Kickboxing (aerobics)
So for the summer term I've decided to take a kickboxing class. Except I've learned, from telling this to multiple people, that there's a distinct difference between kickboxing and kickboxing aerobics. As in, when I say kickboxing, people will automatically think of big gloves, target sand bags, and some sort of anger release. But the funny thing is, when I think about kickboxing I just think of rhythmic movements with kicking and punch motions while loud music is playing in the background, which, luckily, is what the class I signed up for entailed (thus the name of the course is kickboxing aerobics, I guess).
I had my first class on Monday. There were 5 people but the instructor said there will be more people in the coming weeks. I knew one of the girls so that was fun. The music was indeed very loud, too loud, in fact, that we couldn't really hear the instructor half of the time. Not that she was doing a very good job instructing to begin with. I was tempted to drop the class because of that. She was a real nice girl, but she wasn't really good at explaining things, and insisted to do everything with her back to us to better demonstrate the moves, which makes sense except that it just made it harder for her to be heard. And she doesn't really do a lot of prompting before we change moves, so every time we had to do something different she would just do it and we would awkwardly follow.
But in the end I decided to stay. Mostly because it's Wednesday and my legs and back are still hurting like crazy. We did so many push ups, jump squats, and kicks, that my muscles were aching almost right after class ended. It was alarming at first, because while I wasn't worried about my leg muscles or glutes, my back was hurting very intensely that I had to stop by the indoor track area to do more stretching. I now realize that I didn't really hurt my back in a bad way, but my back muscles (quadratus lumborum and latissimus dorsi, to be exact) just got a very intense workout. I guess when we were kicking (<100 total) I didn't use my ab muscles enough and relied mostly on my back to get my torso staying straight and stable.
So I've decided to take the class this term. Not because I love it, but because it's making me doing things I've never done before and doing it harder than I would on my own.
Weight loss
Since using the Lose It! app I've lost about 7 lbs. Which is really good since I know the weight I lost is real. My stomach area is slimmer, my pants are looser, and I could wear some of the T-shirts that were previously too tight for me, which is nice since I had to throw out almost half a dozen T-shirts in the past two weeks because they are falling apart. Now that I can wear some of the smaller shirts again it's like I got a new wardrobe without having to spend any money. And for the 7 lbs I lost I kept it off; I've maintained the same weight for almost 2 weeks. Which brings me to the more frustrating part: I've not lost any weight for almost 2 weeks. The whole weight loss plan was sort of put on hold when I got my period and was craving meat and chocolate like crazy, and was so tired that I just couldn't go to the gym. When I felt better the lazy streak continued and while I didn't really gain any weight because of it, I'm having trouble losing more as well. I've realized that I just cannot maintain a 1550 daily calorie intake that the app is making me do. I've been able to keep under the limit before because I was working out almost every day, and when I wasn't I was walking a lot to compensate for it. Now that I stopped moving so much I keep going over my calorie limit and it's gotten to a point where I just don't care anymore. Going home for the holidays next week so things will be wacky again but I swear when I come back I have to bring my daily habit to weight loss mode again.
Shoes
Recently I read a review on the Sketcher Ultra 3 GoTrail shoes, which is one of those extra cushioned types like the Hoka One One. Except it was a raving review written by someone who usually wear more minimalistic shoes. And the review was so positive that it made me want to get a pair right away. Not that I need a new pair of running shoes, or new shoes in general, but I just had to. And although I didn't end up buying that exact model (don't really need trail shoes), I got a similar pair that was designed for road running, and it was less than $50 on amazon, which was the real reason why I got it. I bought the Saucony Kinvara 5 because of the reviewer and they are my favorite shoes ever at the moment, so I can't help but trust the guy. The shoes are supposed to arrive today but I'm not so confident. I will have to throw away a pair just so my shoe collection doesn't get too big. But we'll make it work. Hey, maybe I won't like them and will return them and this episode of my running shoes obsession would never happen.
Showing posts with label shoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shoes. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
It's official; I have a shoe problem
Unlike many other girls I was never one to be obsessed with shoes. I remember in my freshman year I went to a shopping plaza with my friend and we went into a boutique shoe shop. After we flipped over the price tag that told us that the pair of unappealing flats we were staring at cost $130 we both commented on how ugly the shoes were and how many books we could buy instead if we had that $130 to spare.
So I'm surprised at myself now at how obsessive I get when it comes to running shoes.
No I don't have a shoe fetish, but I do have a compulsive shopping disorder when it comes to running shoes.
We all know that finding the right pair of running shoes can be difficult. And as I've learned recently that even when you find a model that fits you your quest will still never end since the old models go out of styles and the new models may not fit as nicely. I've been running on and off for almost two years and so far I have 1 pair of Saucony Kinvara 5 that I run in regularly, another pair of the same model (different colors) that I stocked in a panic after I learned that when Kinvara 6 came out (now the 7 is too) they stopping selling the 5s. I had a pair of Brooks Dyad 7 I got after a visit to the Marathon Running store in Boston, that I no longer use to run (think they were too small and way too heavy; I switched out the insoles and use them semi-regularly for daily walking). I have a pair of Saucony Cohesion 7 which I bought on a whim on Amazon (first time buying an unfamiliar brand without trying them on first) for very cheap, and ended up running almost 60 miles in them, as I recently realized while updating my Nike+ profile. I had a pair of NB trail running shoes I originally used for casual walking but ended up putting a good double-digit milage on, before they became old and full of holes and I had to throw them out. I replaced those with a new pair of NB (model forgotten) that I planned to use only as walking shoes but they are so comfortable I'm thinking of trying them out for running as well.
And today I received in the mail yet another pair of running shoes. This time it was a pair of Saucony Hurricane Iso (1st gen, can't afford the $100+ newer model). This was recommended me on my second trip to the aforementioned Marathon store, and at the time of all the choices I was given I liked those the best. I was told that I needed more support and the Hurricane Iso would be a good fit, and Saucony as a whole is a good brand for my feet. I did not find an affordable pair until recently, and after a 2.9 mile test run today I have mixed feelings about them.
This is also the first time I bought shoes second hand. Granted they weren't from any individual sellers trying to get rid of some old shoes. They were sold by Amazon Warehouse where they would resell returned or opened item. They don't usually have second hand running shoes available all the time but I saw them earlier this week. New shoes often go for about $90 at least and the ones I got only cost me $50. I was very nervous about buying them because unlike sellers on eBay there were no pictures of the shoes at all, and the description made it sound like someone's walked in them for months. But they had such a good return policy that I thought there was nothing for me to lose if I just get them and see how they look. Around the same time I also saw a deal on the same shoes (different color) on Running Warehouse that was a good backup for me so either way I'm adding a new pair of running shoes to my collection.
The shoes looked a lot newer and in better condition than I expected. They came in a Saucony box but no stuffings or wrappings. The bottom of the shoes looked like they've definitely been worn and walked in, but the rest of the shoes looked absolutely brand new. The insoles did not show much ware and the shoes didn't really smell like anyone's feet. I think someone wore them for a few times and decided she didn't like them. I've returned a number of pairs of shoes myself and they didn't look worse than the conditions I returned my shoes in.
So I decided to keep them and ditch my back-up plan. There was no point spending an extra $25 to get a brand new pair when the ones I got were pretty good. And I wore them to the gym, where I ran almost 3 miles in them. Even at size 9.5 (my standard Saucony shoe size; I normally wear 8.5 for casual and 9 for NB running shoes) they felt a but snug, which was kind of alarming since they look huge in my hands. And they do have much better support than the fairly support-less Kinvara I had, and heavier than Kinvara too. As I was walking to the gym I could feel the shoes pushing at my feet in all directions in ways that were not felt with my other shoes. The shoes were't tied right so all the way there my ankles were slipping out, and I had to adjust the laces in the locker room before I went into the fitness room.
I can't really access what really happened during my 3 mile run, but by the end my plantar fasciitis was acting in full force and I started to feel that the support may not be unnecessary. It was refreshing and roomy when I stepped into my New Balance afterwards.
I don't know why my plantar fasciitis was acting up again but I have been feeling it for days now. It could be that was running longer too soon, it could be the shoes. Maybe I'm not ready for running in them yet and still need time to figure them out. Maybe the snugness is a problem. Maybe the assessment given to me by the running store was wrong again and the shoes are just not right for me. I think I want to test them some more before returning them becomes a real possibility.
While I have more shoes than my running habit can justify, I do have rationales for getting all of them. The reason why I wanted another pair of (better support) shoes is that it's getting warmer out and it's almost time for outdoor running again. And while the Kinvara are absolute a dream on the treadmill I am afraid that they would not be enough for while I pound on concrete. I don't remember whether I ran in them outside last year, but honestly I didn't do a lot of running last summer. I wanted something sturdier and something that could maybe handle the trails (even thought the Hurricane is not designed for trail running). But if the Hurricanes are not helping then there would be no point in having them. I still need to give them more time, and I can't bare having to go another half size up. Me wearing a size 10 is just too ridiculous.
But rationales aside I still like to look at running shoes I know I will never buy. I don't have he same attraction for other kinds of shoes, not even canvas shoes or casual athletic wears. Just running shoes. Sometimes it's the colors and patterns, other times it may be the cool design (like the Honka One One shoes). Sometime I suspect I dream of putting them on and go running in procrastination of actual running. Also I'm still trying to work out how the different shoes can suit different people. I'm told by every one that I need shoes with support because I over-pronate a little. And I need arch support. And because of my weight I'm usually recommend heavier shoes like the Brooks. And I was told by some that the Kinvara it not a good fit for me because it has no support. But I'm so happy in them. They are so light and I don't get more injuries wearing them than I would with other shoes. And I can't figure out why that it. Why does logic and reasoning not work? I got the Kinvara 5 purely based on it's good reviews. Everyone seemed to like them. I tried them out in the store and they fit my feet. It took a few tries for me to realize that I needed a full size up with this model (apparently the 6 is even narrower), and I run so happy in them. Yet I still can't ignore the logic and kept wanting to try out different things, and so far none of them have yielded promising results. My baffles only resulted in more temptation to buy; usually it would have to take a few days for me to find out whether I'm truly comfortable in them or not so a quick trip to the shoe store does not usually do it.
So I'm surprised at myself now at how obsessive I get when it comes to running shoes.
No I don't have a shoe fetish, but I do have a compulsive shopping disorder when it comes to running shoes.
We all know that finding the right pair of running shoes can be difficult. And as I've learned recently that even when you find a model that fits you your quest will still never end since the old models go out of styles and the new models may not fit as nicely. I've been running on and off for almost two years and so far I have 1 pair of Saucony Kinvara 5 that I run in regularly, another pair of the same model (different colors) that I stocked in a panic after I learned that when Kinvara 6 came out (now the 7 is too) they stopping selling the 5s. I had a pair of Brooks Dyad 7 I got after a visit to the Marathon Running store in Boston, that I no longer use to run (think they were too small and way too heavy; I switched out the insoles and use them semi-regularly for daily walking). I have a pair of Saucony Cohesion 7 which I bought on a whim on Amazon (first time buying an unfamiliar brand without trying them on first) for very cheap, and ended up running almost 60 miles in them, as I recently realized while updating my Nike+ profile. I had a pair of NB trail running shoes I originally used for casual walking but ended up putting a good double-digit milage on, before they became old and full of holes and I had to throw them out. I replaced those with a new pair of NB (model forgotten) that I planned to use only as walking shoes but they are so comfortable I'm thinking of trying them out for running as well.
And today I received in the mail yet another pair of running shoes. This time it was a pair of Saucony Hurricane Iso (1st gen, can't afford the $100+ newer model). This was recommended me on my second trip to the aforementioned Marathon store, and at the time of all the choices I was given I liked those the best. I was told that I needed more support and the Hurricane Iso would be a good fit, and Saucony as a whole is a good brand for my feet. I did not find an affordable pair until recently, and after a 2.9 mile test run today I have mixed feelings about them.
This is also the first time I bought shoes second hand. Granted they weren't from any individual sellers trying to get rid of some old shoes. They were sold by Amazon Warehouse where they would resell returned or opened item. They don't usually have second hand running shoes available all the time but I saw them earlier this week. New shoes often go for about $90 at least and the ones I got only cost me $50. I was very nervous about buying them because unlike sellers on eBay there were no pictures of the shoes at all, and the description made it sound like someone's walked in them for months. But they had such a good return policy that I thought there was nothing for me to lose if I just get them and see how they look. Around the same time I also saw a deal on the same shoes (different color) on Running Warehouse that was a good backup for me so either way I'm adding a new pair of running shoes to my collection.
The shoes looked a lot newer and in better condition than I expected. They came in a Saucony box but no stuffings or wrappings. The bottom of the shoes looked like they've definitely been worn and walked in, but the rest of the shoes looked absolutely brand new. The insoles did not show much ware and the shoes didn't really smell like anyone's feet. I think someone wore them for a few times and decided she didn't like them. I've returned a number of pairs of shoes myself and they didn't look worse than the conditions I returned my shoes in.
So I decided to keep them and ditch my back-up plan. There was no point spending an extra $25 to get a brand new pair when the ones I got were pretty good. And I wore them to the gym, where I ran almost 3 miles in them. Even at size 9.5 (my standard Saucony shoe size; I normally wear 8.5 for casual and 9 for NB running shoes) they felt a but snug, which was kind of alarming since they look huge in my hands. And they do have much better support than the fairly support-less Kinvara I had, and heavier than Kinvara too. As I was walking to the gym I could feel the shoes pushing at my feet in all directions in ways that were not felt with my other shoes. The shoes were't tied right so all the way there my ankles were slipping out, and I had to adjust the laces in the locker room before I went into the fitness room.
I can't really access what really happened during my 3 mile run, but by the end my plantar fasciitis was acting in full force and I started to feel that the support may not be unnecessary. It was refreshing and roomy when I stepped into my New Balance afterwards.
I don't know why my plantar fasciitis was acting up again but I have been feeling it for days now. It could be that was running longer too soon, it could be the shoes. Maybe I'm not ready for running in them yet and still need time to figure them out. Maybe the snugness is a problem. Maybe the assessment given to me by the running store was wrong again and the shoes are just not right for me. I think I want to test them some more before returning them becomes a real possibility.
While I have more shoes than my running habit can justify, I do have rationales for getting all of them. The reason why I wanted another pair of (better support) shoes is that it's getting warmer out and it's almost time for outdoor running again. And while the Kinvara are absolute a dream on the treadmill I am afraid that they would not be enough for while I pound on concrete. I don't remember whether I ran in them outside last year, but honestly I didn't do a lot of running last summer. I wanted something sturdier and something that could maybe handle the trails (even thought the Hurricane is not designed for trail running). But if the Hurricanes are not helping then there would be no point in having them. I still need to give them more time, and I can't bare having to go another half size up. Me wearing a size 10 is just too ridiculous.
But rationales aside I still like to look at running shoes I know I will never buy. I don't have he same attraction for other kinds of shoes, not even canvas shoes or casual athletic wears. Just running shoes. Sometimes it's the colors and patterns, other times it may be the cool design (like the Honka One One shoes). Sometime I suspect I dream of putting them on and go running in procrastination of actual running. Also I'm still trying to work out how the different shoes can suit different people. I'm told by every one that I need shoes with support because I over-pronate a little. And I need arch support. And because of my weight I'm usually recommend heavier shoes like the Brooks. And I was told by some that the Kinvara it not a good fit for me because it has no support. But I'm so happy in them. They are so light and I don't get more injuries wearing them than I would with other shoes. And I can't figure out why that it. Why does logic and reasoning not work? I got the Kinvara 5 purely based on it's good reviews. Everyone seemed to like them. I tried them out in the store and they fit my feet. It took a few tries for me to realize that I needed a full size up with this model (apparently the 6 is even narrower), and I run so happy in them. Yet I still can't ignore the logic and kept wanting to try out different things, and so far none of them have yielded promising results. My baffles only resulted in more temptation to buy; usually it would have to take a few days for me to find out whether I'm truly comfortable in them or not so a quick trip to the shoe store does not usually do it.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
The continuing adventure of finding the right pair of running shoes
I'm still alive. And running (somewhat). And doing other stuff like yoga and, this term, pilates (which I really like and has turned out to be really helpful).
And still looking for that perfect pair of running shoes.
Right now I'm in a happy relationship with my current pair of Saucony Kinvara 5. They are so light and they are extremely comfy. I've not run in them on concrete a lot so I don't know how they will fare out in the summer time (honestly when did I get them?), but on the whole they are on the more minimal and less supportive side of the shoe rainbow. Which was one of the reasons why I waited almost a year between reading the first (rave) review about them and finally getting a pair.
In December I was in Boston for a play and on the way there I stopped by the Marathon store to see if the nice people there would have any new insight into my (current line of) perfect running shoes. This stemmed from a panic episode I had earlier that year over the fact that Saucony no longer sells Kinvara 5s and instead only carries Kinvara 6s. Honestly my feet really can't tell the difference between 5 and 6 from just trying the 6 on for 2 minutes in the store, but since they are new, they were more expensive and my wallet didn't like it. And since my feet are kind of strange I didn't want to take the chance of having to go through a whole new cycle of finding another pair of good running shoes so I tried to search elsewhere for another pair of 5 that I could squirrel away. I finally managed to find a brand new pair on eBay that was also my size and I pretty much paid the same price as my first pair, but at that point I didn't even care anymore, because instead of being leftover bargains they've become antiques and collectibles. This is really annoying. From a business perspective I can understand why shoe companies would want to come up with new models every season to sell to avid runners, but at the same time the changes they make are not always for the better and we runners don't really want to spend the time and effort and money to constantly worry about what shoes are the best. And for people with weird feet like me (I can't wear any Nike shoes and my right foot is just way pickier and more prone to strange injuries), it's extra time consuming.
So i went to that store. The store clerk lady was extremely nice and friendly and helpful and in the end we decided that the Saucony Hurricane Iso is a good fit for me. I didn't buy them in the end because I still have two pairs of Kinvara 5s I need to run through and I didn't want to pay full price for shoes (now they are in a sweet spot of being bargain but not quite vintage state because the Hurricane Iso 2 is out, and I'm seriously debating whether I want to get a pair). In the end I got a pair of Superfeet insoles (which I don't like anymore and are now sitting pathetically in the back corner of my gym locker). I was shown them because I was told that the Kinvaras, which I love, has basically no support and for someone with my weight and feet I need arch support. I was (and still) am confused because on the one hand I'm so happy in my no-support shoes and so far I have no Kinvara-related injuries, but on the other hand I'm afraid if it's a time bomb waiting to go off because of the lack of support my running shoes carry. Right now I'm really not running that much so it's not a big problem but when it gets warmer and I'm running longer and harder on harder ground maybe it would come back and haunt me.
Plus now I don't even remember what was so great about the Hurricane Isos other than they didn't feel weird when I tried them on and ran half a block in them.
But then again, the first time I went into the Marathon store I came out with the conclusion that Brooks Dyad (7) was a good fit for me. I have wide feet and need support and the Brooks were like a pair of tanks for my feet. I ended up getting them online and ran in them for about a month before realizing that there was something seriously off about them. They started to hurt my feet really bad and twice I had seriously considered getting rid of them on eBay.
I have since found out the reason and am now wearing them as my everyday walking shoes. Shame, walking shoes should not cost this much.
First of all they were too small. They were size 8.5, which is what I normally wear. When I tried them on in the store I was given a pair of 8.5 and they were slightly roomy so I ignored the pervasive advice that i should buy running shoes half a size larger. I didn't know it for a while but they were indeed too small.
Second, there was something seriously wrong about the insoles. Instead of staying put in the shoe for me to step on they like to come up with my foot and it not only created a strange sensation but was not good for my arches. I tried to replace them once and after taking them out I found that they are the thickest, cushiest pair of insoles I've ever seen. They are thick, cushy, and felt really comfy when you poke and squeeze them, and they look so cool that I didn't have the heart (or felt the need) to replace them. I've recently switched them out and replaced them with the insoles that came from another pair of shoes I replaced a pair of Dr. Scholl's with. And now I'm able to wear my Brooks comfortably (for everyday wear), mostly because I created more room in the shoe, and because I got rid of the weird vacuum insoles.
I tried to put them to good use elsewhere. Today I tried to put them in my Kinvara 5 so they wouldn't be completely support-less but not as hard and uncomfortable as the Superfeet insoles. It did not go well. They took up way to much room in the shoe; they were too small so my arches were very uncomfortably supported, and it was overall just a very bad idea. They are now sitting among a bunch of used paper towels in the garbage can of the women's locker room of the gym. I still feel bad because they are so cushy and substantive, but apparently this is a bad thing. Maybe I just can't have very cushy insoles. Support, maybe, but not cushy. So there.
I'm still constantly experimenting, and trying to put everything I own into some good use. Right now the best option is still my Kinvara 5, without any modifications. I am financially capable of buying the Hurricane Iso and experiment them but the consideration is not money, but excess. I have a problem when it comes to shoes. I want to buy all of them! Especially ones that should be good fit for me! But technically I really don't need any (yea yea you should rotate your shoes yada yada), and the truth is I really don't have any more room in my apartment (or my gym locker, for that matter) to have another pair of shoes (I recently threw out a pair of casual walking shoes and bought another pair of new casual walking shoes before successfully turning my Brooks into something useable so I'm already regretting that decision). Reason simultaneously tells me that I should buy them (shoe rotation, etc) and not buy them (no they are not terribly expensive but no I also don't really need them). Plus I'm not that even a heavy runner! It's not like I run a 5K everyday or in the middle of training for a marathon or something. I've just forced myself to go back to running and right now I do about 1.5 miles at a time after my gym classes and I haven't done any runs longer than that in months! Maybe I should just stop obsessing over running shoes and just work with what I have.
My only fear is that by the time I'm ready for another pair of shoes the Hurricane Isos will become dinosaurs and the new models will suck.
Oh well, such is life. And there's always that extra pair of Kinvara 5 that will carry me through any tough times.
And still looking for that perfect pair of running shoes.
Right now I'm in a happy relationship with my current pair of Saucony Kinvara 5. They are so light and they are extremely comfy. I've not run in them on concrete a lot so I don't know how they will fare out in the summer time (honestly when did I get them?), but on the whole they are on the more minimal and less supportive side of the shoe rainbow. Which was one of the reasons why I waited almost a year between reading the first (rave) review about them and finally getting a pair.
In December I was in Boston for a play and on the way there I stopped by the Marathon store to see if the nice people there would have any new insight into my (current line of) perfect running shoes. This stemmed from a panic episode I had earlier that year over the fact that Saucony no longer sells Kinvara 5s and instead only carries Kinvara 6s. Honestly my feet really can't tell the difference between 5 and 6 from just trying the 6 on for 2 minutes in the store, but since they are new, they were more expensive and my wallet didn't like it. And since my feet are kind of strange I didn't want to take the chance of having to go through a whole new cycle of finding another pair of good running shoes so I tried to search elsewhere for another pair of 5 that I could squirrel away. I finally managed to find a brand new pair on eBay that was also my size and I pretty much paid the same price as my first pair, but at that point I didn't even care anymore, because instead of being leftover bargains they've become antiques and collectibles. This is really annoying. From a business perspective I can understand why shoe companies would want to come up with new models every season to sell to avid runners, but at the same time the changes they make are not always for the better and we runners don't really want to spend the time and effort and money to constantly worry about what shoes are the best. And for people with weird feet like me (I can't wear any Nike shoes and my right foot is just way pickier and more prone to strange injuries), it's extra time consuming.
So i went to that store. The store clerk lady was extremely nice and friendly and helpful and in the end we decided that the Saucony Hurricane Iso is a good fit for me. I didn't buy them in the end because I still have two pairs of Kinvara 5s I need to run through and I didn't want to pay full price for shoes (now they are in a sweet spot of being bargain but not quite vintage state because the Hurricane Iso 2 is out, and I'm seriously debating whether I want to get a pair). In the end I got a pair of Superfeet insoles (which I don't like anymore and are now sitting pathetically in the back corner of my gym locker). I was shown them because I was told that the Kinvaras, which I love, has basically no support and for someone with my weight and feet I need arch support. I was (and still) am confused because on the one hand I'm so happy in my no-support shoes and so far I have no Kinvara-related injuries, but on the other hand I'm afraid if it's a time bomb waiting to go off because of the lack of support my running shoes carry. Right now I'm really not running that much so it's not a big problem but when it gets warmer and I'm running longer and harder on harder ground maybe it would come back and haunt me.
Plus now I don't even remember what was so great about the Hurricane Isos other than they didn't feel weird when I tried them on and ran half a block in them.
But then again, the first time I went into the Marathon store I came out with the conclusion that Brooks Dyad (7) was a good fit for me. I have wide feet and need support and the Brooks were like a pair of tanks for my feet. I ended up getting them online and ran in them for about a month before realizing that there was something seriously off about them. They started to hurt my feet really bad and twice I had seriously considered getting rid of them on eBay.
I have since found out the reason and am now wearing them as my everyday walking shoes. Shame, walking shoes should not cost this much.
First of all they were too small. They were size 8.5, which is what I normally wear. When I tried them on in the store I was given a pair of 8.5 and they were slightly roomy so I ignored the pervasive advice that i should buy running shoes half a size larger. I didn't know it for a while but they were indeed too small.
Second, there was something seriously wrong about the insoles. Instead of staying put in the shoe for me to step on they like to come up with my foot and it not only created a strange sensation but was not good for my arches. I tried to replace them once and after taking them out I found that they are the thickest, cushiest pair of insoles I've ever seen. They are thick, cushy, and felt really comfy when you poke and squeeze them, and they look so cool that I didn't have the heart (or felt the need) to replace them. I've recently switched them out and replaced them with the insoles that came from another pair of shoes I replaced a pair of Dr. Scholl's with. And now I'm able to wear my Brooks comfortably (for everyday wear), mostly because I created more room in the shoe, and because I got rid of the weird vacuum insoles.
I tried to put them to good use elsewhere. Today I tried to put them in my Kinvara 5 so they wouldn't be completely support-less but not as hard and uncomfortable as the Superfeet insoles. It did not go well. They took up way to much room in the shoe; they were too small so my arches were very uncomfortably supported, and it was overall just a very bad idea. They are now sitting among a bunch of used paper towels in the garbage can of the women's locker room of the gym. I still feel bad because they are so cushy and substantive, but apparently this is a bad thing. Maybe I just can't have very cushy insoles. Support, maybe, but not cushy. So there.
I'm still constantly experimenting, and trying to put everything I own into some good use. Right now the best option is still my Kinvara 5, without any modifications. I am financially capable of buying the Hurricane Iso and experiment them but the consideration is not money, but excess. I have a problem when it comes to shoes. I want to buy all of them! Especially ones that should be good fit for me! But technically I really don't need any (yea yea you should rotate your shoes yada yada), and the truth is I really don't have any more room in my apartment (or my gym locker, for that matter) to have another pair of shoes (I recently threw out a pair of casual walking shoes and bought another pair of new casual walking shoes before successfully turning my Brooks into something useable so I'm already regretting that decision). Reason simultaneously tells me that I should buy them (shoe rotation, etc) and not buy them (no they are not terribly expensive but no I also don't really need them). Plus I'm not that even a heavy runner! It's not like I run a 5K everyday or in the middle of training for a marathon or something. I've just forced myself to go back to running and right now I do about 1.5 miles at a time after my gym classes and I haven't done any runs longer than that in months! Maybe I should just stop obsessing over running shoes and just work with what I have.
My only fear is that by the time I'm ready for another pair of shoes the Hurricane Isos will become dinosaurs and the new models will suck.
Oh well, such is life. And there's always that extra pair of Kinvara 5 that will carry me through any tough times.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Exercise Diary: So much for that 10K app
First day back at running. Did 2.5 miles in my new Saucony Kinvara 5 (the awesome blue kind with trippy green shoe laces). Not a good run but at least I made myself go around the pond 3 times.
Today I also tried the 10K app I recently downloaded. It's developed by the same people who made the popular C25K app, so I thought it would be really helpful. For the 10K app they essentially extended their methodology, and employed the same run-walk-run strategy. And it theoretically made sense. Since I could run a 5K if I really wanted to, I started from the week 9 program, which was run 10-minute walk 1-minute for about 4 times.
In reality it didn't work quite well. With the new shoes and my recently opened body I went way to quickly in the first 10 minutes, which actually felt really great, until I got bored/tired around minute 8 and thought, oh no, this is not going to go well. Although the 10K app is supposed to be compatible with Nike+ and a bunch of music apps like Spotify and Pandora, it didn't work too well with my non-traditional app, and instead of voice signaling my walking break, the music simply dimmed for 2 seconds. You eventually get used to that, but it could be very confusing at first. Naturally I missed my first break.
I tried to make it up by walking for about a minute and keep running, but it threw off my whole rhythm. Plus the sudden stopping to walk really messed up my breathing. The rest of my run consisted of pain in the diaphragm, irregularity in my heart beat, and a general decline in stamina and speed.
All in all the app didn't do anything to my advantage.
Not sure if I'm going to continue using this program. I could theoretically do my own run-walk-run routine using landmarks on my route as signals, or I could just run the whole time for a long as I could.
The new shoes felt really good actually. I had been very unhappy with them since I had a hard time making them fit, but after wearing them for a while and adjusting the lacing they became a natural extension to my feet which is nice. My feet didn't really hurt that much during today's run, and although the size-9.5 shoes look really big they felt like a really good fit. I think they are a keeper.
Other thoughts:
Today I also tried the 10K app I recently downloaded. It's developed by the same people who made the popular C25K app, so I thought it would be really helpful. For the 10K app they essentially extended their methodology, and employed the same run-walk-run strategy. And it theoretically made sense. Since I could run a 5K if I really wanted to, I started from the week 9 program, which was run 10-minute walk 1-minute for about 4 times.
In reality it didn't work quite well. With the new shoes and my recently opened body I went way to quickly in the first 10 minutes, which actually felt really great, until I got bored/tired around minute 8 and thought, oh no, this is not going to go well. Although the 10K app is supposed to be compatible with Nike+ and a bunch of music apps like Spotify and Pandora, it didn't work too well with my non-traditional app, and instead of voice signaling my walking break, the music simply dimmed for 2 seconds. You eventually get used to that, but it could be very confusing at first. Naturally I missed my first break.
I tried to make it up by walking for about a minute and keep running, but it threw off my whole rhythm. Plus the sudden stopping to walk really messed up my breathing. The rest of my run consisted of pain in the diaphragm, irregularity in my heart beat, and a general decline in stamina and speed.
All in all the app didn't do anything to my advantage.
Not sure if I'm going to continue using this program. I could theoretically do my own run-walk-run routine using landmarks on my route as signals, or I could just run the whole time for a long as I could.
The new shoes felt really good actually. I had been very unhappy with them since I had a hard time making them fit, but after wearing them for a while and adjusting the lacing they became a natural extension to my feet which is nice. My feet didn't really hurt that much during today's run, and although the size-9.5 shoes look really big they felt like a really good fit. I think they are a keeper.
Other thoughts:
- Up until I went out in my running gear it was cloudy all day. So although I brought my new visor I decided not to use it. And I immediately regretted that decision as soon as I stepped out. The sun peered throughout the cloud and was very bright, and although there was a very nice breeze it was still very hot.
- The right side of my forehead and neck sweat more than my left side. This is no longer a new discovery but it was more prominent today. I hate the feeling of sweat dripping down my neck and I don't think it is something that can be rescued by a visor. Would I look really stupid if I run with a towel in one hand?
- Ran today with a playlist of upbeat music, which I've almost never done before. I always run with a podcast or an audio book. But I think the upbeat music works a lot better. For one I don't really have to pay attention to it. In fact sometimes I deliberately ignore it. But the fast beat helps with the mood and my breathing, and is not as distracting from the actual running.
- I found it to be quite helpful if I focus a lot on my breathing during the run. I guess it's kind of like yoga, you have to make sure you are breathing deeply no matter what you are doing. Although that idea kind of failed toward the end, but I think overall if I focus on the actual running rather than actively trying to ignore it by engaging more in what I'm listening I would feel less tired too early on.
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