Shoes!

My favorite running shoes are past their prime. They're the Brett Favre of my running shoes. They still work, they still can perform, and they want to be out there, but the potential downside is just too low. Favre throws too many interceptions and crushes the dreams of his team's fans. My shoes will just hurt my feet. And as an oft-injured runner, I want to do everything I can do to stay off the injured reserve list.

And actually, the comparison isn't fair, because I loved my shoes. I never even liked Favre except for in "There's Something About Mary." But that's another issue entirely.

I have other shoes in my closet, of course. All of us do. But this particular pair just fit me right. I liked the way they looked and felt, and they had worn in perfectly to match my stride. Last night I ran in a practically new pair of shoes. Same brand. Same color. Slightly different shoe. I hated them. They have been on the shelf waiting for a chance to be on the team, and I gave them a shot. But it just wasn't the same, like when my parents tried to replace my dead hamster with a new hamster from the pet store like I wouldn't notice. Still a hamster, but not my beloved pet. You get the picture.*

So now I am faced with a serious challenge. I need to start restocking the shoe closet, and the variables are overwhelming me.

First there is cost. Until Brooks  - THE BEST SHOE MAKER ON THE PLANET AND A WONDERFUL COMPANY FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST - decides to sponsor the Real Running team, I have to pay retail for my shoes. Retail! I know, you feel my pain. And I don't know if you have looked lately, but running shoes aren't free anymore. This is a serious investment. I walked right past the coffee shop today and kept my two bucks. If I do that for 50 more days, I got me some new shoes!

Second is the issue of "versions." Here at Real Running we moonlight as college teachers and have to deal with the textbook industry. Every two weeks they have a "new edition" of a text that changes 6 words in Chapter 7 that the students have to pay $130 for. I feel bad for the students and all, but the real issue is that we are comfortable with the OLD edition. It's dog-eared and annotated, and we know where everything is. The new edition isn't quite the same. So when a new shoe hits the market, it is inevitably a slightly different, ostensibly better, version of the old shoe. I would run down to the store right now and buy an exact replacement of my trusty BROOKS shoes if they existed. But in the time it has taken me to put 400 miles on the two pair I already owned, two new versions have come out. I'm two editions behind! Ack.

Finally there is the style issue. As I get older shoes seem to get fancier. Ok, ok, it's possible that I am getting more boring. But I think it's the shoes getting too fancy. I look at the wall of shoes and I just can't see any of them living at the end of my legs for 400 miles. Add to that the fact that they are bright and flashy and clean, and I have a problem. I don't want people's eyes drawn to me when I run. I want to run invisibly. Those new shoes are going to call too much attention to me. I wish BROOKS and their less cool competitors would make pre-dirtied but unused shoes. They'd have all the spring and rebound of brand new shoes, would smell like new shoes, and would fit like new shoes, but they'd look used. I'm a genius.


So Real Runners, what is a shopper to do? When I find my next perfect shoe should I just buy 5 pair of them? Should I replace my shoes more often to get over my other issues? Should I do what Cap'n Ron has done and go shoeless?

Help me out here.

And to the good folks at Brooks Running, I can send you my shipping address if you need it.


*I have never actually owned a hamster. And my parents would never have tried to pull the old "pet switch" on me. They would have said, "Your rat died." Anyway, this is just here as a nice little metaphor. I've been told you're supposed to use metaphors.

Race Rules

It’s just about fall race season, and most of us will be lacing up the special “racing” shoes for a 10k, 13.1, or 26.2 sometime soon. The calendar from September through December is jam packed with races big and small, including the Portland and Seattle Marathons, so if you are going to venture into the world of organized running, why not start now?

But before you pin that number on and line up, we here at Real Running thought we would share some tips on having a successful race day.

Pre-Race

Pre Race Rule #1: Chill Out. Most people take race day far too seriously. A 10k race is just a 6.21 mile run. Just because you are wearing a number and there is a clock over the finish doesn’t change this. If you don’t “carb load” before a regular 5-6 mile run, why would you start doing so just because tomorrow’s run is The Race to Save the Salmon? If it’s your first race and you are nervous, doing things differently is only going to heighten that anxiety. Act like you’ve been there before, as they say. Even for a full marathon, you shouldn’t be doing anything differently than you did for your long training runs.

Pre Race Rule #2: No Shopping. You don’t need special “race” clothing or shoes. And you definitely don’t want to show up for a race in untested shoes. Trust me. Those people you see at the start in shiny new shoes are going to be paying for their choice after the race.

Pre Race Rule #3: Pre-Register. The only thing you should do before the race is pre-register and, if your race lets you, pick up your race materials before race day. Trust me. Running around and standing in lines in the minutes before a race starts is a sure-fire way to stress yourself out. Which brings us to the big day!

Race Day

Race Day Rule #1: Don’t Wear the Shirt. That race shirt that you picked up early with your number and coupons for half off obscure energy drinks should be left at home. It isn’t for the race. It’s for after the race. The first time you wear that cool shirt should be the following week when someone will say, “You ran that race? Cool.” People at the race know you are running the race.

Race Day Rule #2: Don’t Wear Last Year’s Shirt, Either. In fact, all souvenir shirts should be banned. Wear something plain and colorful that will stand out in pictures.

Race Day Rule #3: Line Up in the Right Spot. No one should have to pass you in the first mile of a race. Especially in a chip-timed race, you are better off queuing up near the back of the pack so you can hit the line at your pace and not have to waste energy dodging runners and walkers. Go to the starting chute and stand where you think you should. Now back up 100 feet. There you go.

Race Day Rule #4: Smile. You’re doing this for fun. Well, maybe not fun exactly, but you are out there voluntarily. And someone is going to get a picture of you at some point in the race, so you might as well have a smile on.

Race Day Rule #5: Be Polite. Every person on the sidelines of that course is there so you can race. Every cop, course marshal, timer, aid station volunteer, sign holder, cowbell ringer, and first aid provider deserves a “thank you.” If you are spent and can’t breathe, at least a thankful wave. Seriously.

Race Day Rule #6: Be Considerate of Others. I know you learned this in Kindergarten, but let’s review this Golden Rule as it applies to other runners. Don’t slow down without making sure there is no one right behind you. Don’t merge suddenly to the side of the course. Don’t run on someone’s heels. Don’t spit without considering where it’s going to go. Don’t throw a half empty water cup at someone’s feet (especially a water station volunteer’s!) Don’t run in a cluster with five of your closest friends.

Race Day Rule #7: Have Fun. See also Race Day Rule #4 and Pre-Race Rule #1.

Race Day Rule #8: Support Other Runners. If you see someone struggling, give them a pep talk. If you get passed by someone near the finish, cheer them on or race them to the line. If someone is seriously hurt, stop and help. And when you finish, don’t bail immediately. Cheer on some finishers!

Race Day Rule #9: Celebrate! This is why beer was invented and why every race should end within walking distance of a brewpub.

Race Day Rule #10. Do it Again. As soon as you get home from your race, fire up your web browser and sign up for your next race. Just finished a 10k? Give the half marathon distance a shot.

Happy racing.

This article first appeared in the October edition of Northwest Runner Magazine.

Next up for me is the Seattle Marathon. Where are you running next? 

Changes They Are A Comin'

As we ease into fall here at Real Running, we thought it was as good a time as any to make some structural and administrative changes. Also our editor asked us to do it. Here is what to expect in the coming months.

• Weekly blog updates. Look for new material each Tuesday morning, including run reports, runner profiles, and of course the sage advice Real Running is known for. 
• More photos. Our staff of photographers has been tasked with taking more pictures while on the run and at local events.
• Guest bloggers. Want to be read by two people? You can write a guest blog for Real Running. Send your entries to gregsrealrunning@gmail.com. Keep them under 1000 words and keep it in the spirit of Real Running.
• Facebook presence. You might have already seen our nifty page on Facebook, but if not, click here and check it out. We need more friends. Or maybe it's called a "like." Whatever. It's nice to have friends. It's nice to be liked.
• Finally, the Real Running blog will feature each month's magazine column on the day the magazine hits the newsstands.

Now if you'll excuse us, we need to get out there and dodge the raindrops on today's run. Patiently waiting for the sun...