot my Emergency Sneakers!).  They're probably ugly...oh, white with pretty pink accents?!  They're probably expensive, even with the discount.  $15??!!  Fine, dammit!! How can I say no?  Upon further inspection, I noticed a small yellow stain next to the laces, likely the reason for the major discount.  Could I live with this stain?  Absolutely.  I mentally tried to picture where the OxyClean was back at home.  Needless to say, I am now a proud owner of a pair of Brooks (My very first pair!).  I ran happy with them just the other day for an easy 6 (Actually, almost ecstatic).

The Perils of Not Running

The Hansons don't want you running for a full two weeks after your marathon. At first I thought this would be fine.  I can relax, recover, and take care of the little things that might have been neglected the past four months. Well, those little things are all in school now. So instead, I've been going a little stir crazy.  First, I'm still eating as though I'm in Peak Week of my training cycle.  Not good since I'm not burning these calories off. Second, I may not be physically running, but I've got the mental running down pat.  I am either on the RWOL message boards (Happily reading about everyone else's races. Yay Fall!) or on Running In the USA looking for my next race, and then checking Marathon Guide for reviews. I think about it all the time (Okay fine, this is no different than before). NOTE: PETE, STOP READING HERE. And yes, I'm also "window" shopping. I can't help it if I found a pair of Hoka One One Huakas on sale for $49 in my size (runningwarehouse.com). I mean, was I supposed to ignore that? Not running for two weeks just seems a bit - dangerous.

If the Joker was a runner,

these would be his shoes.

PETE, YOU MAY RESUME HERE. That is why I went for a quickie with my friends, Emerging Runner (ER) and The Petite Pacer (TPP). Sunday morning I joined them mid-run at Bethpage State Park for an easy 3 miler just to stretch out my legs and make sure they still worked. It was also an excuse to see them again since I can't remember the last time we got together. TPP had just competed in her first duathlon in which she placed second in her age group. She has been focusing on cycling lately and it's been paying off. ER was there mostly for fashion and driving tips (ex., Shorts or leggings, not both. And, turtles don't make good Formula One drivers). Despite everyone running super slow, time flew by super quickly. Apparently, fun was had by all.

Today is Wednesday. Three more days and then I'm back.