I just spent what?!? on sneakers...

My new shoes...It's the Brooks Ghost 3

For the longest time I've avoided admitting it.  I was just doing it to feel better...I wouldn't do it forever, I like the way it makes me feel, plus it was mostly free.  That is until now.  The other day I spent more on a pair of good running shoes than I ever have on a single pair of footwear...In fact it may have been more than I have ever spent on 2 pairs of footwear.  This might be getting out of hand.

In late 2004, my wife and I started jogging around the neighborhood in an effort to improve our health.  It wasn't much, but since then I've been running more...Much more...Almost daily even.  In 7 years, I would never have called myself a runner in any way.  My friends can attest that my mantra has always been "There is no reason to run, unless someone is chasing you."

In fairness, this purchase did not come lightly I had worn out my 3rd pair of shoes since last June and each consecutive saunter was met with pain and struggle.  If I was going to take this running thing seriously I would have to make a commitment and get properly fitted by people who know what their doing.  So I went down to the local running store and sat down with a very helpful store associate.  She watched me walk, looked at my feet, and asked about my running experience.  Fully loaded with this knowledge she went off to find me the perfect shoe.

I tried on 3 or 4 pairs and liked most of them, but when confronted by the actual price I had a bit of sticker panic and left without a single pair.  It took a couple days but I realized that this was an investment and if I intended to ever run pain free again I needed to bite the bullet.

However, I do have a little extra motivation this time around that helped make the final decision. At work, we've started another round of "The Biggest Loser".  My weight has started to creep up again and I joined the competition to get myself back on the wagon.  In order to catch that wagon I needed a new pair of shoes.

On top of all that, I'm in training for the "Broad Street Run" in Philadelphia in May.  It's a 10 mile race through center city Philadelphia.  Make no mistake, the only person I will be racing will be myself.  I ran it last year, but was not pleased with my finishing time.  I've decided that if I am pleased with my time this year then I will try to run a half-marathon in the fall...Until 2004, I had never run more than a single mile at once, in my life...And now, despite owning more efficient means of transport, I am wracking up miles on the ground.

This doesn't have much directly related to my life as a father, but in the end it may help make my life as a father last a little longer...And if nothing else, my improved fitness will help me keep up with my daughter in the coming years.