No one said it would be easy…

The process of becoming a natural didn’t seem like it would be a walk…or run…in the park. I knew there would be challenges. However, I didn’t anticipate some of my most recent obstacles.  

In today’s instant gratification world, I was thinking my transition would take the suggested amount of months, but I thought I would be golden after putting in my time. However, I am coming to realize this is a constant process, just as building on my mileage is, and I was going to have to truly commit to this journey. 

When you train for a marathon, you start small, and add miles slowly to both short and long runs. You don’t just run 20 miles once on the weekend and suddenly you can do that every day. Your body can only take so much change. So when I completed my transition into my Road-X 233s, I was running comfortably in them for 3-5 miles.  As I started to up my long run mileage while preparing for Vegas, I slipped on my 233s and hit the road for a 7 miler. However, around mile 6, I noticed some soreness similar to my earlier 233 run days. Wait a minute, I transitioned! I am a 2 Arrow SHOC-ZONE natural! Feet don’t fail me now!

I walked home thinking to myself, “What did I do wrong?” It is obviously going to take time to go from 12 or even 15mm differential sneakers to zero drop…but wait…how come my 6mm drop isn’t perfected after following directions?! 

It seems that after pushing myself on mileage that my body is unaccustomed to, my Achilles, feet, legs, mind is also being tested again in lower drop shoes.  My body was used to 3-5 miles in 9mm and 6mm drops, but 7? Maybe not so much.   

I decided to try my Road-X 238s for 6 miles, and felt better. I am going to re-start the transition for my longer run days, and slowly get my body used to lower differentials with higher mileage, but I will continue on my transition journey during the week for my short runs.

Everyone is different, so maybe you aren’t experiencing this problem (I am jealous), or maybe you are running into other obstacles. What are you going through on your transition journey and what are you doing to stay on track?

Training Inspiration- The Chicago Marathon

I have to admit, one of the many things that I was excited about when taking this job with inov-8 was the prospect of traveling to iconic events, races, and competitions across the country spreading the good word about inov-8. Attending these events you get to watch the most elite athletes in the world compete. You see them push themselves to run 4 minute miles for 26 miles, or work out at maximum capacity for 4 days in a row, or run through the night through the woods by themselves. When I see that, I can’t help but think, “gee, maybe I CAN push myself HARDER"... for my 1 hour or 45 minute workout each day.

 “Do you push yourself this hard every day?”

This weekend inov-8 was at the Chicago Marathon- our first big road marathon. Attending the Chicago Marathon for the first time reminded me of the first time I saw the Boston Marathon. Watching the sea of thousands and thousands of people flooding down the streets, pushing themselves towards their goals and the feeling of accomplishment while millions cheered them on mile after mile- it gives you a rush of energy, empowerment, a sense of community- it makes you want to run.

The Chicago Marathon this weekend also reminded me of the reality of race day/weekend.  Hanging out at the expo all weekend, I met people who have been preparing for months and who are anxious, nervous and excited for the day that they’ve been training for. It made me think about how real my race was and how soon it was coming! I better get in gear!

So, I was inspired by all of these athletes and ventured out into this new city. I took my training down the Magnificent Mile, along the edge of the Lake Michigan, by the Sears Tower, down through Old Town, and wherever my inov-8s took me.  Now that I’m back from my trip- I just have to keep remembering that energy that I will feel on race day- and how ONLY MY ACTIONS NOW can improve how I feel on that weekend. Thanks Chicago and all of you that raced Sunday for inspiring me.