To My Newbie Friend At Road Runner Sports - It Really DOES Get Easier!

Yesterday I had to break down and spring for a new pair of running shoes. The old Gel Kayanos have close to 300 miles on them and that "fallen arches" feeling while running intervals last Saturday issued the final warning; "Spend the money on new shoes NOW or you'll be spending your second consecutive fall with an ice-pack on your knee!"

After running a couple of morning errands I headed over to my local Road Runner Sports (it's the member discount, you know) and found the store still closed. It seems that the recession has forced them to cut their hours. Perfect! I had some time to run through the emails on my Blackberry. Just then, a women about my age walked up and we started a conversation - but as we were getting acquainted the guy in the store opened up and we headed inside.

Of course, I knew exactly what I was looking for while she, it turns out, had just started running. "I agreed to do this Nike race thing with my friend" she huffed to me as she ran the treadmill for the sales associate. "I must have been crazy when I agreed to do this." 

Ah, the pleasures of being a new runner. The feeling is somewhere between "I want to die" and "How did I ever get this stupid idea in the first place?"

I formally introduced myself, told her about Traxee (of course) and assured her "It really does get easier." When I say this to people they typically roll their eyes. I always get the feeling they don't believe me. Of course, the other pleasure of talking to newbies is that they are always impressed with your weekly mileage - even when it really sucks. One needs this kind of ego encouragement every now and then. ;-0

Turns out, my new friend is the manager of a Redken beauty school called Academy here in the Valley. As it usually does these days, the conversation turned to the hideous state of the economy and how it is effecting her business. We talked about what I do and I handed her a business card with an open invitation to check out Traxee and join.

So, this post is for J. who is struggling through those first few weeks of training. I am thinking about you girl! Take a look at this article on base training for beginning runners and follow these tips from Christine Luff of the About Network on the eternal question of "When Does It Get Easier?"  It does...really!

Lots of luck J! I hope to see you here!

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