So I’ll add a photo:  I can balance my running shoes, creating a “shoe tree!”

Okay, you all are groaning now.  I swear I have other “talents.”

As you can see, I have three pairs:

The outside pair is my “for the trails” pair. They appear gray rather than white, even after being hosed down repeatedly, natch. The shiny thing is a RoadID shoe pouch.

The center pair is my road pair. Their blinding whiteness seems to indicate I’ve never used them, but I promise they have some miles in them. There is probably some pixie dust in there since I used them for the Disney Princess Half-Marathon last month.

And then of course the Vibram Five Fingers are perched on top, the “shoes” to which Brenna referred during the previous post: Barefoot Running. (My son picked out the aqua color. I was quite indecisive about which pair to select.)

So which will I use for The Relay?

I’m bringing my princess-approved blindingly-white ones and the Vibram Five Fingers.  I haven’t decided for certain whether I’ll start out in the Five Fingers, but I expect I’ll wear them for at least one leg. After all, I do everything barefoot. My neighbors think I am completely crazy for taking the trash out in the rain barefoot, or for weeding in the mud barefoot. But, I’ll bring the standard shoes just in case my calves and shins cry foul or if I chicken out trying to do the Five Fingers on “unexplored territory.”

I know shoes are supposed to be “the most important” piece of the running outfit, but I definitely admit being fickle at this point. (Plus, I’d say my bra is the most important piece; but that is a whole different topic.)

Yet being fickle has its upsides, because I can create a tower with my shoes!

My “old” sneakers were straight off the shelf from Kohl’s for $19.99.

They were Nike – so I thought… “They must be good for running…” right?

Well, I have discovered that not all running sneakers are created equal (or for every “body”).

Last weekend my husband took me to a specialty running shop in Rhode Island. I have heard about this place before, but never considered myself a “real” runner enough to enter. I don’t know if I was exactly expecting people to be running laps in the store… or talking times and splits on their last races… but I was intimidated to enter.

Well… toss in a husband and 4 boys – you can imagine my hesitation (even more) upon entering.

Pleasantly surprised… the shop was AWESOME. They let my sons run around. They let me try on about 15 pairs of shoes. And they thought our relay race sounded amazing! Almost like finding the wedding dress of my dreams… as soon as I slipped into my Nike Max Moto’s, I knew. These were the shoes. Love at first sight.

My Girls...

So we’ve been hitting the pavement (or… well, belt) together every morning. I’m only up to about 2.5/3 miles… but my feet for the first time (ever) feel really good!

(Thanks Christine for listening to me vent about not having the “right” shoes!)