Qmckenna’s Weblog

I can remember when it took months to get used to writing a new year on a check or a letter (and yes, I remember writing those). But now I’ve been through enough iterations of the drill to have become pretty quick at the adjustment. But after all of these years I am still conditioned to look at the new year as a fresh opportunity to reassess my condition and seek improvement.
Improvement falls in a pretty narrow range. Drink less, eat less, get in shape. Usually my new physical fitness attempt centers around the pool. I have a visceral understanding of how swimming works to get me in shape. I understand how hard I can push myself, when I need to back off. But this new year I had to admit that there were just too may obstacles preventing me from making it to the pool often enough. I need something simpler.
I decided to try running. We have a lonely treadmill that I could use and there are far fewer excuses between me and the backyard treadmill than the pool. First time out, I strapped on my Nike “cross training” shoes and went for a walk/jog. I didn’t realize for the first few minutes that “cross” referred to “angry” which comes straight from the shoes, which seem to have a solid hardwood arch support or something like that. Hard to imagine what they might have been good for and easy to appreciate why they still look new and have sulked in the closet for years.
So, I went to Road Runner Sports . Armed with advice from Mary not to get cheap shoes (and full agreement from my feet on that) I entered the store, not knowing what to expect other than that I was ignorant about running shoes and prepared to be taken. I am old enough to remember when choice in “tennis shoes” meant high-tops or low-tops. This store was bewildering. Like the cold medicine selection at a big drug store, they all promised great things, but how do you tell one from another? A 19-year-old marathoner offered help. In short order he had asked a few questions, had me barefoot and standing on a pad that showed where I placed weight on my feet and then filmed me jogging. He recommended 3 pairs of shoes and had me try them on. 2 felt good and I chose one. Quite a bit different than choosing between high-top and low-top Chuck Taylors at the Army-Navy store when I was a kid.