No wind left to write a title.
Accomplished
8.56m per mi
Big Baby Steps
Senkspreizfüße
The green line represents my Achilles tendon and should be at 180º
I’m home sick with laryngitis and am forbidden to talk; however, I am allowed to write (and run!). After my unsuccessful shoe shopping trip I broke down and went to a sports doctor to have my feet looked at. It was at a well respected clinic right next to my dorm in Hamburg when I studied abroad so it was fun to see my old stomping ground again and I felt like they did a good, thorough job checking my feet and running style. At least they didn’t laugh when I told them I was planning on running a marathon in the fall (like my doctor did).
The verdict: I have flat, splay feet. (Or in German, Senkspreizfüße)
It sounds much worse than it is. It basically means that both my inner arch and arch under the ball of my foot is weak and sunken. This causes me to over pronate (my ankles flop inward) thus giving me knocked knees. Funny thing is it’s never given me any pain, but the truth of it is that if could cause problems if I’m running often or long distances. So I’ve ordered specialty sport insoles and the doc gave me a list of shoes that help support this problem as well. I’m going to try and build up the muscles in my arches because insoles and shoes are only passive support and don’t really solve the root problem. The best thing I can do is run in the sand. Oh Lincoln City how I miss you now!
Don’t mind me if you find me trying to pick up pencils with my feet; I’m just training.
On Feet and Shoes
Like I said, we’re trying to curb stocking up on all the fancy gear, but there is one must. The combined age of Henrik and my running shoes is older than Henrik. We read a few articles on good shoe choice, clipped out a few test reviews and headed to downtown Hamburg. An hour and a half later Henrik was the proud owner of a pair of Supernova Glides and I left empty handed. This seems to be a reoccurring theme in our history. I can remember the lovely shopping trip 4 years ago when Henrik left with 3 new pairs of shoes and I ended up with a pair of pity socks. But this time it was different. They wouldn’t sell me a pair of shoes because they said I over pronate (ankles turn inward) so much I need to have my feet checked and have insoles made before I buy new shoes.
So I left pretty bummed, thinking my career as a marathoner was over. A few hours later I put on my old running shoes and off I went feeling ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead, bad feet and all.
26.2 Miles
To say I know exactly what inspired me to pick up my running shoes and shoot for the moon would be a lie. If I try hard enough I can pinpoint perhaps 3 key elements: a strong desire to shed the 6 extra winter kilos; the book The Non-Runner’s Marathon Trainer; and the urge to set a goal beyond my wildest fascination.
Why a marathon? I keep asking myself the same question and the only answer I can find is because it is so much greater than myself. There was perhaps a time in my early youth when I considered myself athletic, but that time has long passed. To be honest, it’s not my goal (but hopefully a little perk). Recently my life has felt off track, heading in whatever direction someone pulls the hardest or maybe the direction of least resistance. To run is my way of pulling myself back into MY direction, to achieve something greater than myself by sole means of my two legs and determination.
Let’s see how this little exercise goes...