Last Sunday I had the worst run I've ever had in my ten years as a runner.
Around mile four I hit some kind of wall, and my body simply refused to run any further. I can't even boast about hitting the wall at mile twentyfour or something. I mean, mile fifteen would at least have been respectable, but mile fóur?! Frankly, it's just embarassing.
Luckily I was able to convince my body to wálk, by repeating this mantra: 'If the road you're travelling seems all uphill, rest if you must, but don't you quit!' Besides, otherwise you'll never get home!
I got home quite shocked, about how poorly I had run. I actually felt a bit traumatised, wondering if I would ever run again. My inner drama queen was having the time of her life!
So today, I gently took myself outside, reassuring myself: 'You don't have to go far. We'll take it easy, like it's your first time.' Immediately my inner disk jocky started playing 'Like a virgin' in my head' and it was to this melody I did my Tuesday run.
Going slowly, going gently, I felt my confidence return. 'I can still do it, I can still do it!'
If ever Nike needs a new slogan, I greatly recommend this one.
Have you ever been surprised by how terrible running felt?
I'm a natural kind of girl. I don't dó make-up, and as for clothes, I think less is more. Considering this, wearing shoes that correct the way my feet hit the ground, doesn't really suit me.
So when I read about the new ProGrid Mirage shoes by Saucony, I felt a rush of excitement. Because this shoe is made for 'natural motion', and really suits the natural running trend, of minimalistic shoes.
Minimalistic shoes offer your feet more freedom, hence your movement becomes more natural. I love this concept, and it also fits in nicely with ChiRunning.
I haven't worked up the courage yet to go barefoot, but the ProGrid Mirages might be a great stepping stone. They'll prevent my dainty feet from getting hurt on pebbles and stuff, and at the same time they offer a feeling of going barefoot.
Surprise: They look great!
So I was very excited at the opportunity to try some out. My first surprise was the way they looked: they actually looked nice! I had resigned myself to the fact that running shoes are ugly, but the ProGrid Mirages are cute!
The shoes I tried were black, with pink soles. And with every step I took, I flashed my pink soles. It made me feel all girly.
The way they run
But the biggest surprise of all was the way they felt: light as a feather! Compared with the ProgGrid Mirages, my other running shoes, Saucony Omni 9, feel like two blocks of concrete. And becasue they felt so light I ran a personal record without even trying. Forget Redbull: it's ProGrid Mirage shoes that give you wings!
The psychological effect
When I ran on my feathery light ProGrid Mirages I felt like a child again. I wasn't running, I was skipping! Never in my life have I worn such happy shoes. I didn't know it was possible to run through life in such a lightfooted manner.
Conclusion
I highly recommend the Saucony's ProGrid Mirages. Not only do they look great, they run fantastic. There's only one problem: I love them so much it's hard not to wear them on áll my runs! But I have to be sensible, and work up to wearing them more often or I'll risk getting hurt.
Luckily I've found a great solution: I'll wear them as a mom!
Wanna know more?
Visit the Saucony website where they tell you all about the ProGrid Mirages.
Shopping with my eldest daughter has turned into a humbling experience. She's fifteen going onto sixteen, and she's blossoming. As we walk around together, people do a double take when they see her. And people at the stores, address hér, ignoring me.
I tell myself: 'That's alright. It's as it should be!' And as a mom I'm grateful by daughter is blooming.
But when I was out running, and a car drove buy, the driver honking and his passenger hanging out of the window, wolf whistling, I thought to myself: 'When I run solo, I've still got it!'
Though I love shopping for shoes, I hate shopping for running shoes. It's just no fun if you can't pick and choose your favourite colour or model. Instead, I just buy the ones the shoe guy tells me suit my feet.
So I put off buying new running shoes as long as I could, until my shins started sending me frantic messages I needed to get new running shoes. And I had to admit: looking at the soles of my Saucony's, they looked terrible.
So I reluctantly entered the running store, worrying they would spot me and start shouting: 'What are yóu doing here?! You're not even a real runner!'
I showed the running guy my shoes, and asked: 'Is it time to get some new ones?'
The running guy snorted: 'These shoes are a goner! You definitely need a new pair.'
Then he went in the back and came back with almost exact copies of my running shoes, except not so dirty looking. 'Omni 9' they were called.
'Do they come in others colours?' I asked hopefully.
The shoe guy shook his head.
'Oh well, I'll take them,' I decided, and paid.
And then I left the store. But I didn't feel that special thrill I feel when I buy regular shoes. I can't help but feel manufacturers of running shoes are missing out on some great opportunities. Running shoes for women in all the colors of the rainbow, and decorated with flowers, sugar en spice, and everything nice.
