new year+new shoes=new me

Last year I was running about 5 miles a day, just about every day. There was a time in my life when I didn't like to run, but about 9 years ago, I discovered that I enjoyed my daily run. I delt energized, and it is a good way to stay in shape.

My buddy Doug (track coach, guitar bud) told me that shoes were good for about 300-500 miles, then they need to be replaced. So, at 35 miles a week, I figure on replacing my shoes about every 3 months. I bought a new pair of shoes in January of last year. I had a gift certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods, but I opted for the cheaper line of Asics running shoes. I had been running in the 21 series, and I decided to give the 11 series a chance.

Then I had that infamous snowblower incident on March 17.

The doc told me that I wouldn't want to do anything to elevate my heartrate for a long time. Combine the injury with the start of baseball season, and that left little inclination to do any running.

I have tried to get back into the swing of things a couple of times since baseball ended in June, but every time I ran my left knee hurt like crazy. It felt strangely similar to the way me right knee did, before I had a quarter-sized chunk of my patellar tendon removed .

Kim bought me a new pair of the 21 series for Christmas, however, and I thought I'd give 'em a shot. I ran 4 miles yesterday, and 4 today. I was a little apprehensive, though.

I can't even begin to tell you how good I feel! I've found my groove, and my body is reacting well. Let's hope that it continues.

So what changes are you making to your new year to try to get at that new you?