New Shoes

Another great day to donate! Two marathons and two charities! Let's raise a combined $6,500 for cancer research through Fred's Team and low-income seniors with Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.)!

Donate to H.O.M.E. here. Donate to Fred's Team here. More information here and at the top of the blog!

HOME shared with me a few details about their Maintenance program. And I wanted to share a little bit with you:

The demand is high for our Upkeep ramp; Repair service. There is currently a four month waiting list for our services, which does not deter seniors from signing up for our service because there are no other programs like ours in the city. To qualify for our service, seniors must have an individual income below the Federal Poverty Level (about $980). Many of our clients are trying to survive on $733 per month, which is the amount Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits pays. Paying full price for the services of a repairman is simply not an option.

There is real need and fortunately, there are wonderful people actually doing good - supporting, enriching, caring for their neighbor's lives - and we can join in. Send HOME Fifty dollars today!

And if you'd rather give money to support breakthroughs in cancer treatment and cures, give send money to Fred's Team. Research saved my life. Research can and will save many others.

That new shoe smell.

I picked up a pair of new shoes. If all goes to plan these will be my marathon shoes. exciting.

Buying running shoes is actually much less exciting than you would think. Once you find a pair of shoes that work it is best to stick with them. For me, this is a pair of Nike shoes. During my lunch break I walked down to the store and asked for the same model, any color. As the clerk wandered off I realized I should have asked for the cheapest color. But he brought those to many anyway. The last time I grab these shoes I picked up the blue pair which was already on sale. This green/black pair was even cheaper. Clearly I give off a certain air.

I leaned years ago that I can not just run in any pair of sneakers. I carry a considerable bulk around with me when I run the force of that slamming through my feet and onto the concrete puts significant strain on my feet. I need supportive shoes. I found this model a few years ago. Now I ask for the shoe, try it on quickly, and am all done shopping.

My old shoes only have 270 miles on them. So they are not done. I'll rotate between the two pairs until the marathon. Which is coming up fast. This is the last week of hard training. Saturday I'll catch my last 20 mile run. Then, all that is left is to taper and rest. Also, I need to get a place to stay in Portland (must do that tonight). Any recommendations, you know, cheap ones?

For those of you wanting to wager your donation amount based on my marathon time please consult my most recent paces. I'm not sure what the upward trend means - besides that you should put up huge amounts of money because I might be rather slow.

Perhaps I am slower because I am running more this year. I like this theory. First, this one piece of evidence supports it. Also, this theory makes me sound less pathetic. So win win.

Look at all those pretty colors!