The G Running Diary

Running in the Streets: 9/23/04

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I went out and ran for an hour. So now my shoe configuration is new Asics Empires and old inserts that Dr. Hannaford stuck together as a temporary solution a few years ago. I like them because you can see the corrections he made--added felt on the inside of the toe, the arch, and the inside of the heel. They are wearing out, but I think I can make my own. This is a softer solution than my orthotics, which are too severe for me.

I ran and it seemed difficult. Then I realized it was uphill. Only slightly uphill, but it made a difference. Why should someone who has run up and down mountains notice the slight variations in neighborhood streets? But there it was. The return trip was that much easier, because it was downhill. So that part felt really good. I don't consciously try and modify my form, except for one thing. I think about my toes and try to spread them so that all my weight isn't rolling off of my big toe. This was something I learned from Big Al, years ago, and the type of thing that I forget for a while until it all comes back to me.

I carried a water bottle because it was still warm out, and I was running for an hour. This was a great time of day to run--just after 5:00 pm. I felt relaxed until I came around the corner and faced a runner who must be my opposite. He was just wearing shorts, running very fast, and grimacing. Really. That didn't look at all like the kind of fun I was having. Maybe I was more like the guy who set off on his bike with a giant dog in tow (like a samoyed or something). That made me laugh.