New Shoes and Soggy Socks

Getting new running shoes always has sort of a Christmas feel for me, but there are some down sides. I've always been leary about gettting new shoes two close to a race date. No matter how good they feel in the store, flaws inevitably turn up on long runs. These usually show up in the form of blisters. The other negative is I don't like the shiney glean they give off on the trail. Makes me feel self conscious, that I look like some kind of raw dude who decided to become a runner and has to have the latest hi-tech whiz-bang set of foam rubber and mesh out of Beaverton, Ore. They scream "this guy never runs, he just likes the shoe!" For me, the sooner I can get them muddy, the better.

Which brings me to last Saturday. I had my new Saucony's on, I had worn them three times for runs of 8, 12, and 13 miles. So far, so good, except for the small blister on my left achilles, which happened during the Abebe Bikila Half marathon. This time, I'd wear better socks. I did, but too little avail. They got soaked in the rain and standing puddles that quickly formed. The low-top socks eventually slid below the top of the shoe, exposing the blister. It soon burst and began to bleed. I didn't know this because I was soaked head to toe (or head to blister, I should say). When I completed the 18-miler, I pulled of the sock to wring it out, and the rain water ran red.

Little did I know the blood was sufficient enough to stain the top of my shoe. That's the left one, on the right. That's my silver lining from a miserable run. This stained shoe will be worn as a badge of honor.