Catching up

Wow, has it really been over a month since my last post? April went by super fast, but I guess quite a bit has transpired in the gap. As far as running goes, I have continued with my training and I ran another 10K (new PR - 58:53!!). My only setback was last week, when I attempted my 20 mile run (to be the longest pre-marathon) without my IT band (stupid) and threw in the towel at mile 11 to keep the ensuing pain from becoming an injury.

So, the goal is to run my 20 tomorrow and then start tapering. I have to say I have been looking forward to the big taper since I started this whole program. So now that it is within reach, I am pretty darned excited.

On a somewhat unrelated note is the excitement that comes with getting new magazines in the mail. I know it's a bit frivolous and maybe more 'low-brow' than curling up with a book or a kindle, but I love to snuggle up to good magazine. And Runner's World fulfills that craving. On top of just being another glossy to casually peruse, I have so far actually found something useful in each issue.

For instance, in this months issue, which I enjoyed with my coffee this morning, I found that I am already doing most of the things they recommend in the "Run Faster (Without All the Work)" article. (They had me at their strategic use of parentheses in the title.) Most things, that is, except wearing knee-high compression socks. OK, easy enough. I decided I would surf the web a bit to find out some good brands and hit up a local sports store this afternoon - just in time to try them out for my 20. After all, acquiring new gear is one of the fun things about running, or any hobby/sport I would imagine.

Nope. Total fail. Nowhere in the area seems to carry compression socks, and one store even tried to make me think I had made them up! They tried to tell me I had to go to a medical supply store for "diabetic stockings". And when I mentioned reading about them in the latest issue of Runner's World, they pulled out last month's issue to try to prove me wrong!! I was so incensed that I didn't even purchase any Shot Bloks from them. Mean old behind-the-times-so-called- running-specialists!!

I know I have seen several people wearing them in my recent races, and there can't be that many runners who are diabetic! or at least that many that need "compression stockings"! Jeez.

So, no cool socks for tomorrow, but I am going to order some right now online. Even if they don't work, or I never even wear them, it will be worth it just to prove those sports' store $%#@ers were wrong. Maybe I'll put them on and run very slowly past their storefront.
$%#@ers.