I LOVE The Runner's Edge!

OK, the last thing I want is for my blog to turn into a big advertisement for anything, but I have to give some serious thanks to The Runner's Edge.

Because my shins have still been bothering me, I swung in yesterday to see if I should try different shoes. (Yep, they'll take back the shoes they sold you even if you've worn them.) However, because Brooks are awesome, the man who helped me didn't recommend new shoes. Instead, we're going to try some insoles. Here's where The Runner's Edge being awesome comes in: not only did he recommend a product that will help me, but he actually put them in my shoes and let me walk around. Apparently the arches of my feet are farther forward than most people's, because it took four or five pairs before we found one that hit me in the right place. Further, he trimmed them down to fit my shoes perfectly, taught me how to mold them to my feet using my oven, and then said, (here's the best part) that I can still return them if they don't help! What? That's amazing!

He also let me run on their in-store treadmill and watched my stride to make sure I wasn't doing anything funny. (I'm not.)

In other "shin" news, they are definitely still sore. I am starting to ice them three times a day, which every single person I've talked to about this recommends. (That's right, I will be sitting on the floor of the University Branch of Missoula Federal Credit Union's break room during my lunch break icing my shins. Sweet.) The guy at The Runner's Edge said I'm probably OK to keep running as long as I ice a lot and use anti-inflammatories. (Yes Mom, I'll stop if it gets too bad...I'll know if I'm hurting myself, I promise!) He recommended running every other day and cross-training or resting in the off-days to allow them time to rest/heal in between.

It's frustrating and scary because I'm really enjoying running and I'm really excited to meet my goal. The pain is by no means unbearable. In fact, it doesn't even hurt that bad. It's more like a nagging soreness. It's the fear of stress fracture/other injury that's stressing me out. So keep your fingers crossed that the insoles solve the problem!!

On a completely unrelated note, everyone wish my friend Allison luck as she runs in the Snow Joke half-marathon this coming weekend. Read about it here: http://www.cheetahherders.com/snowjoke.html Seriously. Read the entrants guide. It's amazing.

Power Song of the Day: "Teenagers" by My Chemical Romance. The lyrics are funny and it's got a good melody. Plus it's fairly short which is good for my ADD.