New shoes!

I've had trouble with my feet since, well, since I've had feet. I've got very narrow heels, high arches, and a wide forefoot so it's very, very rare that I get a properly fitting shoe on the first try. I normally have to take shoes back to the running store at least three times - it would be fine if the shoe companies didn't keep changing the damn things, but each time I go into the store, I have to start from scratch ("Oh, they don't make that model anymore? Well, what's similar?"), so I'm not very popular with some of the nice salespeople at the store near me. Apparently I'm high-maintenance, which I guess anyone could have guessed.

So a month or so ago, I took advantage of a combination of a Groupon and a wicked sale at a shoe store to pick up a pair of Sketchers Go Runs.

I initially grabbed them off the shelf because I really liked the deep turquoise color (which, of course, has been discontinued but they did keep that horrible lime green. WTF, Sketchers?), and when I tried them on they were very comfortable in the shoe store so I figured the worst that could happen was I wouldn't really like them and I'd be out a few bucks but could still wear them just to walk around - no returns on sale shoes at those warehouse stores.

I've gotten a few runs on them, and there are things I like about them and things I don't like about them.

I'm a mid-strike runner, so the padding on the center of the foot is perfect for me. They also don't irritate the neuroma in my right foot the way my Newtons do. They've got a slight heel drop, which is much more comfortable for my Achilles tendons (which still have a tendency to stiffen up).

But - for runs of much longer than about three miles, they just don't offer enough support. Saturday, I did my long run (about 10 miles) in them and the balls of my feet and knees hurt for about three days.

I think I'm going to stick with them for the shorter runs, and wear the Newtons for the longer runs. The Newtons have much more support, but they irritate the hell of of that neuroma, and I can't seem to resolve it with lacing. Oh, well.

This weekend is the dreaded "Carmageddon" - the 405 freeway will be closed and in a display of stunningly poor timing, the Los Angeles Triathlon is Sunday. I'm not participating, but have a friend who's doing it, so I may bike down and see them off.

But I'm not driving!

Hey, a deal's a deal.

A facebook friend is selling her 2008 Specialized Allez road bike. It was only ridden for one year, never crashed, and has been gathering dust in her living room since 2009. She's got the same pedals that I use (the Look-style), and is including spare tubes and tires, 6 CO2 cartridges, a bento box, etc..

All for $600. Since just the bike goes for about $800, I'm seriously considering it.

It's not that I want to replace Gary, it's just that I start getting all funny when there's a really good deal offered up. 

I'll go and test ride it, have a look at the components, and see if I either come to my senses or try to cram one more bike into my already crowded living room.

Or, should I save my pennies and get a real time trial bike?

In other news, I've been using Cytomax as my sport drink of choice for quite some time now, and it's always worked well, except lately it's started to cause considerable intestinal distress, which is a polite way of stating that it causes me to feel nauseous, fart uncontrollably (which I guess would discourage drafters), and then spend an hour on the pot cursing the day I was born.

The Accelerade looks and tastes like Windex, doesn't work very well, and gives me gas (although not as bad as the Cytomax), so that's out.

Everyone else seems to like the Hammer Perpetuem, so I got a single serving packet at REI (for $2.50! That stuff better be made with unicorn tears and all-organic glitter), and I'll try it out next longish workout.

If you're in the Southern California area and would like a 30 serving jar of Accelerade that's only had two servings taken out, let me know. I swear I haven't spit in it, farted on it, or poisoned it. Much.

UPDATE: After reviewing my financial situation and then having a good cry, I have decided that I simply don't have a half-dozen spare Benjamins to spend on a bike when I already have a perfectly good road bike. 

REI gives back - to me!

One of the things that  I love about REI is the annual dividend.

I take my little certificate in, pick something out and get it for either free or at a greatly reduced cost.
This year, I got this:


A Novara grocery bag pannier!

After they applied my dividend, I owed them a whopping 23 cents. Sweet.

I already have a pair of panniers, but they're heavy waterproof zip top compression dealies that are great on long trips (they stop load shift), but I wanted something that was a bit more short errand friendly.

This one has shoulder straps, and is about the size of a grocery bag (hence the name), so I can just throw it on the back rack and not have to do the squeeze and zip of the big panniers.

 I love you, REI!