New Running Shoes

Since beginning running a few weeks ago I have been increasing my run interval thanks to the CT5K (Couch to 5k) app and have learned a ton in that time. One of the things that caught up to me quickly was the show choice since when I bought them I did not make the time to research what shoe to wear and for that matter I did not consider that a proper shoe must exist for a given runner and that assumption has brought me some pain in various areas which I have had to overcome. My initial show choice was the New Balance 580v2 which as it turned out that for a person with normal arches in their feet will be forced to overpronate; which is to say that it causes the knees to roll inward from the support type and direction of the shoe and will cause the knee cap to ride slightly 'out of track' which leads to runner's knees.

Before getting to the next show choice, I made another knucklehead assumption and that was how tight to lace my shoes. With the New Balance's, I felt that the knee pain along with oncoming arch pain in my right foot was the result of the shoes being too loose and that it was perhaps from feeling as if my shoes were coming free as I ran and tensing my feet as I ran. I tied up my laces as tight as I could the next run thinking that I can resist the impulse to tighten my feet if my shoes were cranked on and had no worry of them coming loose....... and was I ever so wrong. As it turns out, I should have loosened my shoe and the cause of arch pain outside of the shoe being the improper fit for that given runner (me), I was likely just tying them too tight to begin with.

I was fortunate that the folks over at Olympia Sports where I bought my shoes let me exchange them and the new shoes I chose (after researching first) is the Nike Lunarglide+ 4. The shoes does not make me pronate or supinate and all the reviews I read are true; they are amazingly comfortable. I still have an ache in my right foot but I suspect that it is not the shoe, but my foot healing from a minor injury to the arch after over tightening the laces with the New Balance 580v2. I've had a few runs with the Lunarglide and they certainly do perform to the hype, and if you are looking for a comfortable running shoe, consider trying them.

Running Week 1

As I conclude the first week of running I have some revelations I would like to share. As seen in my first post I was dying by the end of the run and by the second run it wasn't nearly as bad compared to the first. I had some misgivings that I quickly corrected such as I originally plotted a 1.5 mile course and it turns out that I needed to go further to 2 miles to complete my run. By the third run, albeit I was tired from not sleeping well the night before but I can still feel an improvement against the second run where I found myself concentrating more on my form and stride. I spoke to a co-worker yesterday who is an avid runner and he explained how to get the most out of interval training (which apparently is the type of running I am currently doing via the cool running method where I alternate walk and run and work up to running full time) where he explained it's not about how fast you can go and that where one sees the most growth is pushing your self on the last interval; when you have nearly nothing left in the tank and just give it your all for the final stretch. I tried the final burst bit on my run today and it kicked my ass, felt like when I finished my first run again but it's a good kind of tired, and I look forward to more.

There are various muscle aches that will happen and that same co-worker who shared his insights on getting the most out of a run also had some interesting things to say about what kind of pain to just work through and those to pay attention to and his answer was elegantly simple, if it is a sharp pain that's debilitating than you should stop. He also asked what shoes I wear for running and when I said New Balance, he warned that if I experience sharp pain where my pelvis and femur meet (any MDs, what the f is that joint called?) that I should consider changing shoes as New Balances favor those with bad arches and mine are fine. Because of how New Balances are shaped, it forces an inward cant which may lead to sharp pain at the above mentioned joint was the explanation. This he mentioned is not true to all New Balances, just those with a ton of cushioning and he suggested the minimalist style running shoes such as the Nike Free series maybe the way to go (and also mentioned that likely is cheaper too!). So far I have been fortunate that I have not felt these ill effects but have been paying close attention to it on each run.

As for the Get Running app I mentioned in my first running post, it's awesome. The app tracks the days you run and the running routine is already mapped out by each week, it is exactly what I wanted; a way to track my progress and improve upon it. Assuming that I stick with this, I think that the next evolution would be an app and device that would track my runs, perhaps the Nike+ line of gear, something to look forward to for when the nine week running program is done.

I decided to start running

I have been getting annoyed with myself in regards to not working out, I am tired of being the stereotypical IT guy...unfit. I have tried the elliptical and such but if I do not have a way to gauge progress than I don't feel as if I am getting the most out of an exercise and ultimately I lose motivation since I have no measurable progress. After researching a bit on the web, it seemed an unanimous opinion that running was the way to go as far as the most weight lost per exercise. Of the various running tips, the Couch-To-5k running plan appealed to me the most and on top of it meeting my measurable criteria there is even an apps for my iPhone that would be a virtual coach for the Couch-to-5k running plan since I am a novice to running, (in my fit days of once upon a time, it was jump rope. resistance training, and rock climbing) so I decided that any help that I can find would be a benefit.

The app that I downloaded was Get Running and I have to say that it is so far worth every penny of the $2.99 asking price. The app has a female voice with a British accent instructing you when to run, when to walk, and even takes into account a five minute warm up and cool down times as well. During the run, the app will say silly things like when you are at the half way mark of a run sequence which as you read here must sound stupid, but when you haven't run in ages and are just dying half way through, the little voice of encouragement is simply awesome as I found myself counting down the end of a run when the 'only ten seconds left' was announced and found myself being ecstatic when the nice lady in my head told me I was done for the day. Hurray me.

Before starting the running plan run I had to gather some gear starting with shoes. I am sure that there is a plethora of data available for which shoes are the best....I however am not at the point where I need some amazing shoes but just need a pair of running shoes since my usual skate shoes aren't great for running. I drop by the mall down the street from my office and decided to spend no more than $75 on a pair of running shoes. After browsing for a few minutes, the lack of available shoe sizes made the choice for me which turned out to be a pair of New Balance 580v2's which I must say have been pretty darn comfy on the first run.

The next item to purchase is an armband case for my iPhone which I bought at BestBuy (dear god, I feel dirty for buying it there) and it was because it was the cheapest at $20 compared to anywhere else since I could not bring myself to spend more than that on an armband case. While there, I picked up a pair of new headphones as I remembered that my last pair has only one ear working when I caught the cord on a server rack at the NOC. My last few pairs were $80 Sony headphones and I have been getting really annoyed at destroying expensive headphones (expensive being a relative statement, yes all you audiophiles; I know there are more expensive headphones out there but why? I'm running with them), the new pair I picked were a pair of Sony MDREX10LP in black and for $11.99 plus tax, these headphones stay in your ear while running and sound good for the price.

Let's not forget music! I felt like a teenager in the 80's making a mix tape as I peruse through my iTunes and create a new playlist for my running and here is my playlist to the curious (at least what I have thus far);

Morphine - I know you (part III)
Pantera - Cowboys from hell
Circles - Clouds are gathering
A Day To Remember - The downfall of us all
Everytime I Die - Apocalypse now and then
The Arusha Accord - Dead to me
Architects - Early grave
Volumes - Behind the curtain
Poison The Well - Exists underground
Gallows - Kill the rhythm
Defeater - The red, white, and blues
The Agonist - Thank you, Pain
As I Lay Dying - Through struggle
Periphery - Make total destroy
Affiance - Nostra Culpa
Volbeat - The mirror and the ripper
Give Up The Ghost - (We are)
The Ghost Inside - Provoke
The Ghost Inside - Unspoken
Kilgore - Steamroller
Lamb of God - Redneck
Mindless Self Indulgence - Bitches
Mindless Seld Indulgence - Bomb this track
Periphery - Icarus lives!
CKY - 96 quite bitter beings
Flyleaf - I'm so sick
HIM - Right here in my arms
Killswitch Engaged - Fixation on the darkness
Mindless Self Indulgence - Never wanted to dance
Spineshank - Asthmatic
Spineshank - The height of callousness
The Empire Shall Fall - Awaken
Candiria - Blood
Bury Your Dead - House of straw
The Black Dahlia Murder - Black Valor

Well, I made it through my first day of running and at the end, I was certainly feeling the effect of suddenly running after not having ever seriously tried running plus being out of shape (besides round).....needless to say I felt awesome yet like hell, perhaps hellsome? awehell? And now that I published this here, hopefully it will be additional encouragement to myself to keep going.

P.S. - Running music suggestion welcome.