Tag: new shoes

Run!, Training

Week 28- Too Many Tabs

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Upcoming Races-

  • Rock to the Pier 10K?
  • Salinas Valley Half Marathon

This week was so much better than last week but there were numerous points when I felt like an internet browser with too many tabs open.  Not just any internet browser- Internet Explorer.😛

The week leading up to system conversion was just as crazy as I anticipated and I didn’t make it to half of the training meetings that I had on the schedule.  I managed to have everyone else stick to the plan but me not so much.  Adding to the chaos, I was greeted Monday by a dead computer.  Yay.   With the computer change coming, I didn’t the point in bugging IT when they were already stressed to the max so I just stole pieces from other computers until I was working, haha.   This actually prompted someone to tell me that I was surprisingly positive.  😛

Oddly enough, this week, I was.   Don’t get me wrong, there were times I felt completely underwater but somehow stayed positive.  At least I think I did.  Maybe I should with my  coworkers.   I was exhausted but kept trucking.  Ran more miles than last week but still fell short in a big way.  Oh and that 10k?   Ha!

Monday-  Rest   I had an early morning conference call and afternoon meeting at the south end of the county.  The meeting ended early but instead of heading home, I headed back to the office which turned out to be a good thing as even with me, we still got out an hour late.    No running for me.

Tuesday- 4 miles First run in 4 days.  And a source of amusement.  I was a little accident prone this week.   How I did not cause actual harm to myself on this run, I have no idea.   It was a slow run but it was a nice stress release besides all the drama.  😛

Wednesday- Rest The day was chaos.  It was also my birthday.    Neither meeting really panned out.   My coworkers brought me donuts, Taco Works and Starburst’s.   Aww, they know me.   This system conversion is going to make my pants tighter. 🙂

Thursday- 3.6 miles  The tiredness was setting in. I was beginning to realize that Saturday’s 10K was not a good idea.  I really did not want to run.   I changed and headed for home town trying to talk myself out of running the whole way.   However I parked, changed into my shoes and told myself I could do a 5K.   I ended up running a little more that but it wasn’t pretty.   I was sluggish and stopped more than necessary for a short run but it was done.

Friday- Work We’re just going to call it that.   I think I left work after a long day a little after 7.  Maybe later.  It’s hard to remember.

Saturday- 4.2 miles trail  Ok- no 10K race because- 1) the thought of an early morning alarm made me want to cry, 2) the idea of driving to work town 12 days in a row, mmm, nope.   So instead my mother took me shopping for my birthday- new shoes!- and then we did a little trail run in the afternoon.  The trail is awesome and very friendly to tired Slackers like me.    I considered running 6ish miles when I got home to finish a long run but it was 100+ still and there was another fire so we had a smoke advisory.   Boo.

Sunday- Work  Here’s where the 12 days in a row would have come in.   I actually went in to work in running clothes with my shoes and pack in the car but we ended up being there so much longer than planned.  I also found that while I had managed to get a computer working for me during the week I didn’t come out so pretty on the other side of conversion.  A lot of my settings and links were unrecoverable. 😢 It’s cool, I didn’t need those anyway right?  Fingers crossed.  I returned home to temps of 104.  I still planned on trying for a few miles but I ended up passing out for a long nap instead.  Oops.

11.8 miles for the week.  Again so much better than last week but kind of missing that 10 mile long run.   I am hopeful for the coming week but I know that it’s going to be another intense week at work and that needs to be my top priority.     I think I can, I think I can.   I also don’t want to disappear into a hole.  I feel like I barely read or commented on your blogs last week- well I think I read them but I’m not sure what happened after that.  Like I said- I was kind of hazardous.  😛

How was your week?

Do you ever have accident prone weeks?  Moments?

BibRave, Product Review, Run!

Give Me a Boost

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Disclaimer: I received a pair of Adida’s Ultra Boost X to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I think I’m in love.

If you’ve been following along for awhile now, you know I’ve bee struggling with shoes since last year when they changed my beloved PureFlows to an unrecognizable shoe.  I’ve been through numerous shoes since- various brands and types.  Some I’ve suffered through and then “donated” to my mother’s emergency stash for her tennis team and others I full on returned to the store.  Sorry Running Warehouse.   I hate returning shoes, I feel bad.   So when an opportunity came up to try the Ultra Boost X from Adidas you’d think I would jump on it.  But I deliberated- I’ve become leery of new shoes and these looked different.   Curiosity won me over.    Then I was overly impatient to get my hands on them or more like my feet in them. 😛


These are so different than any of my other shoes.  In some ways they feel like more shoe than I am used to and in other ways they feel like less shoe.    The more shoe comes from the sole- I went from a 4mm drop to a 10mm drop.  Whereas my previous upper was more of standard upper and the Ultra Boost X foots your foot like a sock.  In the beginning I wondered if I even needed the shoelaces or if they were just for looks.   And a floating arch? I could stick my finger through it- how would that work?

Ok- first some data straight from Adidas-

Adidas snip

Ok, first impressions- what the heck is on my feet?   They felt so tight.  I kept loosening the shoelaces.   Turns out I just wasn’t used to the arch support.  I kept trying thinner socks before I realized the shoes are actually slightly too big.  Oops.   Thicker socks and 3 runs in was all it took and I was all adjusted to the extra support and cushion.  🙂


Then I started to notice something.  My shin pain was going away.  My knee pain was a thing of the past.  My feet and ankles were happy.   Was this for real?  It had been so long my legs hadn’t hurt in some way I felt like it was a trap.  I was to the point that I was wearing them for every run but the longest run I had completed was 8 miles.  I didn’t know what to do about San Diego.  Should I try the Ultra Boost X for 13 miles?   Spoiler: I did and they were awesome, my feet felt great for all 13 miles.


In short I am loving these shoes.  I do have some concerns though.  1- go to a store and try them on.  Mine are big, which I correct with either thick socks or 2 pairs, but I think  I probably could have and should have sized down.   Never thought I would say that.  2- the cost, these shoes are not cheap but then again injuries and pains aren’t either so it’s 6 in one, half dozen in another.   One of the Pro’s who met with an Adidas rep said that they were made to last longer than most shoes so we shall see.   You know I will report back on that.  😛  That said, I have already added a price alert to ShoeKicker to let me know if they ever go on sale. 😀😀. Too bad Adidas doesn’t want to give me a pair in every color.  Until then I’ll just keep running in these.

Ever worn Adidas?

What do you run in?

 

Run!, Slacker, Training

Week 48 Um Ouch Recap

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

After the last week, I am so glad I don’t have anything to put under the “Training For” label.    I had such high hopes for getting back to running but life was like yeah no.  😛

Monday– I packed all my stuff for an evening run and I was looking forward to testing out my new reflective vest and tights.  My back started to feel sore bordering on painful towards the end of the day which I thought was odd but other than that didn’t think much of it.  Since I was also waiting for a new shoe delivery I used it as a reason to rest.  I figured I had the rest of the week to run, right?


Haha!  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch

My alarm went off on Tuesday and I damn near screamed when I went to turn it off.  Whatever had been wrong with my back the day before was nothing compared to this, I could barely move without crying.   Getting dressed was one of the most painful things I’ve done and I have a pretty decent pain tolerance.  Every movement hurt.    And kept hurting.  I could have used a sling, I basically kept my left arm at a right angle and glued to my side for 3 days.   Instead of screaming or cursing, I would only whimper with the occasional moan.

Problem was I realized just how left hand dominant I am.  I am right handed so I write and eat with my right hand but I do damn near everything else with my left hand and arm.     I felt like I forgot how to do everything.   I kept losing the computer mouse at work, I’m not used to having it on the right side!  Grrrrr.    Anyways, I was about as active as a lump on a log those days.   A moany lump on a log.

There were Shiny moments though-  I saw Fantastic Beasts and it was awesome!  Movie theater seats were not a good idea but the movie was great!  Thanksgiving was a very low key, chill day with family, just the way I like it.    I’m also not a huge fan of traditional fare so it’s the one day a year I have no worries of overeating.  😛😛   I was feeling a little better on Friday, so with slooooow, deliberate movements, a coworker and I decorated the building for Christmas.  I guess that was pretty active, I hung lights around 9 windows.  🙂

Saturday was crazy rainy but I was feeling a little better so I took advantage of a break in the rain and headed out to attempt a short run.    I made it 3 miles and kept it super slow both due to my back and the now 3 weeks off.  I feel like I am starting over!  That said, it was a pretty good run, it helped that I had zero expectations about this run.   I was pretty happy that I was even able to get a sports bra on.


Sunday was spent doing some Christmas shopping.   I also returned the Hoka’s.    They just weren’t working.   My toes felt bruised every time I wore them and I still have that odd spongy feeling in my left arch every now and then.  It never existed until the Hoka’s.  I hate returning shoes but I also can’t afford to just eat the cost on $130 pair of shoes either.   I exchanged them for another pair of Nike’s.   That is the only pair of shoes that hasn’t caused me any issues other than I can only wear them up to 8 miles.  But it’s not like I will be hitting the double digits any time soon so these should get me through.  Also, fingers crossed that the Hail Mary Sayonara’s that arrived on Monday will work for longer runs.

My back is still sore but drastically better then it was during the week.     I feel a knot or something but I’m still going to take it easy until it is back to normal.  This has happened once before, years ago.  I remember rolling over to get out of bed, feeling and hearing something pop before the pain hit and I couldn’t get up.  I also remember yelling for help for 40 minutes before someone in the house heard me.   That may be why I forced myself to try to work through the pain this week.  That or I am stupid.   My boss tried to get me to go to a chiropractor but 1- they scare me, 2-by the time I jump through the insurance hoops it will be next year.  😞

How was your week?

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you run a Turkey Trot?

Ever break yourself while sleeping?😛

Run!, Slacker

Weekly Musings

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

It’s Friday!!  And I have a 3 day weekend.  I can’t wait.   Sleep has not been my friend these past few weeks.

I’ve been in a weird non chatty mood this week.  My last post was Monday! 😔  I am not sure what put me into a little funk but I am working my through it.  Donuts were involved on Thursday.   Apparently we were all feeling it, the clock hit 10 AM, we looked at each other and said donuts.

I wore my amazing new socks!!!!


I have a race this weekend!  I think.  Truth- I haven’t registered yet.  Oops!!  I always procrastinate but this time might be the most extreme.   Part of it was due to my leg and it’s achiness.  Part of it was due to a late giveaway I entered.   Fingers crossed!

That said, I am nervous for it.  But mostly about my shoes.  I’ve been wearing the Hoka’s and while they don’t suck, I’ve never gone past 6 miles in them.  Yikes!!! I have almost 30 miles on them but I am nervous.

It’s almost blanket weather!  Almost.  I love curling up under a good blanket.   Nights are finally in the 40’s out here.   There are still 90+ degree days in the forecast but we’re getting closer to fall like weather.  😛

I did get some short miles this week. Overall my leg felt ok.  Saw a pretty great sunset too-


 I have not had pizza or bought a bag of chips this week.  Who am I?? 🍕 Can I make it through cookie Friday????

Hmmm, I thought I had more to share but nothing’s coming to me right now.  Oops.  And why does the iPhone want you to use 🙊 instead of oops?  Silly auto predict.

What are you doing this weekend?

How late have you ever registered for a race? 

Share something random!

Run!, Training

Week 38 Training Recap

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

So, I think I have been a little too hard on myself.  Maybe.    It’s been 50 days since I ran a marathon and I’ve been over sitting over here pissed that my long runs haven’t hit 16 yet.   This coming from the person who took 3 months off after her first half marathon years ago.     I think I momentarily lost my mind.   So, I am trying to get it back.   My legs are achy and I am more tired now than I was during marathon training.    I also have 6 races in the next 8 weeks.  Oops.   I have the opportunity to work with Ekiden Coaching though, so I am hoping that having someone to report to will reign in my craziness.  Fingers crossed!

Training for:

  • City to the Sea 13.1
  • Harvest Marathon 13.1
  • Golden Gate Half

So let’s get to last week!


Monday- 2.34 miles Another short Monday.    Not entirely my fault though.  You can read all about the creep fest here.

Tuesday- 8 miles bike, plank, pushups, bridges.  I had an appointment with my gastro and it was more of the same old, same old.  Decent cross training after though.

Wednesday- Rest.  I had planned on running but I fell off/ on my stool at work and it felt like I broke my foot.   The top swelled and turned purple.   Destructo girl, that’s me.   My planks had to be broken into 30 second sections- it hurt to bend my foot.


Thursday- 4.25 miles  Not the best but could have been worse.  I determine my last pair of PureFlow 4’s were dead dead though.   Calf pain, shin pain, foot pain, you name it this run had it.    I changed into my Nike’s for the last 1/2 mile or so.  I just really wanted to hit 4 miles!

Friday- Rest First early shift Friday in over a month- it was awesome.   Except the computers were down for the first 6 hours.   Oof.


Saturday- Rest  Well, does shopping and trying on shoes count as exercise?  I did clear 10, 000 steps without running though.  Woo hoo!    The PureFlow 5’s went back to the store.  I hate returning shoes!  I went in with an open mind and asked for help.  I tired on 10 pairs of shoes!!!  10!   I was torn between a pair of Nike’s, New Balance and Hoka’s.  I left with the Hoka’s.   Fingers crossed!


Sunday- 10 miles In my original schedule for myself, I really wanted to run 16 miles today.  But since I didn’t pull off 14 last week or 12 the week before, I decided to be smart.   After last week’s tunnel of dark and pain 8 miles, I headed out early and with a full Camelbak.   It wasn’t early enough.  The predicted high for the day was 102.  Ouch.  I optimistically hoped for 12 but knew 10 was more likely.  Especially since I was running this in my Nike’s.  I didn’t want to test the Hoka’s on a long run.   My Nike’s may be the least painful pair of shoes I own but they are not a distance shoe.   10 miles is their limit.  Truthfully, today I wanted them off my feet by mile 9.    The run was hot and long and I was tired.    I found a lone shady spot at the end and sat down.  Cool concrete post run feels kind of amazing.  😛

Rookie moment- My mom had planned on meeting me halfway so she could walk some miles but had texted that she wasn’t feeling well.  Which I got because I was thisclose to saying screw it when my alarm went off.  Anyways, while I was waiting for her to pick me up so we could do lunch I drank more water from my Camelbak then part of water bottle when she picked me up.   Too much water, too quickly.   I got so nauseated I thought I was going to lose my cookies.  Guess it’s a good thing I don’t eat breakfast before running right?   I know better!

16.6 miles for the week.   It is what it is.  There was a time when I would have called this a very solid week.  That was also the time when I lied to myself and said I ran long runs but rarely did.  I was also faster than so hmmm…..

How was your week?

Ever tried to run in Hoka’s? Thoughts?

How is it almost October?!?!?