Nike Free & The Hippy Hippy Shake

Conveniently today, when I was dreading putting on my running shoes, Nike sent me an email to let me know that their New Nike Free 5.0's are soon to be released. As of right now, they can only be personalized and bought, but I am sure that they will release the base models right shortly. Of course, after reading this email. I did some more research on shoes and according to Runner's World, the new Free 5.0 comes in a very close second to the Saucony Trainer.

The 5.0's offer light weight barefoot running, with cushioning, traction and underfoot protection. They come with Flywire cables, a series of resistant straps that become the eyelets, in order to hold the shoe laces in place and provide a snug fit. The Free 5.0's are also Nike+, so if you use Nike+ with your iPod or iPhone or any of their sportwatches or bands, these shoes are completely compatible.

Naturally, I went and designed my own pair.

OK, enough about that!

It was a gorgeous day today so I had to get out, soak up some vitamin D and get my walk on. My toes do not hate me so much anymore. I believe it is because I now have calluses on both of my baby toes. My Reebok's still have not relaxed - making me believe that they aren't in fact real leather. Go figure.

So, I put on my shoes and hit the pavement. My time/pace has definitely increased. When I first started this journey, then found the treadmill at the Community Center, it would take me 3 & 1/2 songs on my iPod to go from my house to the center. This morning it took 2! Brilliant (yes, I know all I really had to do was check my pace on Nike, but where is the fun in that?)

I hopped on the treadmill and walked the fastest time I ever have. See, when I run, it isn't very pretty and I am sure that my 30-60's aren't really helping me. Ah well. But now my hip is a bit sore. Surely because I only wore my knee strap instead of my knee brace. My laziness (I didn't want to take my windpants off in order to put the brace on) is why my hip hurts. No one to blame but myself.

I feel good otherwise.  And I am excited!!!

In June I will be doing the Color Me Rad 5K with the Haley Clan. Thank goodness the kids will be participating... it will give me a reason to not be as fast as everyone else! HA HA!!


Miles To Date: 161.63

500 Seems So Far Away

I am still getting out and getting my miles done, but 500 seems like an awful lot of miles and my tiny amounts added each day seems like I am getting nowhere... fast.

I keep having days where I absolutely do not want to walk. My toes still hurt in my shoes, my knee aches but it isn't anything that Ibuprofen can't take care of. It is cold out so even going to the treadmill seems like a chore - getting bundled up and taking my butt there, to sweat and then walk back home in the cold.

Yet, I keep walking.

My husband pushes me even if he doesn't know it. He is the competitive sort, and I guess some of that has rubbed off on me. I know for a fact that he will accomplish his 500 before I do. He is running his while I am merely walking. Well, to be fair, the treadmill has me running but I am sure if I were to run on ground it would be completely different. Right now I am still ahead of him in miles to date. What a giant pain it is though, that we share the Nike+ shoe pod.

Today it was freezing out. I mean 33 degrees with the windchill of 26! But I made myself go. And I stopped and had a bit of social time with Kat at the shoppette. The conversations we have are hilarious! But then I left and took my butt to the treadmill, like a good girl. Blech.

I wish it would warm up so that I can wear some good loose clothing and not have to worry about all the heavy clothes. And once it warms up I might actually see some pounds drop off of me - not that I need to lose much, but 5 lbs would be nice to say so long to.

Our group seems to have slowed down a bit, but I will start posting more in it, getting others back into it too hopefully. I love their comments, the motivation is amazing.

Miles To Date: 147.81

Nike+ Shoe Pod

I think we have finally figured out the Nike+ Shoe Pod.

It works like a pedometer. Basically, it counts every step you take (when you place your foot on the ground) and converts it to miles. So 1 mile supposedly equals 2,000 steps. What the Shoe pod doesn't do is take into account the height of the person or the inseam of the person.

When using GPS - we are using approximate satellite measured distance. When using the shoe pod, we are using our own foot steps to mark distance. This is why my miles have gotten so high. For every 2,000 steps I take, the shoe pod tracks it as a mile.

The only difference really is about 0.25 miles and my pace looks like I am a beast.

Of course the other difference could also be the fact that I have the shoe pod on top of my shoe, in a ziploc bag, held in place by my shoelaces.

Either way, I now realize that my actual foot step mile is way shorter than the satellite measured mile. Interesting - no?


Miles to Date: 133.95

Shoe Research

I have said several times that I need to do shoe research...

The best shoe for running, in my humble opinion, is Saucony. Lightweight, stability, durability. You want these options and more, Saucony is the shoe for you. Not cheap by any stretch of the imagination. Apparently 9 out of 10 runner's prefer Saucony. (No, I don't have a link for that fact. It is my own assumption from what I have read).

The second best shoe is the Nike Free. Almost identical options Completely different look. Another expensive shoe - however, if you have the Nike+ Shoe Pod, the Free is perfect as it is Nike+ compatible.

After these two, I couldn't find out much else. Some love their New Balance (which used to be the #1 shoe), while others love their Under Armour or Vibram Toe Shoes.

Me? I have decided that Reebok RealFlex are definitely not good shoes... for me.

But I keep on walking.

March Madness

I am not talking about College Basketball.

I am feeling really good about this challenge now. Getting more miles and feeling my muscles respond. I haven't lost any weight, but that isn't the goal.

I have come to the conclusion that I am doing this not only with my husband and friends, but for me. Me in the sense that I will be 42 years old tomorrow. Metabolism has slowed down. I don't want to get bigger as I get older. I need to make sure I stay active so that I don't become an age/obese statistic. I want to be a healthy statistic.

We were going to try a new diet, the husband and I, but thought better about it after hearing what friends had to say about it. So I am going to stick to the 5 small meals a day, proper portions etc. and make hubby do it too. He has also started going to the gym to lift weights. I love it when he has muscle definition - he just better not come home with veins popping out all over the place. Yuck!

My toes - lets just say that I am pretty lucky they haven't fallen off yet. Although it feels like the baby toe nails want to come off. I gave up taping because it was just too much of a pain. The only thing I can do is continue with these shoes and hope that my soaking them in water the other night helps to release the leather some more. Who knows.

Miles to Date: 117.28

Not a Leap Year

The last day of February.

Since my last post, I have hit the treadmill three times and walked the pavement once. What a difference. I am also trying to figure out the Nike+ shoe pod.

I use a Nike Sportwatch with GPS to track myself every time I walk, so for the treadmill the shoe pod has to be used. No GPS right?! lol It is giving me an insane pace rate, but mileage is still good. Well, there is a slight difference, but I think that has to do with the fact that I have short legs so I take more steps than the average person.

So, the treadmill. It is amazing how good I feel while on it and after being on it. My body is getting used to it so I am sure the feeling like I am still moving thing will pass. I actually work up a good sweat and I have started trying to run. Yes run!!! Right now I am only doing 30 - 60's, but it is better than nothing at all. And my toes being taped up helps. They are still killing me though.

This is the treadmill I use. I love him. I made him male because when I feel like I can't continue, he won't let me stop! lol

I told him: "I love you"
He replied: "Press Quick Start"

He's such an automaton! Ha!


Miles to Date: 106.92

Breaking through

Well, this week has gone much better than the past week and a half. My toes still hurt, a lot, but I am ignoring it as best I can. That and I decided to tape my baby toe to my second toe, and it is actually helping a bit.

This week I found a treadmill!!
At my Community Center no less!

I don't know why I didn't think about this before.

Funny thing, a treadmill. I can go for what seems like hours on it and not even find myself tired. That is until later on in the evening. I went twice so far, and boosted the heck out of my miles. I actually did 8.33 miles yesterday alone!!!!! I am in love!

And the treadmill doesn't seem to bother my knee so much as the pavement does. Of course I still get that little bit of swelling from exertion but nothing I can't handle.

I feel the need to repeat, I am in Love with a Treadmill! Ha!

Miles to Date: 91.24

Workout clothes and the Camel Toe

Why is it that almost all workout pants and capri's made for women promote the Camel Toe?

Apologies ahead of time, but it must be said. I do not appreciate my sweats riding up in my crotch. It is uncomfortable and looks nasty as heck. Why does every company seem to think that women need this type of workout clothing?

I want something loose fitting, light weight and comfortable. I don't need something that will show the sweat in my butt crack let alone in other places.

I have tried some of my regular sweats and love them, however with summer just around the corner, my heavy weight designed for warmth sweats just aren't going to cut it. So I have started hunting and all I have found promotes the Camel Toe. Blech!

It looks as though men's wind pants are a safe alternative, however they won't help in the summer.

Furthermore, why is it that womens workout clothes are more expensive than mens? Am I missing something here?

Yep, just a little rant. Of course I am going to go looking for the cheaper Walmart stuff. Hubby tells me "you get what you pay for" which is very true, however I just don't see the point behind a $50 pair of workout capri's.

Hit a Brick Wall

Not in the literal sense... I hit a brick wall these past few days. One that feels like I won't be able to overcome.

In the past 9 days I have only walked 3 times. Total = 9.22

I hurt. My baby toes feel like they are about to fall off. There isn't color change of the nail or blisters anywhere, they just hurt because the leather has not softened up on my shoes. I cringe when I think about putting my shoes on. Obviously I bought the wrong ones. I need to start researching shoes.

My knee - long story short - in high school I dislocated my knee 5 times in 3 years, resulting in knee surgery in 1992. They went in and rebuilt my knee cap, added screws and staples. Voila! That was 21 years ago. Today when I do a deep knee bend, you can hear bone against bone. Not only that, the lower bursa likes to swell when I an overly active (what appears to be water-on-the-knee), and of course I have arthritis in the joint.

I can't determine if it is my shoes that are causing added knee pain, or if it is the fact that when I wear the shoes, I am over-compensating and hurting myself when I shouldn't be.

My husband thinks that it is phantom pain and that I am limiting myself. In other words what I heard was "you've got a head problem and just need to push yourself through it". Love you Hunny, but I am not a Soldier.

Tomorrow starts a new week and so I will start again too. I will figure this out. I will tear down this brick wall. I will complete this challenge!

Miles to Date: 71.83

Fluffy February

Another week complete and I am beat down. Tired all the time, but in a feel good kind of way.

It has started to actually get cold around here. I am bundling up more which makes walking a bit difficult, because let's face it - a lot of clothing hinders and the added weight isn't any fun either.

I am still hitting this challenge head on. This week I racked up 12.95 miles. My feet are still sore from my shoes. They feel like they might actually be loosening up now, but I can't be sure. I know they love me when I put my Crocs on!

Is it normal for me to have days where I just don't care if I walk anywhere, ever again? I seem to have a couple days a week where I just don't want to do it. Then again, those same days are the ones where, once I get out and get going, I feel as if I could walk forever. Interesting what a bit of exercise can do to stimulate your brain. I love the feeling once I am walking, just am not overly enthused when first starting out.

Miles to Date: 62.61

1 Month Down...

I have completed one month! What a way to finish the month by not walking at all today!

All in all, I am feeling good about my miles earned, even though my feet are still mad as blazes with me. Short of cutting my toes off, I am not sure what else to do about them. New shoes are always hard to break in and I am not an ATM so buying new ones are out of the question. Soldier Hubby tells others to "Suck it up and drive on" so you know I won't be saying anything to him about it. I am tenacious so I will work through it.

The group on Facebook has turned out to be such an amazing motivational tool. The support from and for each other plays a huge role in everyone getting their miles in. Whether it is beginners logging 1 mile a day to our advanced members getting 5+ a day - we are all there to help one another. I am so impressed by every single one of them.

My husband has been beating down his miles too. I don't know if he has turned it into a competition in his head, but he is striving to do more miles than me... every day. Hey! I am so proud of him for continuing with it. When we were in NY he loved the elliptical machines and treadmills and so him getting back into it is something that I will always push him to do.

I am exhausted.

Miles to Date: 49.66

When your feet dislike you

Perhaps my choice of new shoes was incorrect.

The Reebok RealFlex are comfortable but let me tell you - my toes are taking a beating. My baby toes are rather long, almost like little stubby fingers, and the leather around the shoe is not giving anything at all, so my toes are taking the brunt of my walking. This is not fun.

It feels as though I have placed my feet in a vise. The shoe molds my foot but has zero care about my toes. They a squishing and rubbing and when I take the shoes off my feet scream at me that I am an awful person who doesn't care about them at all. I soak them in cool water almost every day. I am not a happy camper right now but I will push through.

If I remember correctly, I said at the beginning of this whole thing that it should be easy to accomplish 500 miles in one year - who was I kidding??!!

Miles to Date: 43.50

New Shoes

I think I finally have to say good bye to my faithful shoes.

These are purple and silver Reebok Zignano Premier's. Amazing shoes. A perfect fit with true size technology, arch support and ankle security. I have loved them for well over a year, but now I must put them down. The stitching is coming out around the toe and my baby toes feel like they are trying to push through the sides.

Rest In Peace Zigs.


Hubby bought a pair of new Zigs for me for Christmas, sadly they were the wrong size so I shopped around for some more Zigs. I managed to find a funky pair that I fell in love with! They were charcoal grey with bright yellow zigs and [shocked] a dark pink lining. Got them in my size... They didn't fit! Seems that the new Zigs no longer have true size technology or they were made at a different factory in Indonesia [ugh], so the hunt continued.

At long last, I found Reebok's RealFlex. According to the site: "With independent multi-directional flex nodes on the sole that provide protective flexibility throughout your run, the lightweight RealFlex is natural motion, perfected." 

These are actually a pretty comfortable shoe. They will take a bit of breaking in. The upper tongue, where it connects to the shoe is a little bit hard and so rubs against the top on my big toe, but I am sure with more wear it will soften up. The nodes are interesting. You can feel them as you step. Not each one mind, but you can feel the different heights of them from toe to heel.

The only thing I will say negative about them, they are breathable which is great, but they are surrounded by leather. The leather is not going to give much. The leather also hinders my free toe movements, which is a bit of a pain and could possibly be worse for others - depending on how long you keep your toe nails.

All in all I think I have a pretty good shoe... for now. If I had my way all I would ever wear would be Saucony or Nike Free - but that is for another blog! ;)

Miles to date: 34.78

Free For All

It sounded like a good idea. It started out as a good idea. Now, my thighs and feet are screaming at me!!

Yesterday I logged 6.14 miles. One session.
Hubby and I started out at the house and then did a loop of half of Post.

I felt great! Lots of elevation and it was gorgeous out. About half way through I started to feel a bit tired, mostly because when I walk daily, I don't have to deal with a lot of elevation. Big Bertha (the largest hill on post) was at the start of the walk. At any rate, I was still going. Had water with me and gum. Lots of gum. Took a granola bar as well for a little pick me up.

At one point, it started to rain a little bit, but it wasn't anything for us to worry about. At 5 miles I was just about ready to quit. The good idea no longer seemed good. The free for all was going to kick my butt. But hubby was beside me the whole way and he encouraged me to keep going.

We rounded one of the last corners and the shoppette was in view. Sweet Heaven! I could hear a fountain soda calling my name!!! We stopped briefly and then hit the pavement again - almost home.

Home never looked so good! Shoes off, clothes off and relaxing after that endeavor!

Woke up this morning to my thighs telling me I punished them and my feet saying "nope, not doing it today"! Sorry guys, not letting you off that easy. I made a point to get 1.68 miles today, just to loosen up the muscles.

We are going to do a free for all every month in the group.

Miles to date: 25.51

Piece of Cake

Miles to date: 17.69

I am feeling pretty good. Getting walks in almost every day and some days taking Daisy, our Blue Heeler, out for a walk to add more. It helps that the weather has been beautiful.

New shoes are just around the corner. I definitely need them. I am sure I have already put 500 miles on the shoes I am currently wearing. Hey - I should blog about shoes!!!

The group on facebook is getting bigger too! I honestly can't believe how many people have signed up. I think we are up to 25 members now. Making new FB friends in the process and encouraging old ones. I am in complete awe!

We are doing a free for all this Saturday. Walk or run, but get in as many miles as you can on that day! I am excited! I know it is going to be hard but as long as I keep my nose to the ground I will pull through!

Gauntlet and Explosion

It is amazing what a social media site and a friend can do.

I posted a status explaining that I was going to do 500 miles in one year. My friend in California decided that I threw the gauntlet down. She then threw it out to her friends... the interest and sign-ups today is unbelievable! A group page has been created and people are downloading MapMyWalk and other tracking devices for their phones! I cannot believe how this just suddenly took off!

My husbands idea.
My big mouth.
My friend challenging her friends.
15 people across North America.

4.63 miles for me so far.

This is not a Resolution

A couple of weeks ago, my husband mentioned to me that he was thinking about running a ton this year. The goal he was tossing around was 500 miles. I looked at him like he had a second head and thought to myself... 'yeah, when pigs fly'.

Yet here I am today, embarking on the very same journey. 500 miles in 1 year.

First off, I am not a runner. Nope. I do not even have the slightest inclination to want to run. EVER.

I have decided that I am going to walk 500 miles in 1 year.

I have figured it out mathematically, and it actually shouldn't be that hard.
1.5 miles a day for 365 days = 547.5 miles!
The overage of miles allows for off days. 47.5/1.5 = 31.67 free days throughout the year!!

Now of course, if I walk more than one and a half miles a day then I get ahead of my goal, which is perfectly fine too.

I have a bit of an unfair advantage right now, because I generally walk 1.5 miles 3-4 days of the week already. However, I will be adding more days so I believe this will be an excellent challenge for me.

I am scared though!
500 MILES!!??