Vibrams update

Hi Ladies! I have missed you. Although I have been stalking the blog, I haven't spoken up much. Do you ever feel like you have so much going on in your head that you can't put it all into words? I feel that way often. I wish I could have Becky be my scribe and organize my thoughts.

So right now my thoughts are on my Vibrams. I have been having a BLAST training in them for the half marathon next month. They just feel so good on my feet. A couple of weeks ago my husband and running partner started having pain on the tops of their feet. My wonderful friend, the running partner, has had to take the past two weeks off completely. It really stinks! We decided that perhaps we are putting too many miles on the Vibrams, too quickly. In order to be prepared, I ran down to Road Runner Sports to grab a pair of normal running shoes. My thoughts on this were if I could finish training in regular shoes, then I could resume the Vibram training after the race, and go at the pace that I needed to go, and eventually run a half in them.

After a complete foot analysis, I walked out of the store with a pair of Newtons, custom inserts, water bottle, socks, and a bill for 260 dollars. (And a very pale husband). The good thing about this store is that they have a 60 day return policy, and you can run on the shoes outside. I figured I could try it and return them if it wasn't a good match.

I ran on the Newtons all week, and am sad to say that I will be returning them tomorrow. I liked the Newtons because I didn't have to change my running method at all, but they hurt my feet.

Sad.

I had such hopes for them.

I ran out a mile yesterday in the Newtons, and they hurt so bad that I took them off, turned around on the trail, and ran home barefoot. After about 30 strides barefoot, the pain subsided and I felt great for the rest of the mile. As soon as I got home, I boxed up the shoes, and hung them on the door to take back. I still had more miles to do, so later in the day I put on the vibrams and finished out my miles, happily.

So what does this mean? I think I have weird feet. I also think my husband will be happy to have his 260 dollars back. We struck a deal, my husband and I (I think he felt bad the shoes didn't work out, but he must have also been relieved) ...he agreed to support me any way he could...which means feet massages every night. It really does help...I think he is the secret to my success. Hopefully it will really be success, and my feet will hold up to the training I am going to put them through over the next month.

What is your experience with running shoes?

Do you have a pair that makes your feet feel "like butter" (in the trainer momma's words)?

I have never found a pair that feels like that, until the vibrams. I just don't know how good they are for my feet, but they feel SOOOO GOOD!

Is it proper to ask you to pray for my silly feet?

Thanks girls for listening to my jumbled brain. You are all amazing.

Two weekends ago, my husband and I got to sneak away to New York and enjoy a weekend together. It just so happened that they closed Park Avenue for the morning so we got the street to ourselves...no crazy taxi drivers allowed. It was so much fun!! They had free bike rental for an hour, so we nabbed a couple and cruised up to Central park for a while. After we returned the bike, we ran 6 miles to the Brooklyn Bridge. That's what I call a vacation.