"It's Got To Be The Shoes" Scapegoating My Nikes

As many highs and adventures as my last two years of running have given me, I’m certainly not content about some of my struggles. Too many injuries. Much slower times. Longer recovery periods needed.

I am not going to be “complaining about injury guy” or “always negative guy.” I’d rather be “find a solution guy” or “accept what I cannot change guy.” Still the whole thing perplexes me.

Aging accounts for some. Stupid training mistakes account for some.  But when I look at 'the list,' I do a lot of things right.  Change up my running surfaces. Check. Rest days. Check. Foam roll. Check. Mix up my speeds. Check. Slowly build up mileage. Check. Change up my brand of running shoes.

Nope. 

 I've stuck with the same brand over the last two years.

Putting on the Nike Pegasus is like a shot of dope to my runner's soul, but, maybe the Pegasus was doing something wrong for me. Some microscopic structural fusion in the Nike brand is exacerbating my ligamental weakness and radiating injuries through my runners soul (don't read that twice, it's not supposed to make sense)

So, I am ditching the Nike Pegasus, and my dream of being sponsored by Nike is certainly over, especially after this blog post.

Because, I am doing more than ditching them. This is more than just blame. This is scapegoating. Undue irrational blame to express and vent all my frustrations. I need a scapegoat.  I need to go medieval all over that damn swoosh.  And I am thinking I may even go public. 

The best scapegoats are public, right? Public hangings. Public flogging. Public stoning. We've all seen this done with shoes  

The Salem witch trials is perhaps the most disturbing and uniquely American of scapegoating in history, so I am going that route.  I will be gathering up all the Nikes in the state of Michigan, accusing them of witchcraft, and soon will be drowning them in the river or burning them at the stake. Count on it.

So, if you have a pair of Nike Pegasus, I just may be knocking at your door. So please, hand them over. Just do it.

Memorial Services For Running Shoes

I switched out my shoes recently. Same exact brand, same year, same color, same size, same everything.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Running shoes carry us for so many miles and so many months.  A little bit of us gets squished into them with each footstrike. We fill them with memories, then we just shed them and move on. Maybe they get stuffed deep in our closet. Maybe they get recycled.  Either way, they are like Andy's toys in toy story on Christmas morning. Just waiting to be replaced.

I felt I should take a moment to have some kind of ceremony or memorialize the shoes:

Dearly beloved. We gather here to say our goodbyes. Here they lie. No one knew their worth

The late great running shoes of Mother Earth

They lived a life not as full as they should. They had such promise.

They went to New York, where they were going to be my first pair of shoes to run the New York City Marathon. Five Burroughs, 4 bridges, central park. What more could a shoe ask for?

Alas, it got canceled, and they took part in the informal "run anyway" in central park. It was a memory burn, but a moment less fantastic than what could have been.

Then I wore them to the Rock CF Rivers Half-Marathon in Grosse Pointe.  A chance to shine!  Unfortunately, I wasn't racing the event. It was simply a training run.  These pair would never know a true race, but they covered some important miles.  Now they are gone.

But, spirit in, spirit out, and a new pair has arisen.  The old pair, reincarnated really. A Rising Phoenix of a Nike Pegasus

26 days from today, these new shoes will be running up and down the arm of a peninsula in Traverse City for the Bayshore marathon. Barely a month old, and they'll get to cross the marathon line finish.

Then they will start training for the next marathon.

They will be laying the groundwork for a new pair of shoes, who will grab the metaphorical baton, probably right before the 2013 New York City marathon, (NYCM Redux) and the spirit of a new shoe will take me over the bridges and across the Burroughs.  The torch gets passed from one pair of shoes to the other.

Yes, our shoes our like our ancestors. They lay the training and hard work, where often times it is a new pair of shoes who steal the glory.  We should all be like a nice pair of running shoes, willing to sacrifice ourselves for those who follow us and may cross the finish lines that we worked to make possible.

...and we should all stink.
...and we should all be neon colored.
...and each year we should reinvent ourselves, a new model each year. No, not like the companies to make a few bucks, but to grow and evolve. 

May God Bless Their Soles.


**(In response re: memorial services for shoes, Johnny B @RunRunJohnny writes:

I wish I would give them a viking funeral in St. Clair. Instead they become lawn mowing shoes, stained w/ grass and dogshit.)

Six Running Products I Would Pimp If Given The Chance

... and Three I would not.

Woe is me.

All around me I see bloggers getting rained on with products to review, yet I have a dark cloud over my head where no rain falls at all. Nothing.

Besides feeding my narcissism and being able to say "Hey, I have an Author Platform," I started this blog  for the sole purpose of procuring some running product freebies that would surely show up at my door, but so far there has not been a knock.

But here are the products, besides my ever-present promotion of my novels, that I would gladly pimp to my audience should they ever come knocking

1. Pro Compression Socks.
My little cankles (calf and ankles) are so tiny. Back when I was ten, my waist was too skinny to find any jeans. I couldn't wear Levis like the rest of the kids. It caused severe psychological trauma. The same has happened with compression socks. I usually have to wear a ladies small. But then I ordered a pair from Pro Compression, who had the best fitting socks, with high quality material, at a great price. I'm a believer.

2. Shoes - Nike Pegasus
There are a dozen of shoes I have fallen in love with over the years, and I've loved them all for different reasons. We parted ways with wonderful memories. The reason these Nike Pegasus are special is they are the only shoe ever where I liked the update more than the original pair I tried on. Usually when I love a shoe I try to buy a few pairs and then sing me some Billy Joel: "Don't go changing, to try and please me, You never let me down before."  Then they go ahead and do an update to sell more shoes and mess everything up and wreck the relationship.  But I love the new Nike Pegasus, we have grown together. So if Nike ever asked real nice, I would let them sponsor me.

My Nike Pegasus shoes, with me in them.

3. S-Caps.
I still remember the day someone told me about these electrolyte replacements. I had just finished a 23 mile training run, adding 3 miles to Running Fit's fall 20 miler, when a faster and wiser runner with tattoos all over his body started asking me all sorts of questions in the parking lot.  I  told him of my hopes for a BQ, and he subsequently condemned me for running 23 miles, but then noticed my face was streaked with white lines from salty sweat. "Try S-caps," he said, and explained about how Gatorade's electrolytes aren't soaked up by the stomach due to northern equator reverse osmosis, or some other science, and that I needed a different electrolyte replacement.  Before I left, he had given me 20 S-caps from his own supply, and I swear they make a difference.  Yes, I hit my BQ 3 weeks later, because of or despite the 23 miles in training, but certainly the S-caps will forever be the magic little pill.

4. Hammer Recoverite.
Good stuff. Made a difference, costs a lot. Please, Recoverite folks, send me a line, give me your product. I will sell it in baggies to neighborhood kids until all of them get hooked and come begging for more.

5. Kit-kats
I've already been pimping them in previous posts. (am I offending anybody by my use of the word pimp? if so, let me know, and I'll go back and edit this post). I first read about using Kit-kats to fuel up on long runs in an article about a bad-ass trail runner who said it was her favorite mid-run snack. Can't tell yet if it makes me a bad-ass, but it's great when you're tired of all the Gus and power bars in the world.  They are found in every gas station on every run, nice on the stomach, and tasty. Chocolate milk is sponsoring marathons, so maybe Kit-kats are next.

They even come with directions.

6. KT Tape (Kinesiology Tape)-
Does it work? Is there magic in that KT Tape? Who knows, but when you're injured and feeling powerless to do anything about it, nothing feels more empowering than taping, un-taping, and then taping your legs again and again, trying to find the elusive KT tape pattern that will magically heal your leg. Especially when you have hairy legs like mine. It's a free waxing.  I tried for days before the 2012 New York Marathon trying to find the right pattern. I do believe there's something to the power of KT tape, and I figure if they would let me peddle their product, they would also come straight to my door and have experts tape my leg.  Many expo's do have 'taping' experts who will tape your leg for you, and if you tweet them a picture they'll tell you how you did.  Get the pro version, by the way, it's much better.

I would also Pimp frozen peas as the perfect ice pack.
(For the record, I do have shorts on)

3 Things I wouldn't pimp:

1. Hammer Gels-
 I know some folks love them because they are natural, reduce your carbon footprint, and you get a tax credit if you use them rather than regular Gu's, but I tried them once and had a bad experience. I literally puked in my mouth when I tried them, the eventual result being I swallowed two mouthfuls of slimy gu for the price of one.

2. Water belts of any kind.
 Or fuel belts. Or hydration belts. I hate them. I hate looking at them. I feel uncomfortable in their presence. It makes me metaphorically throw up in my mouth to write about them. Not entirely sure why. Maybe they remind me of those days stuffing airplane bottles of vodka in my pants.  (Full disclosure: I have never even tried a hydration belt, so they may be my Green Eggs and Ham)

3. IngDirect. 
Why a bank? Well, Ing sponsor many races, including the Miami and New York City marathon and they have some cool "Ing Runner Nation" programs. For years they've given me great customer service with an independent cutting edge, and their mutual funds had done me well. So, what's the problem?

Well, IngDirect is gone. They have sold out to Capital One, and IngDirect is now Capital One 360.  Not sure what happens to all those marathons they sponsor, but I can't deal with that. Capital One reminds me of that first credit card I received with a 72% APR,  so I'm leaving IngDirect and transferring my 50 dollars to the cayman islands.

Indeed.

That's just a few, I could certainly add more to each list.

Now For My Giveaway!
Comment below for one entry.
Tweet this post for another entry.
Follow me on Twitter for an entry @matthews_mark
Like it on facebook for a bonus entry.
All for the chance to win absolutely nothing.
(Enter by Friday.)

Nike or Saucony? And A Guarantee To Burn Up That Last Quarter Mile

One month to the minute until the New York City Marathon, just about, and I'm trying to decide what shoes to wear. My trusty Nike Pegasus, or my minimalist starter-shoe, Saucony Kinvara's? 
 

I bought the Kinvara's in July, and they are oh so so so sweet. 'Comets,' Greg from Predawn Runner calls them. Putting them on is like grabbing a tiny pair of wings and strapping them to my feet. I wore them for intervals, for a half marathon, for a 16 mile long run and I swear they take 10 seconds off each mile with the same perceived effort.

But I've only ran maybe 20-30% of my total mileage in them. New muscles need to adjust, form needs to be worked on, and even though I am running in them, ready to face it, I'm feeling like  Luke ready to face the evils of Darth Vader, saying "I'm not afraid, not afraid..." and Yoda always seems to appear to me and says.....

Yes, the words of Yoda and the feedback I have received from those with wisdom greater than mine is that when you tire, your form will fall apart and your legs will get hammered and my historical calf problems will crack. This is from shoe store folks, faster marathoners, and googling message boards. Unless I'm running some sort of sub 3 hour time, to be on my feet that long with these tiny little beauties is not too smart.

Yes, like Icarus who also enjoyed his wings but got a bit too bold, flew too close to the sun, and had the wax melt and he fell to his doom, I imagined myself with the same fate in the last 6.2 miles with this tiny pieces of cardboard strapped to my feet and wasted legs and crushed spirit, and hearing the voices of those wiser than me saying "I told you so..."

So, I did buy the new Nike Pegasus 29's, and the only difference I notice in this new version is they are much more flexible out of the box, and they are even 'mushier'. "Mush, mush, mush" it feels like to run in them, compared to the saucony's, which feels like I'm running on one of those airport moving-walkways, cruising way faster than I can even believe and with a silly smirky grin. 

Here they are. Easily the Ugliest shoe you've ever seen.

Compare these to the flashy exciting brilliance of these pair of wings.

So, there I was, stuck in the middle.

In the end, I want to choose comfort and safety in those last miles, and let my legs do the work and not the pair of wings.

Besides, I have developed a whole new secret strategy.  Proven to work. My secret, given to you for free.  Simply put this song at the end of your playlist, and  any pair of shoes will become...

"Systematic,

.       Hydromatic

                Utlramatic....

                   

    And they will "burn up that quarter mile" to the finish.

The Jade Rabbit on Amazon

STRAY on Amazon

Patience. Patience. There's Plenty Of Time To Run Faster Later

Patience.  The essential ingredient to bake up anything important.

I needed it recently waiting for a sinus infection to fully pass, that I knew was coming, and in fact, once it started to attack, I basically yelled “bring it on” as I ran a 20 miler during its onset, realizing I”d be sideline afterwards. But, at least it would be with a 20 miler under my belt and what better time to get leg rest. 

Still, I had to wait while the 750 MG of Amoxicillin went to war on the infection. It triumphed as always, but there was collateral damage. My stomach lining felt like it was bleeding, even on runs, and (to quote The White Stripes)  “The stains coming from my blood said go back home.”  But I ran through, cause I was patient with the pain and discomfort that I knew would pass.

Patience – today I’m  waiting for Running Fit to open to see if my shoes are in. The Nike Pegasus 29 were released in July, and I visited the store on Friday. They didn’t have my size, so they had to be shipped from another store.  They said Monday, and in all my patience I hope to be at the store three minutes after they arrive.

Patience, in a way, is key to running an effective marathon.

When the race starts, the excitement of being in the chute with thousands of runners, listening to the anthem, weeks of marathoning mojo building in your legs after a three week taper.  Everything in you wants to tap into that sweet source and whhhoooosshhh through the first miles, which are so soft, swift, and easy. (It’s like butter.)  Yes you have to  wait and wait and preserve energy and hold off on the speed, running the first ten to 13 miles with your head. The urge is to push push push with the runners flying by you, a bunch of Wraskly Wabbits, but you have to let them go. Run your own race.  Be patience.  Many of these rabbits you’ll pick off at the end if you run it right.  The walked wounded will be waiting for you while you slowly build up to your Beast Mode.  Beast Mode at mile 14 is a whole different delicious buzz than is the 1^st mile rush. And you'll eat those rabbits, lick your chops, and finish in beast mode rather than zombie mode.

“There’s plenty of time to run faster later. Plenty of time to run faster later” I tell myself this always in the beginning of marathon to slow myself during the first miles. Sometimes I even listen.

Patience is waiting for a rough spot to pass during the latter miles, telling yourself that just because you feel terrible at a given moment that you’ll run through it, that the nag or pain in your leg may fade, that the Gu may kick in, that seeing your family cheering for you will make everything seem fresh and new again, the air ahead is filled with greater oxygen, seeing another mile marker pass may give you new energy, that this wave of hurt will pass but you have to face it, to endure the momentary pain knowing that you'll rise above.

Muhammad Ali called it “Rope-A-Dope”- hanging on while you were getting pummeled because you would soon fight back with force.

 Or, to quote The Verve (who are they?) 

“Tie yourself to the Mast my friend, and the Storm will end.” 

Or, you “Hold On” just like Wilson Phillips and those Bridesmaids:

“I know that there is pain. But you hold on for one more day and
Break free the chains.”

(Yes, I’m trying to be funny. I see that smirk.)

 Patience is waiting in line for an hour for a roller coaster, which seems tremendously long yet when you finally get to strap yourself in, ride the ride and get off with that childhood glow, you fully forgot the long, slow line but only remember the ride.

Patience for runners comes in all sorts of forms – waiting for an injury to heal, waiting to get faster, waiting to recover.

But, I’m thinking,  is patience the right word.? I’m using Patience in the sense of enduring things, just waiting things out, tolerating, fighting through time until something we really want is going to happen on the other side.  This seems not right since it takes one out of the moment, like it’s the next moments that really matter, and right now doesn’t.

If patience is being at peace and in peace in the moment, whatever that is, I do get that but in fleeting and choppy bits. But if patience is able to endure most anything in order to find some redemption in the suffering? Well, that’s something I take in heavy doses. 

I’m gonna have to leave it at that and be patient and wait for the answer to come to me. “The less I seek my source for some definitive- The closer I am to fine.”

 Off to the shoe store.

The Jade Rabbit on Amazon

STRAY on Amazon