Mama's got a new pair of shoes!

So, after many blisters (and a bout of losing toenails a year ago in the Avon Walk) I decided it was time to go to the professionals and seek out some guidance for my sneakers. I stopped by Road Runner in Columbia to see if they could help me figure out what to fit my awkward feet. After some interesting analysis, it was determined that I have a tendency to pronate as I run. So, the sales associate (who was very nice, btw) selected these for me:


Aren't they purty? The gray area you see in the instep is extra stability to keep my foot from leaning in as I run.

Let me just say that I don't run. I don't particularly like it. Never have. I find running to be a pain (literally). I bought these running shoes so that I would feel more comfortable if I occasionally trotted during my walks. Well, to my surprise, I popped these suckers on my feet for my walk on the treadmill the other day, and found myself breaking into a run more often than I ever have. These shoes are the most comfortable thing I have ever put on my feet!

I now understand why people run. It's adrenaline-pumping. It's invigorating. And with these shoes, it's painless! I never thought I would find a day where I thought running wasn't the most horrible thing humankind ever decided to do. But, with these shoes that day has come. I'm not looking to run a marathon or anything. In fact, my short stints with running never last more than a few minutes and at 5 mph or so. Hopefully I will be able to extend my time running and increase my speed, but for this non-runner, it's a start!

Election Night

This is really one case where my nerd tendencies come out. I have been glued to the television for hours tonight following election night coverage. This includes an hour I spend on the treadmill. Imagine walking or running as you're staring at the television trying to keep your eyeballs steady and process what the pundits have to say about the election. Well, that's me!

I'm proud to say that I did my civic duty. I got up a little early this morning and got to the polls before they opened. Granted, I only got to the polls 5 minutes before they opened, but I it still counts as getting there early! It was two hours from the time I arrived and the time I completed my civic duty and left the polling place. I'm thankful that we had decent weather (not that it would have made a difference to me).

Now, I'm not usually overly patriotic. In fact, I despise jingoistic people. Every person, no matter their political affiliation, should have a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to politicians and politics. That being said, regardless of the outcome, I can say that I contributed to a very crucial turning point in our country's history. Seeing the lines today made me very proud to call myself an American.