So Much to Say!

It's been awhile since I posted, so I'll just give you the breakdown...

1.  I got fitted for orthotics.  I know how some folks feel about them, but right now, I'm in favor...I've been able to run pain-free and thusfar, they have been worth what I paid for them (insurance didn't cover).
2.  I have been running consistently for the last 7 weeks!  Once my orthotics got fitted, my podiatrist had me start running every day, starting with .5mi/day, then moving up each week.  I started and stopped a couple times (most notably due to a vacation to Costa Rica that Christy and I took for our anniversary!), but once I got back from a work trip, I decided that I was going to be more consistent.
   
   I put in 4 weeks straight, getting up to about 12mi/wk.  Two weeks ago, I decided to start putting in more miles per run and less runs per week.  To that end, I ran up to 3mi/run last week and have tried to up a couple runs above 3mi.
3. I have finally made my goal weight!  I officially made it last week, but this morning's weigh-in had me at 178.6, or 30.2lbs from my start almost 9 months ago!

In short...

One last thing...I started an account at DailyMile so that I could keep better track of mileage and routes.  I included a widget (I won't call it little!) on the main page navigation so you can see how I'm doing.  It's on a probationary period for now.

Forced Hiatus

I'm going to need to take a hiatus for the next week or so.  I've been having pains in my knees and my left leg is acting eerily like it did back when I had a stress fracture back in high school.  I'm really scared that it's happening again, and unfortunately, it's causing all of the feelings of helplessness and frustration to creep back in.

After a week, I think I'll go back to the gym to try to work on upper body and flexibility, but for now, the most cardio I will do is ride the bike.

Crap.

Yup...this'll happen.

When you insist on running sockless, you're going to find that your shoes will fit differently.  That slight rub you notice against your socks can, within a mile or so's time become a small saw against the skin of your feet.  I'm lucky that my feet bear very few of the scars that I've accrued over time.  Normally, the balls of my feet and my heels got it the worst, especially when I was racing in spikes.  Those can be hard to deal with because, of course, tightening your laces is a declining spiral (the more you tighten them, the more the shoe's upper stretches, necessitating more tightening, etc.), and petroleum jelly is only so useful, especially if it's raining.  After awhile, your skin just calluses enough that you don't have to worry about it.

What's in a Name?

For those who don't know, I generally hate shoes, socks, and, well, just about anything I have to wear on my feet.  To her dying day, my grandmother would rebuke me for apparently having been born in a barn.  It's not uncommon for me to be seen prancing about in shorts at any time of year (provided I'm indoors), and I'll doff my shoes whenever given the chance.