Hills

Hills: 45 minutes of continuous hills. Faster up the hills, easier on the flat parts.

Distance: 4.2 miles

Time: 44:44

Performance Stats (out of 5 ★)

Legs: ★ ★ ★ ★

Gut: ★ ★ ★ ★

Energy:  ★ ★ ★ ★

Mind:  ★ ★ ★

Overall:  ★ ★ ★ ★

Soundtrack: Fun Lovin' Criminals, Crime and Punishment

Nothing better than new stuff! So after the race yesterday I took one good look at my running shoes and new it was time for a new pair. The back of the left heel was fairly worn, and the sides of the heal were starting to buckle in. I've had those shoes for about a year, and they have seen plenty of distance.

I made my way over to the New Balance store and bought a new pair of the exact same show, the 1260. I'm not exactly sure what the number stands for, but the shoe has been very reliable and came recommended by the salesman a year ago. I also purchased New Balance inserts at the time and again, and these have worked out well too. A little less pounding on the foot, and they keep you from over-pronating while running. I'm convinced these shoes did a lot to reduce my knee tendentious over the past year. The shoes felt great today, and I never missed a step (nice!). It felt like running in my old shoes, which is exactly what you want.

Since I was out, I decided also to look for a running head lamp. I found an excellent LED lamp at the local EMS. They had all sorts of kinds, but I settled on one of the brightest, and one that could be recharged. I put this on today, and ran up my steep dark hill next to my house. It was as if I was running in the day-time. Now, the whole road wasn't lit up, but I could see exactly where I was going, and where to put my feet. It certainly gives you a little more confidence that you are not going to end up on your face doing hills.

Not a bad set of purchases. Running certainly isn't the most expensive hobby, but sometimes you do have to make some investments in keeping yourself safe and healthy. One wrong step, and it's back to square one!