Shoes and bffs

Running shoes are the most unglamorous shoe purchase ever. Once you find a pair that work for you, you just end up buying that same pair over and over and over. And, somehow, the shoes are never the cute ones. However, getting a new pair of running shoes is, somehow, one of the most satisfying purchaces ever. It means that you have put too many miles on a pair of shoes (which is an accomplishment) and now, you get something new, clean, and shiny to put on. Mike is in Brooks Adrenalines and I am in Saucony ProGrid Omnis. Mike is on his 4th pair and, thanks to an awesome bff, I am on my 3rd.

More about my awesome bff. Jen lives in Seattle with her husband Luke that I used to work with in State College. We became bffs in January of 2007 :) Jen is awesome for plentyseven reasons, and I am going to focus on one running-related reason here...

Jen is one of my biggest supporters in training for and running this marathon. Additionally, she is one of my biggest inspirations. Jen started seriously running in late 2007. She found Hal Higdon's website and decided that she was going to train for the Mardi Gras Half Marathon in February. She kicked butt in her training. I remember her telling me about how far she ran and being totally blown away. To make her even more awesome, she trained for it in the dead winter in Pennsylvania. She ran ten miles from her house to ours one blustery Saturday. She was a pro-athlete in my eyes.

February rolled around and she ran and finished the half-marathon. A few weeks later, after severe shin splint-like pain, she went to the doctor. Come to find out, she had stress fractures in both shins. Jen had run her half marathon with two broken legs. Now, while this is obviously something that no one should ever do, she had made it. Whenever I am beyond exhausted, I think of Jen and manage to muster up more energy...

Now-a-days Jen focuses on being an awesome mommy to an awesome little girl. She ran a 5k in December with a stroller. Lately, she has been letting me know how awesome I am and supporting me every step of the way. Last week she sent me a gift card to Roadrunner Sports so I could get a new pair of shoes (Saucony ProGrid Omni 8) - the pair of shoes in which I will run the Eugene Marathon.

Thank you Jenny! You da jam fo shiz.