St. Joan of "Arch"

Blisters are a real pain in the... feet. Both Dan and I were suffering earlier this week- after only 4 days of training! I had expected to have some small problems, but not to the degree that we did!

So on the recommendation of our coach, Jerry-- have we mentioned how GREAT this guy is?, we went over to The Running Place in Newtown Square (http://www.therunningplace.com/). I was a bit nervous, because well, I'm not a "runner". I am completely intimidated by "runners", and for some bizarre and admittedly unfair reason always worry that they will look down on me because I am a "walker". (Ridiculous, I know, but still...)

Well, we met probably the coolest lady EVER at the store. Joan, whom I have dubbed "St. Joan of Arch- the patron saint of runners", couldn't have been more helpful! First she had us take off our current shoes. She looked at them (despite the horrid odor coming from Dan's- sorry honey, but they reeked!), and had us walk across the room to observe our gait. And, poof! As if by magic, St. Joan found the most comfortable shoes I have ever put on my little feet (which, incidentally, are two perfectly matched size 6's-- I knew I was perfect SOMEWHERE on my body)! Joan also outfitted us with socks, which makes a huge difference in the blister issue. We also picked up some snazzy new water bottle holders for our training and race. I'll bet you're not surprised, dear friends, to hear that I picked the pink one.

My friend Casey was right, I should have brought my camera to document our shoe shopping! Sorry! Had I known that the staff at The Running Place was so great, I would definitely have done it! Thank God for St. Joan of "Arch"! I'm a reformed woman. I'll never buy sneakers from the mall again.

I guess Joan has been a runner forever- and she had some really great words of wisdom that I will truly recite over and over through race day. "If the whole race felt like the first mile, do you think I, or any one else, would actually do the other 25 miles?" Brilliant! So I am not alone in hating the first mile.

Now if I could just grow some longer legs...

-Sara