A Smurffy Pun Run

The sun hangs high in the sky and very cool breeze is blowing in from across the inlet downtown. It's Tuesday and that means pub run. This is my second pub run and I am super excited to hit the pavement for another fun filled 5K. I noticed there was table across the street from the registration booth. I ventured over and saw that there was a table of Altra running shoes all displayed for demo. I gave the man behind the table my shoe size and crossed my fingers hoping they still had a pair for me; they did. 

I slip into a bright pair of smurff blue shoes with a wide toe and zero drop design. They were light weight and purposesed to help you achieve a forefoot stride. I could  immediately feel the difference as I took off along the course. My calves burned, my toes felt a little stiff, and the pads of my feet ached at the end of the run. If I decide to get a pair for myself it's going to take some getting use too. 

Arctic Steides would like to know if you have made the switch to a forefoot or mimialist style shoe. 

A Fun Run In the Alaskan Sun

A Fun Run In the Alaskan Sun

The April weather can be a bit unpredictable when you live in Anchorage, Alaska. And today is no exception it is sunny with temperatures in high fifties with the slightest spring breeze coming off the inlet. The last time the weather was this nice in April was in 1936, which made for a very warm first run. 

Today was the first time I went for a run in more than three months; it was awesome. It was also exhausting and very telling of how out of shape I have let myself get. In the short amount of time I took off to heal and focus my attention on school, I gained more than ten pounds. Most of my pants no longer fit and just about all of my shirts are snugger than I care to wear in public. The good news is I am determined to use my husky disposition as motivation to get back down to an ideal weight. I have two marathons to run this year and based on today’s run, it looks like the first one is going to be a tough.

Every Tuesday night Skinny Raven Sports host a pub run and for the longest time I have wanted to participate but couldn’t due to school. After five consecutive semesters of work, school, church, I felt I needed a break and decided to take the spring semester off. This means I can focus on fun in the sun with my family. I can focus on getting into shape and training for my marathon.

Tuesday run Apr 22,2014

The pub run was a good bench mark, measuring how far I have let myself go. I was winded for most of the run—it felt like a ton of bricks was resting on my chest. I powered through the side stiches and achy knees to finish a three and a half mile run in 34 minutes. I am not saying that is a bad time, but it’s not a good time either. I know with some effort I can get that time back down to a more reasonable pace. 

Today’s run made me think of my running buddy—I miss him. I will have to give him a call and see how he and his wife are doing. Just about any time I went for a run this winter was with my friend Bob. He kept me going and was the reason I would pull myself out of bed at 4:30 in the morning to run in the freezing cold. Some of the best runs I have gone on were in ten to fifteen degrees temperatures of the dark wintery mornings with Bob. I always learned something new about him, life, and reasons to be thankful in general. The last time I spoke to him, his wife had fallen ill and had been in the hospital for several days. I hope they are both doing better and we can go for a run again soon.