Getting into shape

[thrill]

This might be a tad off topic but anyone have any good shoe recommendations for walking/hiking? I bought some shoes a week or two ago and they were really comfortable in the store and really not comfortable about two miles into my hike.

Ugly colors, but I walk my dog everyday on rock and dirt and the tread on these has held up for more than a year and they're very light and breathable.
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/s~cascadia/?perPage=24

[Jocephus]

get those shoes that look like feet. they must be amazing.

[Freed Roger]

I was warned about the addictiveness of the races and it's completely true. Two hours after my first race I was on the internet searching for other races. After a few days I backed off and just decided I was just going to run one race of each distance every year and, if all works out, maybe run a marathon in a couple years. Signing up for races just keeps you running when the lazy side of you wants to take the evening off.

Find the events you like and do the same ones each year. So you'll have a benchmark to motivate you. They don't all have to be big kumbaya events.

Dreamer- I don't have specific shoe recommendations, other than finding something that fits. I rotate an assortment of shoes based on conditions/terrain and only one pair has bothered me -it is too tight-width wise. Feet get wider with age, and they can swell a bit on long trek.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I've found new balance to be pretty okay. If you have wider or odd shaped feet (like me) then it would behoove you to go to a special shoe store that can measure your feet and gait and fit you with the proper shoe. It costs more, but it is worth it. Having the side of your foot overhang the sole is a real killer on the back, amongst other things....

[jim]

Races piss me off because they cost money to enter. Usually the shirt they give you sucks, although last fall I did get a nice shirt which made it an easier pill to swallow. And these dumbasses passing out water - 20 Stuart [expletive] Smallie's at every station. "Yeah, Way to go. Your fast enough, your strong enough, and dog gone it people like you!".

[expletive] you. [expletive] you right in the ass.

You pay to run. Chew on that for a while.

[Fat_Bulldog]

Races piss me off because they cost money to enter. Usually the shirt they give you sucks, although last fall I did get a nice shirt which made it an easier pill to swallow. And these dumbasses passing out water - 20 Stuart [expletive] Smallie's at every station. "Yeah, Way to go. Your fast enough, your strong enough, and dog gone it people like you!".

[expletive] you. [expletive] you right in the ass.

You pay to run. Chew on that for a while.

Hey guys, I'm organizing a race. If you pay me, you can run in it.

(There will be White Castle stations in addition to water stations)

[wart57]

Races piss me off because they cost money to enter. Usually the shirt they give you sucks, although last fall I did get a nice shirt which made it an easier pill to swallow. And these dumbasses passing out water - 20 Stuart [expletive] Smallie's at every station. "Yeah, Way to go. Your fast enough, your strong enough, and dog gone it people like you!".

[expletive] you. [expletive] you right in the ass.

You pay to run. Chew on that for a while.

Hey guys, I'm organizing a race. If you pay me, you can run in it.

(There will be White Castle stations in addition to water stations)

Any truth to the rumor there will be prize money paid out in bacon?

[Freed Roger]

Races piss me off because they cost money to enter. Usually the shirt they give you sucks, although last fall I did get a nice shirt which made it an easier pill to swallow. And these dumbasses passing out water - 20 Stuart [expletive] Smallie's at every station. "Yeah, Way to go. Your fast enough, your strong enough, and dog gone it people like you!".

[expletive] you. [expletive] you right in the ass.

You pay to run. Chew on that for a while.

Which is why I don't do many big kumbaya events. Biggest ones I do are charity-related that my friends that are involved with the charity lasso me into doing.

I really like doing race series -usually on trails 3-5 events a week or two a part. It's always the same cast of characters - so you have to throw it down each time out with fairly small group of 100-200 people. No shuffling along anonymously with 5000 other people. (though 1-2 of those every year is good for motivation).

Some have beer and bbq at the end. Overall, the ones I choose tend to be kind of cheap and/or at a locale that I want to run -like a trail, or streets that would be otherwise impossible to run with traffic. For example, a trail 10K up/down the bluffs near Old Valmayer IL (Salt Lick Trail) - small event/cool people - good views, a challenge. I never would have seen that place, if they didn't have that event. Or one that goes thru St. Louis Hills neighborhood - past Stan the Man's old houses.

I don't mind wasting the money on it. I'd be more tempted to give up my gym membership.

[Sutter'sBeard]

Races piss me off because they cost money to enter. Usually the shirt they give you sucks, although last fall I did get a nice shirt which made it an easier pill to swallow. And these dumbasses passing out water - 20 Stuart [expletive] Smallie's at every station. "Yeah, Way to go. Your fast enough, your strong enough, and dog gone it people like you!".

[expletive] you. [expletive] you right in the ass.

You pay to run. Chew on that for a while.

Think of the boobs that won't get their money to get rid of their cancer.

I think most of the races end up benefiting a good cause. Still, I see your point.

[Freed Roger]

It does behoove you to be picky on the races. Who is managing? does it support a cause you don't agree with? what sort of history does the event have? is it run by local running folks vs the national gimmick outfits?

My kid wanted to do a 5K last year, so we found one out in the St. Charles. Not well run - dangerous with not enough volunteers to keep vehicles from going thru the throng. (Jim, I suspect)

Worst was a Turkey Trot we did in suburban Chicago with my daughter. Supposedly thru a Forest Preserve - which meant mostly running on congested & chewed-up asphalt path along a screaming highway. There were gobs of people -and a hassle with a shuttle bus to your car. Waste of time & $.

MS Mud Run a few years ago (done as teams - non-competitive division -I probably paid $75) was pretty lame. hardly a race and not much of a challenge. A cluster at each of the obstacles. We did have fun, support a good cause, and our team's kids got a kick out of watching us get muddy - but nobody has wanted to do it again.