Thursday, March 06, 2008

Magic

The subject of this week's Take It and Run Thursday is Gear, Gadgets, and Equipment. I toyed with the idea of doing a photo blog of all of my beloved running gear - and I totally reserve the right to do that for a future post. But this week, my thoughts turned to one subject.

When I was a kid, I loved going to the shoe store for new sneakers. I’d look at everything, learn my new shoe size, and try on several different styles so I could be confident I’d found the very best pair. And like any kid worth her salt, I always wore my new shoes out of the store. With the excitement and magic of a new pair of shoes within my grasp, how could I possibly put my old shoes back on?
As a kid, I was a firm believer in the magic of new shoes. With these new shoes, I could play longer, jump higher, and run faster. New shoes positively hummed with potential.

And now? I feel very much the same.

On last Sunday’s six mile run, I felt a bit of an ache in my shins and in my feet, an ache that could mean only one thing: time for new shoes. The very next day on my lunch break, I packed up my old shoes and a pair of running socks and headed to my local running store.

Just like when I was a kid, I gazed happily at the wall of running shoes wondering which pair would be the magical ones for me. I tried on a couple pair, jumped up and down on them, paced around the store, and finally chose the ones that are right for me.

I had to go back to work, so unfortunately, I couldn’t wear my new shoes out of the store. But I set the box next to me in the car and snuck glances at the new shoes every chance I had.

Once again, I felt the potential, the magic, of the new shoes. These shoes will take me through months of workouts and will be on my feet when I run my very first half marathon. These shoes will help me play longer, jump higher, and run faster.
New shoes are magic.

7 comments:

Nibbles said...

Oh, boy! What brand are they? Are they neutral, motion control, or stability? Tell us, tell us!

newsjunkie said...

Ooooh what'd you end up with?

I was the same way when I bought my new shoes last month, except it was right after my 14-mile run so my jumping and jogging was somewhat subdued. :)

Robert Barker said...

Ahhh, the running store, it is a drug for me as well.

Tom@RunnersLounge said...

You nailed it, Betsy. There is magic in new shoes!

I keep my running shoes in the basement. My family thinks it's because I don't want them to be offended with the odor. But the truth is I don't want them to tamper with them and fiddle with the magic.

My shoes are more important than a magic wand or flying carpet.

Great post!

Now tell us what shoes you got...and then I'll share my cookie recipe.

Meg said...

That is great! It reminded me of the scene in Sandlot when they pull out the PF Flyers to pickle The Beast:
"we were worried-- real worried--even when Benny brought out the secret weapon: shoes guaranteed to make a kid run faster and jump higher, P.F. Flyers."

chloe said...

Is it weird that I feel this way with all shoes, running and otherwise?

Amy@RunnersLounge said...

I love new running shoes too Betsy! Your post made me want to run out and buy another pair ... but I still have a few hundred miles to go.