5 reasons I LOVE Topos

I have found the love of my life....topos. All runners want to find that one sneaker that feel amazing, and I found it!! 

I have 3 paint of TOPOS that rotate on my runs. I have decided to list all the reasons I am in love with these shoes. 

1. My toes have space to not only not feel crowded but they can also move around freely, and I don't have narrow feet, I have regular feet. 

2. The women's colors do not one in stupid traditional female colors. The shoes are easy on the eyes. 

3. The rock plate on the shoes bend with my feet. At least you don't feel like your feet have to conform to the shoes. NO!! the shoes conform to my feet 

4. They are made to last. I have run in them for many races and they do not show signs of wear and tear as fast as other sneakers I have used. The shape the sneakers also remain true to form no matter the abuse. I am used to having sneakers that start tearing away at the edges, so this is a nice change!

5. No extra padding. My feet move the way they need to move to stay healthy. I get both support but I also get the flexibility to build foot strength over time. 

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Morning after 4 miler.....

            Today I feel a lot better than I had in the past few weeks after having run several miles. I am starting to suspect that the main cause of my pain was made worse by my old sneakers. I guess my plan of turning my sneakers into minimalist sneakers by simply not buying new ones ever is not quite working. Yesterday, for my run, I used another pair (Brooks Pure Connect3) and voila! pain over.

        I am trying not to celebrate quite yet. Tomorrow is day 7 of my 1st week of marathon training and it's a five miler. If after THAT run I feel okay-ish THEN I will celebrate. But now I am still cautious about calling myself healed. In the meantime, I have an MRI appointment in a month for this issue. Hopefully it will be fully resolved by then. But one day at a time. Right now I am just trying to focus on making tomorrow's treadmill run successful. 

         Today I did weights at the gym. For the first time it occurred to me that the one most significant gift I've received from this injury has been my new awareness of other forms of exercise, such as weightlifting, uphill walking, swimming and of course, the dreaded elliptical. Nevertheless, I LOVE weightlifting so much that I will continue to do it even when I'm fully healed. 

        Here is the 16-week plan I am following for marathon #7, The Marine Corps Marathon in October 2016. Yes, I know, it's a one 20-miler marathon training plan. With all that's on my plate this fall, from extra after-school classes to working on getting Nationally Certified; I am not trying to even PR, just trying to finish. I am also looking into possibly doing a flat 50K race in December somewhere south of the DC area. 

Build Your Best Body- entry 10

I took my Franken-sneakers out for my first run, a total of 4 hard non-stop miles and it did great. I even PR'ed for the mile and the 5k for this year.........I need to strengthen a few stitches on the sides, but otherwise, the sneakers worked out beautifully. 

A PR smile!!......I guess it helped that I ran a flat-ish course and did not have any street crossing to stop at or a dog to drag around. 

I made juice of course.....slowly running out of supplies. We have not driven anywhere since Friday due to the storm....maybe tomorrow I will get the nerve and drive to the veggie store 3 miles away.....but for now we have enough left for maybe one day's worth of juice. I make about 50 ounces of veggie/fruit juice daily and my hubby and I share it evenly. If I don't make it he will pick up the ask. 

Making curry chicken dinner with steamed rice, I can smell it simmering as I type.... Dinnertime in 15 minutes. 

Oh, and of course....red wine to celebrate my PR......LOL. 

Franken-sneakers

The New Balance's MT1010 trail sneakers have been my sneakers for over 3 years now. They are seriously the best. Sadly, they discontinued my shoes and the new version has this weird addition on the toe that is too tough. I even went out and bought a new pair of the new generation ones and had to return them, the back of the sneaker was cutting into my heel and cut into my feet in one run. OUCH! I have run my 50K in these, I have run maybe about 4 out of my 6 marathons in these. 

           I know what you are thinking. "Shouldn't I get new sneakers after certain miles?". Yes and no. My running gait is fairly even and so all my sneakers wear out pretty evenly throughout the entire shoe. Also, having read tons on minimalist running books, magazines and blogs and being a proponent of it myself, I was aiming to make my evenly-wearing sneakers into a minimalist shoes...that is until it tore. Know that the New balance MT1010 is already a 4mm shoe, and becoming even lower and lower with time. My ankles, shins and legs have become used to having little to no support while running, thanks to my 'system' allowing me better traction on various surfaces thanks to the direct feedback on my feet with the ground. Therefore, I decided to repair my sneakers to give them extra life. This specific brand is famous for wearing and tearing at these specific spots (see pic above and below). The first pair this happened to I called the company and they sent me a new pair. I then bought two more pairs and now, it's no longer made/sold. There are a few pairs on Amazon for the less desired sizes such 5s, 6s and 11s.....but none in 8.5W. 

I decided to use a stretchy tech material, dental floss, thimble and thick needle with a hole big enough to thread the floss thorough. 

Okay, so I am not the best seamstress in the world but these shoes are like new. I saved $88 by returning my new sneakers that cut into my feet and will see how much more these pairs have in them. 

I know these look hilarious....but, I could not be happier.....I don't have to deal with pebbles getting into my shoes and I will continue to strengthen my legs, feet and ankles to less and less support....Call me crazy, but I can't wait to go running in my new-used sneakers. 

My new running sneakers!!

I am actually too chicken yet to try these out running....what I do know is that they are super comfortable and I've been wearing them everywhere. But being summer it forces me to really care for my feet everyday.....pumice, lotion.....pumice, lotion after every shower....

Look what I found in my car!

              I was reminded of my adventure today when I ran into my sneakers in the back of my car. My daughter saw it and asked what it was. I said, "It says mom had a great time!" I am tossing these babies in the shower and going to get them nice and clean again....believe it or not I own 3 identical pairs of this sneaker. It's the New Balance Trail MT1010. Love them!!

Runner's Birthday Loot....am I not the luckiest birthday runner?

Pearl iZUMi Women's W EM Trail M 2 Running Shoe

I had to return these for they came a bit tight at the toes. I am normally get 8.5, so I returned them and am waiting for my 9 to come soon. 

Womens Yurbuds Inspire Sport Earphones

I tried these out last night while watching a movie and they do stay in place. I was a bit annoyed at how deep the stuff goes in, but I think I can get used to them. Will try them out on my run tomorrow. 

Under Armor Semi-Fitted lavender top....

I cannot have too many of these tops. Seriously. They are so comfy, so well fitted, they do not fade, they really do absorb sweat (not after 2 hours). I sometimes wear them as regular t-shirts just b/c the colors are so bright and the shirt so well done. 

Zone Bars for those long runs

These are for my long, long runs every 2 weeks. I tatsed it and it was super chicolatey, just how I like them. 

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Things I bought myself for my birthday: 

A Nathan's Intensity Vest for women and a 24 pack of chocolate GU.