All those shoes....or: how to come back into running after a few years...

There might be a new BIG HAIRY GOAL for 2018... I, or WE haven't quite decided yet... that is... ok here it is: Me and a friend  have this idea about doing an Ironman together, a full-distance ironman triathlon, in 2018, as a relay.
I will be doing the swimming, she will be doing the bike part, and I will run. Run. Yep, that is a MARATHON!!!

That's why the goal is not only big, but also HAIRY (I do shave my legs extremely often, though, so that's not the reason).
Hairy, because the last long distance I have been running was back in 2013 - as part of the Im 70.3 Norway.
In 2014, I had signed up for the same race, but had to drop it due to poor health - in september the very same year I got plantar fasciitis... no or very little running after that.
I had to rebuild my feet.
Start from zero.
I switched to strength training, signed up at our local gym eventually and did lots of running drills, while at the same time getting used to run again, in Fivefingers!

I figured, why not start from really zero - zero drop, zero cushioning, zero support from my shoes, just my feet, my legs, my body and the ground with a thin linner of rubber (around 4mm) in between.

That went well.
Still, I haven't been doing regular running since. Some intervals on the treadmill, some running for fun, or for blowing out, and so on...

While this summer so far has been a bit tedious, a bit hard mentally, my mind wandering back to HIM, whom I try to reschedule emotionally as "only best buddy" since he has engaged with a girl he fell in love with (I can't blame him, I got the impression she is really a nice girl) - my body just didn't want to do what I had planned.

So I have been taken it slowly this summer - and now summer is about to turn into fall, which I find just great. A little less pressure around all those fantastic summertime projects and holiday pics and all.

But back to running:
Although I kind of think of developing strength as my first priority, and even training for a powerlifting event in the future, I have found out that I simply, mentally, cannot do without some regular running plus the occasional bike ride - or swimming.

I think my brains need those good chemicals it produces while exercising - but I am not sure long-distance triathlon or marathon training is the key.

But this 2018 hairy goal is tempting.
While not go for it a 100% - I guess preparing for a marathon takes such a huge focus that I won't be able to skip proper shoes, recovery, nutrion and training planning, as I can do now.

Which takes me back to the original idea for this blog post - all those shoes....

I definitely need new running shoes.
My old ones will do for the occasional run, but the treadmill seems a bit hard and unforgiving on my feet, and I feel the tendency to just run and enjoy music (or Youtube) without thinking about how I run.
Running in the gym can be quite entertaining, our treadmills are positioned towards the room, and not the windows, so I can just look at what people do - which is nice and distracting but also just distracting - as for proper running form.

So - I thought I needed at least ONE pair of new running shoes: a nice pair of soft, cushioned shoes to make the run a bit more forgiving.

Since the day I slipped my feet into a NIKE Free shoe, I wanted a pair.
Only, they were expensive and hard to get.
Since then, several versions of the NIKE Free have appeared:
- NIKE Free RN (for running)
- NIKE Free RN distance (for running longer distances)
- NIKE FREE (the original which I also still want, maybe for everyday use)
- NIKE Free TRN (for training and not running(
- and so on - the choices are there.

I want as little drop as possible, with lots of cushioning but little stability and enough space in the toe box - so I decided to order a NIKE Free RN today, since it was on sale and looked cute.
My ultra-triathlon friend Marie mentioned that the NIKE Frees are comfortable to wear but quite annoying to use outdoors, since small pebbles and rocks get stuck in the sole.
So I thought they would make an ideal pair for running on the treadmill -at least for the shorter runs up to 5km or maybe 10km, which is what I am planning this fall - and those longer run I will do outside, I guess (so yay, another pair of shoes is needed!)

The NIKE Free Rn 2017 Solstice.
I think they look cute and somehow not like a "proper" running shoe, and that's why I ordered them -they also fit perfectly for use on the treadmill.

I must admit that I prefer a more "classical" type of running shoe for running outside, but the Solstice are perfect for gym use - I think I can also wear them for lifting weights afterwards, if I wanted to. So - we'll see how useful they turn out!
If they won't make a great running shoe, they will definitely be a super cute everyday-walking shoe.

So... now... I'll just have to wait for delivery (she said, after ordering the shoes half an hour ago).
Just some more impressions of the shoes...since I am so happy I made a decision :)

Cute.

I can't complain about the color scheme - just cute :D

The after-run's high.

I went jogging with Lukas today and despite the appr 243 stops on the way (Lukas has his needs), it was much fun. It was hot, but I like running (jogging!!) in hot weather.
And let's admit it, in Norway we have hot weather but it's not THAT hot - and with our lake here, or all the streems and rivers, there is always the option to cool oneself down.
No need for complaining, really.
And the after-run's high is totally worth it.... NICE!(Look at Lukas! Does he agree?)