Even though running requires relatively little in the way of gear, I did need a decent pair of running shoes and a sport bra to call my own. Fortunately, I live around the corner from See Jane Run. The salesperson was incredibly patient as I tried on eight or ten pair of shoes and walked around to see how they felt. In the end I bought the ones she had secretly expected to fit the best after analyzing my gait. I guess that's how they get their jollies at SJR.
One down, bra to go. Sport bras are not generally my idea of a good time. They smash you into an unattractive monoboob and are ugly to boot. I found one that wasn't too awful looking, and while it does indeed press my breasts into a single rounded shape, it zips up the front making it the easiest to put on and take off. In my book that counts for a lot.
Sadly, they only had the bra I wanted in "nude". I really hate "nude". But they found my size in black at another store and arranged to have it sent over. During the following week--while waiting for my bra to arrive--I continued to run wearing various sport tops with built-in bras, reinforced with a regular bra underneath. It felt like my chest was wrapped tight in an ACE bandage but my jerry-rigged brassiere seemed to do the job.
A set-back
Meanwhile, my knee went wonky and started to hurt so much I had to slow my work-outs down to a walk. I rolled out my IT bands, stretched my quads, performed countless knee sets--all in an effort to stop the pain. It wasn't getting worse, but it wasn't getting better either.
I resigned myself to the possibility I am not destined to be a runner, but I kept showing up at the track. The track in question is above the Clark Kerr Campus at Cal. It's about 5 minutes from my house by car. Although I feel slightly goofy driving to my running work-out, I'm convinced the dirt track is better for me and my knee.
I walked the track for 30 minutes every other day until my knee stopped hurting. This happened to coincide with putting arch supports in my shoes, but I honestly don't know if the two things are related. The arch supports are still there and my knee no longer hurts. I plan to leave well enough alone.
Having finally finished Week 2, I prepared to move on to Week 3. I listened to the first part of the W3 podcast. After a 5 minutes walk to warm-up, it calls for two repetitions of the following pattern: 90 seconds running, 90 seconds brisk walking, 3 minutes running, 3 minutes brisk walking.
Those 3 minute runs had me worried.
One down, bra to go. Sport bras are not generally my idea of a good time. They smash you into an unattractive monoboob and are ugly to boot. I found one that wasn't too awful looking, and while it does indeed press my breasts into a single rounded shape, it zips up the front making it the easiest to put on and take off. In my book that counts for a lot.
Sadly, they only had the bra I wanted in "nude". I really hate "nude". But they found my size in black at another store and arranged to have it sent over. During the following week--while waiting for my bra to arrive--I continued to run wearing various sport tops with built-in bras, reinforced with a regular bra underneath. It felt like my chest was wrapped tight in an ACE bandage but my jerry-rigged brassiere seemed to do the job.
A set-back
Meanwhile, my knee went wonky and started to hurt so much I had to slow my work-outs down to a walk. I rolled out my IT bands, stretched my quads, performed countless knee sets--all in an effort to stop the pain. It wasn't getting worse, but it wasn't getting better either.
I resigned myself to the possibility I am not destined to be a runner, but I kept showing up at the track. The track in question is above the Clark Kerr Campus at Cal. It's about 5 minutes from my house by car. Although I feel slightly goofy driving to my running work-out, I'm convinced the dirt track is better for me and my knee.
I walked the track for 30 minutes every other day until my knee stopped hurting. This happened to coincide with putting arch supports in my shoes, but I honestly don't know if the two things are related. The arch supports are still there and my knee no longer hurts. I plan to leave well enough alone.
Having finally finished Week 2, I prepared to move on to Week 3. I listened to the first part of the W3 podcast. After a 5 minutes walk to warm-up, it calls for two repetitions of the following pattern: 90 seconds running, 90 seconds brisk walking, 3 minutes running, 3 minutes brisk walking.
Those 3 minute runs had me worried.
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