Getting back on that horse.

In February, I started a 10k training plan in preparation for the Monument Avenue 10k in Richmond, VA on March 27th. Since February 1 I have stuck to a training plan consistently for the first time in three years, since hurting my back rowing at the Universtiy of Texas. It feels GREAT to run again. My workouts finally don't make me want to pass out, I actually enjoy them enough to try to get faster each time I hit the trail or treadmill. With each workout, however, I became more painfully aware of how dead my sneakers were. They were purchased right before I injured my back, three years ago. That means they've outlasted their average life span (you should replace running shoes about every 400 miles) by a long shot.

I headed to Pacer's in Alexandria this afternoon to save my shins from more splints and buy a new pair of running shoes. As soon as my eyes began scanning the wall of sneakers a sales associate began to assist me in finding the perfect pair. After a few jogs up and down the sidewalk in different shoes, I settled in the Nike Air Pegasus+ 26. The best thing about these shoes is that they have Nike+, an iPod compatible system that measures distance covered, pace, time, and calories burned during workouts. All of the information can be uploaded from an iPod to a computer, giving accurate feedback and statistics from past runs.  The perfect way for me to track my progress while training for the 10k!

Tomorrow I'll give my fancy new gadgets a try.  If all goes according to plan I'll be able to post my results... unless they are horribly slow and embarrassing, of course. Haha.

Until then, happy trails!