Tonight was possibly the best night of Team Challenge activities... THE SHOE CLINIC. Now before you start rolling your eyes and referencing my shoe garage sale comments from the previous post, be proud of me. I walked away with my free "goodie bag" from Rodiez. That's right I did not purchase a single pair of shoes tonight. But before I give myself too many accolades it was solely out of cash-poorness. I spent all my excess cash on fund-raising water bottles this week, which is totally worth it! But I have to hold off on purchasing shoes that will really protect my tootsies for a week or two.
Ok, so the "SECRET UNDERWORLD"of running. As I dive deeper and deeper into this subculture of freakishly skinny Marathon Men and Women I am learning more and more. The shoe clinic tonight was actually very informative and I look forward to going back to Rodiez to learn more about what shoes are best for my freakishly narrow feet. Not only are there tons of shoes out there, some of them are super weird. I heard on TV and online about those shoes that are supposed to simulate running barefoot, you know the shoes with toes!!
So I investigated and played with the toe slots and was officially creeped out. remember those toe socks that were popular circa 1994?!?! Those were ungodly uncomfortable I cannot imagine the rubbery toe shoes could be much better.
On Sunday at the team run, I ran past a bare foot runner. Literally, this man was running through the park's nature path with bare feet. The week before we had to hop over a half dead mouse on the trail. THE MOUSE WAS STILL TWITCHING! Not to forget about the animal feces and mystery bodily fluids. But hey, whatever keeps you running... I guess.
Additional new running mystery. The importance of socks. You are telling me there are socks that cost $10?! Again, once I learned/brainwashed about the importance of foot care for runners, and walkers, I get it. But I still don't feel 100% comfortable buying a single pair of socks for $10. This also coming from a girl with callused feet and toes... Must keep an open mind, right.
And finally the item for sale that I could not investigate out of fear...
My former co-work, Jake aka Jail Tech Jake, is an Iron Man.
He is probably the fittest person I know, verging on clinically insane. But he informed me a year and half ago that some marathoners and Ironman runners go on themselves as opposed to stop mid race to use the port-o-potty. This idea was shocking and alarming to me then and still disturbs me now. I mean, I get it, you are super competitive, hell its IRONMAN, using the port-o-potty is probably not ideal for your personal best time. But to go pee on yourself is just too much for me. Which brings me to what, I believe, I saw hanging on the shelf. It appeared to be a vinylish pair of briefs. Now I could be wrong. But, again, I was too fearful to explore the plastic underwear/diapers. Perhaps on my next visit. Stay tuned.
For good measure
Donate to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation and maybe I'll pee on myself at the Rock N Roll Half Marathon. But I'm not making any promises!
-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder
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