Tempo Run

Today, I went to RoadRunner Sports to use their Shoe Dog program. They videotape you running barefoot on a treadmill to analyze your running pattern. Then, they show you how you run in slow motion to point out your running tendencies. I was there three months ago when my toes started getting a little numb while I was running. At the time I was wearing a neutral shoe (basically an ordinary shoe that doesn't try to correct any running tendencies) and they had recommended a stability shoe (the video of my feet showed that I was rolling my feet inward toward my big toe instead of straight forward). After running in this shoe for three months, I recently encountered some knee joint pain. So, I decided to go back today and see what the Shoe Dog would have to say this time. The "Shoe Dog Expert" did a much better job showing and explaning my running patterns and basically told me that I was actually in between a neutral and stability shoe, or a neutral + shoe. Great, now I have to buy another shoe! The good news is that my generous 5th grade parents pitched in to get me a gift card to Road Runner so I guess my new pair of shoes will be on them. The gift card has a special restriction that wouldn't allow me to use it until Monday so I'll be back there next week to purchase my new shoes.

Tonight I went to the gym and ran in my old neutral pair of shoes. I was scheduled for a tempo run (slightly faster than marathon pace, which for me is 9:05/mile to break the 4 hour barrier, but because I've had knee pain the past two runs, I decided to ease off a bit. Here's the low down on the run:

Mile 1 (Warm-up) 10:00/mile

Mile 2-6 8:57/mile

Mile 7 (Cool-down) 10:00/mile

In all, I ran 7 miles at a 9:09/mile pace. The best news was that I had no knee pain through the run! I'm not sure if it's because I ran with a different shoe, or if it's because I ran slower. Either way, I'm just thrilled that I was able to run pain free. Hopefully tomorrow everything will be feeling fine. I'm planning for a 12 miler some time this weekend.