Sounds like a self-help book. I had two instances this week where someone told me my running had inspired them. This is something that flatters me in a way nothing else has, I was never an “athlete” and to have people tell me I have made them want to run gives me a sense of purpose.
My very nice neighbor with two young children asked me for opinion about running shoes. I warned her that my experience is limited but that I love my Merrells, I love them more than I ever thought I could love a shoe. I love them so much that I have a second identical pair and I am considering buying a few more (they are discontinued.)
https://www.amazon.com/Merrell-Womens-Access-Trail-Running/dp/B01HHAFRDA?th=1&psc=1
These shoes are so light weight you forget you are even wearing shoes! (But you are so take them off in my house.) I have very high arches and always thought I needed shoes with heavy-duty arch support. I am not sure how I came across these “minimalist” running shoes but they saved my feet. As mentioned in this previous post, I had a Morton’s neuroma and when I wore these shoes, my pain disappeared! I wear them a full size larger than my normal shoes size and to date, I have not lost a single toe nail!
With my latest “hammer-toe-itis” I have tried an alternate lacing technique, described here.
It looks like a blind and thumb-less person got tangled up in my laces but it really helped take the pressure off the top of my foot. Getting the laces off my pressure point stopped the numbness and pain. Surprisingly, no one has mentioned this crazy lacing or they were too polite to stare.
I love the Merrell Bare Access Arc 4 shoe so much that I bought my daughter a pair from the outlet clearance rack! Could this be any cuter?
Back to my story of inspiring those around me. My sweet neighbor said that watching me and my family (we all run) made her want to run again! Today at Harris Teeter, I was wearing one of my many 5k t-shirts as I was planning to do some yard work and I don’t dress up much when I am not at work. The checker said something like “I wish I could do something like that.” I wasn’t sure if she meant walk around with no make-up and unshowered but she said, “run a 5k or 8k or anything.”
I blushed, because even though I am old, I still can’t take a compliment. I told her, “You can definitely do it! “I didn’t start running until I was 40!”
I had been waiting my whole life to say this to someone. Then she said the most wonderful thing I have ever heard…
“You are over 40? You don’t look like you could be over 40.”
Maybe she was lying but I don’t care, all of this running and Tru Niagen is paying off!
You can learn new tricks over 40, my times have continued to improve. I will never be an elite runner, but I can run 3 to 5 miles at a respectable pace is proof that we can get better as we get older.
While we are talking about mini me, here is the painting I reprinted to give to all of the father’s in my life for Father’s Day. This is my daughter and husband at the beach (obviously. ) I loved her holding his hand, I also liked the tint giving the painting a vintage look.
