rocket shoes, iPods, and getting lost in the dark.
You may recall that after day 1 of Couch to 5k, I had some pretty significant soreness in every part of my body except, possibly, my spleen. Most of that was just me being badly out of shape, but I decided I needed to do something about the feet. On Saturday, my second day of C25K (as I’m abbreviating the program now), I was unable to run in the morning because my iPod’s battery was freaking out again – more on that later – so I decided to go to a running shop in the afternoon and get properly outfitted.
I walked in in my Serenity shirt and my current crappy shoes, pictured. There was a guy near the door. Here’s how that went:
Me: “Are you the guy?”
Him: “I’m *a* guy.”
Me: “Good enough! I need a new pair of shoes.”
Him: “Anything for a Browncoat!”
Woot! This was going to go well. I got on a treadmill and ran, and they took computer pics of my legs as they struck to determine how far out of true I was rotating. Good news: with 180 degrees being perfectly up and down, I was at 177. So no extra stability needed. Aside from my wide feet (thanks, Mom!) I should be in fine shape.
As I tried on shoes, we chatted about Firefly. He, of course, owns the box set, and I filled him in on what the Serenity special edition has. He was very supportive of the C25K program, also, which was good to hear. We narrowed down to a couple of choices, and I picked the one which felt like it had better arch support. It also is one that traditionally runs wide, which is good for me. And here they are!
Now, don’t get me wrong, these babies feel great. The Charlotte Running Company Browncoat hooked me up. I ran Saturday night and tonight in them with no foot pain. And while intellectually I realize that the price I paid was fair for a pair of athletic shoes of this quality, my inner miser was sweating.
Irrationally, for the price I paid for these shoes, I expect them to have frickin’ rockets strapped to them. I’m picturing something more like the item to the right. If the store had carried ACME brand, I would have gladly walked out of there with them. I’m crafty, I’m sure I could make my own little “HELP” sign to hold up for when I went over the cliff.
But I digress.
The other thing that was holding me up from running on Saturday was my freakin’ iPod. It’s four years old, and like many iPods of its generation, the battery was toast. I took it to the Apple store, and you’d have thought I brought a Victrola in. Long story short, they think it’s a miracle the battery lasted as long as it did. I can get it replaced, but that’ll take time, and frankly, I don’t want to be without it when I’m starting a new program. So, since it was fairly reasonably priced, I bought a shuffle.
Eeeeee! Isn’t it cute? Couldn’t you just die? This is actual size! Given my propensity for losing things, I have a strict policy that it stays ONLY on its dock on my computer desk unless I’m actually actively using it. Every time. I let it charge up, put my program and a few other songs on it, then tried it out. Worked great!
Then I pulled out the earphone plug. And the top came with it. I didn’t pull it hard, honest. I brought it back to the Apple store, where I was once again treated as a circus freak. “Wow, I’ve never seen this happen before. Remind me never to piss you off,” the guy said. “Yeah, yeah, Hulk smash, I know,” I replied. Anyway, after a really, really long time, I finally got a new one. So far I have managed not to crush it with my superhuman strength.
I love this little thing. It holds a gig, which is plenty for me. Saturday night, however, I realized the down side. It was evening, and I went later than I should have, so it was dark. I ran, and apparently I missed the bit where the guy says we’re at the halfway point, because I’m chugging along and suddenly he says “We’re almost done!”
Wha? We’re… wait, what? Crud! With no display on the shuffle, even though it felt like I had been gone longer than last run, I couldn’t check the time. So I tried to take a shortcut back and got turned around. I’ve got good directional sense, so I knew the general way I should be going, and eventually got back to my street. Lesson learned: PAY ATTENTION, DUMMY.
So! New shoes, new tool, three days down. Weight and body fat holding steady, but my stamina and mood have improved. I find that overall, I’m happier. That’s a fantastic benefit.
I’m enjoying this, but I’m physically not ready to move on to week two. I have no ego about this, so I’m content to stay on week one indefinitely.
Time for Heroes. Catch y’all later.
I’m content to stay on week one indefinitely as well, hahaha.
Just so you know, if your other iPod is toast anyway you might want to try replacing your battery yourself. Apparently it’s easy, you can get kits online, and… why not?
I’m content to stay on week one indefinitely as well, hahaha.
Just so you know, if your other iPod is toast anyway you might want to try replacing your battery yourself. Apparently it’s easy, you can get kits online, and… why not?
I need to start this, but that whole people looking and laughing thing…yeah.
I take it you didn’t see Dave at the Apple store? Because he works there and he would have taken GREAT care of you – not that they didn’t. but you know, he is DAVE!!
I need to start this, but that whole people looking and laughing thing…yeah.
I take it you didn’t see Dave at the Apple store? Because he works there and he would have taken GREAT care of you – not that they didn’t. but you know, he is DAVE!!
I looked, but I didn’t see him. I was hoping to get my old buddy Zork Guy, aka “James,” to help me, but he was unavailable too. Oh well.
I looked, but I didn’t see him. I was hoping to get my old buddy Zork Guy, aka “James,” to help me, but he was unavailable too. Oh well.
I may do that!
I may do that!
Good luck on your new regimen! I’m starting one this week, too. Pilates and yoga, each at least once a week. Here’s to our sticking to our plans 🙂
Good luck on your new regimen! I’m starting one this week, too. Pilates and yoga, each at least once a week. Here’s to our sticking to our plans 🙂
Wow, good for you! 🙂
Wow, good for you! 🙂
Well, we’ll see how it goes :p I did my first Pilates class today, and WOW am I sore. Even my butt is sore. It’s amazing.
Well, we’ll see how it goes :p I did my first Pilates class today, and WOW am I sore. Even my butt is sore. It’s amazing.
Yeah. I tried Pilates once.
ONCE.
Ow.
Yeah. I tried Pilates once.
ONCE.
Ow.
Woo! It seems like physical fitness is going around my friends list. So far I’ve mostly been working on the healthy eating angle, with some walks thrown in. I did the C25K a few years back and got to week 4 or 5 I believe. My ex, however, did it at the same time, and has been doing crazy Marine Corps 5Ks this fall, so apparently it can work.
Woo! It seems like physical fitness is going around my friends list. So far I’ve mostly been working on the healthy eating angle, with some walks thrown in. I did the C25K a few years back and got to week 4 or 5 I believe. My ex, however, did it at the same time, and has been doing crazy Marine Corps 5Ks this fall, so apparently it can work.
You have a cool people magnet in you, I swear. Every story you tell about going out you meet interesting and amazing people.
You have a cool people magnet in you, I swear. Every story you tell about going out you meet interesting and amazing people.
It’s the shirt. It’s all about the shirt. 🙂
It’s the shirt. It’s all about the shirt. 🙂
Must be something in the water. I haven’t changed much about my diet, because, ironically, I’m rather lazy that way.
Must be something in the water. I haven’t changed much about my diet, because, ironically, I’m rather lazy that way.
I love all the Browncoats you meet. I wear my Blue Sun tshirt out every so often, but no one EVER comments on it. Maybe I need a Serenity tshirt too, that seems to be key
Love the teeny little Shuffle! If I started exercising I’d get one, but since I don’t exercise right now I can’t justify the expense. Maybe now that the weather’s cooled off I’ll try getting my ass off the couch.
I love all the Browncoats you meet. I wear my Blue Sun tshirt out every so often, but no one EVER comments on it. Maybe I need a Serenity tshirt too, that seems to be key
Love the teeny little Shuffle! If I started exercising I’d get one, but since I don’t exercise right now I can’t justify the expense. Maybe now that the weather’s cooled off I’ll try getting my ass off the couch.
A brand of shoes that runs wide? What are they? My feet are so bad it’s easier to find shoe *boxes* to wear on them than shoes…
A brand of shoes that runs wide? What are they? My feet are so bad it’s easier to find shoe *boxes* to wear on them than shoes…
New Balance! They run wide, AND they have wide widths! My new shoes are a 9B, but my old ones were an 8 1/2 C. If you can find an actual New Balance store in your area, they’ll have the wide widths in stock. These are, as I say, a little pricey, but it’s so worth it for shoes that don’t pinch. Plus since they change the colors every Spring, sometimes you can find a discontinued color for, like, 40% off. I got the best pair of wide blue shoes that way a couple of years ago.
New Balance! They run wide, AND they have wide widths! My new shoes are a 9B, but my old ones were an 8 1/2 C. If you can find an actual New Balance store in your area, they’ll have the wide widths in stock. These are, as I say, a little pricey, but it’s so worth it for shoes that don’t pinch. Plus since they change the colors every Spring, sometimes you can find a discontinued color for, like, 40% off. I got the best pair of wide blue shoes that way a couple of years ago.
Woo! Yay for new shoes! It has definitely been a while since I went to RFYL, because when I bought my shoes there, they didn’t have all the computer newfangled gizmos!
Now you have me thinking about skipping the guild meeting to go get shoes *lol*
And it’s very good to hear about the improved stamina and mood 🙂 That rocks! Go you!
Woo! Yay for new shoes! It has definitely been a while since I went to RFYL, because when I bought my shoes there, they didn’t have all the computer newfangled gizmos!
Now you have me thinking about skipping the guild meeting to go get shoes *lol*
And it’s very good to hear about the improved stamina and mood 🙂 That rocks! Go you!
Oh you said Charlotte Running Co not RFYL. Duh me. Must go scope them out..
Oh you said Charlotte Running Co not RFYL. Duh me. Must go scope them out..
I always get more comments when I wear my Serenity shirt than when I wear my Blue Sun shirt. I think Blue Sun doesn’t register as strongly. If the person who notices the Serenity shirt isn’t a Browncoat, I get comments on the general idea of serenity. Once I had a store clerk notice it, and she thought I must be in AA like her because “serenity” is a big idea there. It was a confusing conversation because she was acting like we were in a secret club, which is, of course, what being a Browncoat sort of is, so I responded in kind. When we figured out what was going on, that turned into one awkward conversation!
I always get more comments when I wear my Serenity shirt than when I wear my Blue Sun shirt. I think Blue Sun doesn’t register as strongly. If the person who notices the Serenity shirt isn’t a Browncoat, I get comments on the general idea of serenity. Once I had a store clerk notice it, and she thought I must be in AA like her because “serenity” is a big idea there. It was a confusing conversation because she was acting like we were in a secret club, which is, of course, what being a Browncoat sort of is, so I responded in kind. When we figured out what was going on, that turned into one awkward conversation!
Heh. I went to the one next to Talley’s on East and really liked it. I forebore to buy any running clothes – I’ve got my baggy shorts and clever T-shirts and they’re doing me just fine. Besides, the world isn’t ready for me in Spandex.
I noticed a store with “foot” in its name in that same shopping center where Peace of Yarn is, so that’s probably closer to your neck of the woods. Looks like they sell shoes, but I don’t know if they’re geared toward running or not.
Heh. I went to the one next to Talley’s on East and really liked it. I forebore to buy any running clothes – I’ve got my baggy shorts and clever T-shirts and they’re doing me just fine. Besides, the world isn’t ready for me in Spandex.
I noticed a store with “foot” in its name in that same shopping center where Peace of Yarn is, so that’s probably closer to your neck of the woods. Looks like they sell shoes, but I don’t know if they’re geared toward running or not.
LOL! That is exactly something that would happen to me. It did, actually, now that I think about it. A friend got me a tshirt from a Grateful Dead show because it had a cute Pooh and Piglet on it and she knew I loved Winnie the Pooh. I kept getting compliments on the shirt, and how touching the song lyrics on it were, and I had no idea what they were talking about because I didn’t know any of their music. So I just kind of nodded and smiled blankly. I ended up getting into the Dead because of that shirt, out of some weird sense of obligation.
LOL! That is exactly something that would happen to me. It did, actually, now that I think about it. A friend got me a tshirt from a Grateful Dead show because it had a cute Pooh and Piglet on it and she knew I loved Winnie the Pooh. I kept getting compliments on the shirt, and how touching the song lyrics on it were, and I had no idea what they were talking about because I didn’t know any of their music. So I just kind of nodded and smiled blankly. I ended up getting into the Dead because of that shirt, out of some weird sense of obligation.