After class, I picked up a sugar free Red Bull and headed over to Pitman trail to pick up 3 or 4 miles. I had run a mile to watch my husband play softball yesterday, so I didn't do a rest day between runs. Some would say that yesterday's mile was a junk mile, but that term is a bit obscure to me so, no matter. Anywho, today I ran in a pair of heavy running shoes that came from...Target. Didn't think much about it because they were what I had in the trunk of my car. I just wanted to run without having to make the stop home for my Nike Frees. Also, I have recently been putting up with minor shin pain--ache. Fortunately, after I get set in my gait, the ache subsides and it's all good. Today was different. I'm blaming it on Target's cheap excuse for running shoes...at the same time blaming myself for not making the stop home for my trusty sneaks. After about one and a half miles, I wanted to stop and walk. When I stopped to walk, the pain was more annoying. I jogged lightly, keeping my knees up. Damn. I walked again. Running through my mind were thoughts like, "Great. My knee pain is gone and now I have pain in the shins." "Is it splints? If so, how long should I rest?" "It wasn't this bad two days ago when I was wearing my Nikes..." Frustrated, I yanked at my laces and pulled my feet free from their "over cushioned" confines. I stuffed my socks deep into the shoes followed by my loosely balled fists and took off on my bare feet expecting the worst in discomfort, thinking that 'they' couldn't possibly be right about the benefits of relying on bare feet. They were. Running felt great. Steer clear of the occasional pebble and it's all good. I was really amazed at how comfortable things became when there wasn't a thick, over built sole in between me and the ground. My shin aches quickly disappeared and I felt that I could continue for a good mile or two more with just the soles of my feet. Granted, when I was finished and returned to my car, my feet were the color of asphalt. Not sexy, but worth it for the moment. Now it's time to think about some minimalist trail shoes. How about the New Balance Minimus
-Tayler
