Finally bought walking shoes

My quandary is this. No shoe ever seems to fit. They feel too loose, or too tight, or too something. I think it's because I'm just not used to wearing "real" shoes. I wear Birks 80% of the time. If I put on a closed shoe, I wear it to the office and 9 out of 10 times I kick them off. Bottom line is I don't know how to tell if my shoes fit.

It happened again Friday when I went to try on the Finn Casuals. Again. They felt too loose at the heel. They put in pads, they felt better, but still my heel was lifting. The clerk said your heel should give a little. I was still unsure about the fit and even left the store. Ultimately I came back and bought them. At some point I had to stop trying on shoes and buy a pair. It was decision time. You can tell nothing walking back and forth at a store.

So I decided to buy the most expensive walking shoe on the market. German, hand sewed, repairable, with cork inter soles like my Birks. They are an investment. As I plunked down my debit card I knew this was going to be great, or a really expensive mistake. Wouldn't be the first one.

I was going to wear them that night on my 1-hour faster walk with Betsy. It rained. Then, I was going to wear them the first loop on Saturday. It rained more. So finally on Sunday I cheated on my Birks and wore the Finn Casuals. I have the heel blisters to prove it. I walked 4 miles. Maybe that was too far. Maybe those pads were a bad idea. I'm calling the shoe store today.

I will try them at least two more times before I give up on them for distance walking. I'll give them some time before I give up on the forever. They fit Bonnie well, so she might get some hand-me-downs. I won't be wearing them for either the three-day or the Avon. It's too risky.

I really think I need sneakers for the Philly Marathon. I can't walk a 16 minute miles in sandals. The New Balance 8550 were my second choice. If I go to the New Balance store and try them I'll get a discount. Bonnie found some Nike's that are wide in the front and narrow in the back. Maybe I should try them on too.

Or maybe I should stop distance walking. Life was simpler as a couch potato. I'm disappointed. I had high hopes. I will take some time to wallow and then move forward.

But then I received this email. One of those moments when you think fate is stepping in...
"Ah, the blisters of a new pair of shoes.....it's good luck. Like when you get hit with bird shit. My dad always said it was a special blessing and to thank the bird. So thanks new sneakers!"

A walking challenger dare of sorts...

Sunday I received this message in an email:

" I'd be curious what you'd think of this little 'walk.' (At Lafayette College) Go down to Simon Center, inside all the way down to L3 in the basement, then up and out and up the hill to Pardee, then to the fourth floor across the fourth floor and back down."

Seemed easy to me. I've been to the Simon Center and up the long front stairs of Pardee. That little hill is at a 65 degree angle!

So I emailed the colleague I walk with at lunchtime and asked if she was game. She said sure.

Then on Labor Day I received the second email. "This little hill kills me every time I go to class. I normally leave Farinon and rush down the hill. Not the steps, the grass. (no doubt in 3-4 inch heels) My class is in L3 which is way down. Two floors down. With split stairwells. After class today, I had to go to the fourth floor of Pardee, so I left the basement of Simon and climbed the steps on the little hill, went in the middle doors to Pardee, swung left, went up to the fourth floor (and seriously wanted to die) "

Tuesday we did it. We climbed the stairs out of Watson Hall, crossed the Quad at a rapid pace, went around Pardee and down the stairs to Simon. Then we had to find the stairs to the basement. it only went one floor down. I though L3 meant that Simon had 3 sub-basements like the Linderman Library at Lehigh.

So we began the challenge up the stairs from the basement of Simon, up the stairs to Pardee, and thru the lobby to the staircase. That's when things got interesting. The steps are narrow and they are steep. I do six flights at ACE easier. I was breathing hard and moving slower when I reached the top. My colleague has 20 stairs in front of her home, then a 3 story house. She was breathing hard also. Up was nothing compared to down. Don't take those stair if you have vertigo. We both used the banister.

So physically it wasn't as big of a challenge as I expected. But it was hard. But I think it had nothing to do with physical fitness. But more to do with 100 year old staircases being steep and narrow.

If you want to have fun climbing, try the ones to my sister Elin's basement or attic. I pity the furnace repair guy.

Almost...

It's gorgeous today. Warm but not humid. The whole week has been great, but this is the first chance I really had to enjoy it. School has started on-ground, my online classes are a grizzly bear, and my hours a mess. It happens every fall.

My walking routine also changes. I keep long walks to the weekend, and shorter walks, sometimes really short during the week. On NCC days I park at the remotest lot and walk in to assure that I get to at least 10K steps.

Last year we walked at lunchtime, but a large project in the office keeps everyone in. I was determined to go out today. When I walked to Pfenning for a meeting thru the football stadium I decided I was going to to the stadium stairs. I tried it once before, and reached the 50 yard line before I was out of breathe and my chest was pounding. I haven't tried it since. However, my weekend walks have reached 14 miles, and my BP meds are adjusted, could I do it? Not quite.

So I put on my Simple shoes, left my office and told Allison if I wasn't back in 20 minutes to call for help. I was serious. With my sky high BP a stroke could be around the corner.

After the warm-up walk to the stadium, I did the home side starting at the scoreboard end, which I assume is the home end. It's about 100 stairs down, then another 100 back up. I did seven concourses. About 1400 stairs. It brought me to the visitors 20 yard line. Since about the 50 I had to stop once on each trip up. My knees were sore and I was tired. I finished the 20 and wanted to push on. I think I could have forced myself to do one more, I would have been breathing like daddy and my heart would have been pounding. I was nearing the 20 minutes and Allison would have come looking for me. So I was sensible for a change and stopped. Shocked, huh?

I'm going to do the steps at NCC, and keep doing ACE. Maybe I'll walk up to St. Luke's and do 8 floors. I'll be walking about 30 miles this long weekend. Maybe, just maybe, next week I can do the whole thing. A fat girl can dream.

Jarrod's Jems

Jarrod always went to charity basket bingo's. His favorite being his Boy Scout Troop Camp Association one at the Fearless. He rarely lost at bingo. In spring we were all at the basket bingo, calling on Jarrod's spirit for help (we rarely win). And someone said we should have a team name. Many were batted about and I'm not sure who picked Jarrod's Jems, but it stuck.

His cousin Mandy heard about the Heart Association Walk (http://heartwalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=296373) earlier in the summer. It was decided that Jarrod's Jems would be walking. I would be designing and walking. I knew the logo had to glittery, but not be girly, and it had to be black and green for his Eagles. I sent Bonnie the three choices. This is the one she picked. Actually Beth was here working on her Avon page (http://www.avonwalk.org/goto/bethsboobs ... it's funny) and helped me design it. We're going to put it on a white tee shirt, small over the left breast or maybe in the center between the girls. Decisions, decisions.

Beth & I will be walking, maybe as renegades. I don't want to, and cannot, raise more money. I still have $600 to go for the cancer walks. Bonnie will be walking, testing out those new knees. If you want to walk join us Sept 20 at the Industrial Park. It's level, blacktopped, and has limited traffic. Should be fun.

Jarrod's Jems are mom Bonnie, aunt Bev, gram Alice (bingo only...no octogenarians will be walking!), cousin Mandy, me, auntie Sharon and now Beth.

If looks could kill, I'd be in jail

I needed to get a doctors note to walk in the 3-Day. I anticipate I'll need one for the Avon also. So today I bit the bullet and went to the doc-in-a-box.

Now the doctor I liked there, Dr. Jones, left about a year ago. I've had this other guy I really didn't like. Last time, there was a young doctor, cute in a "Grey's Anatomy" kind-of way. He was nice, and mostly he listened. Which I find a rare trait in the medical profession.

So I called the doc-in-a-box this morning to see what his schedule was. I wanted to get him. He's on vacation all week. Crap. I need that excuse in the 3-Days hands by the 17th. So I took my chances and went today. Of course I got the guy I don't like.

My blood pressure was sky high, again. I have no idea why. I'm eating much better most of the time, and I'm exercising. My weight held at 238. But for some reason my BP continues to climb. So I waited in the room to be yelled at. I was not disappointed.

We walks in wearing a bowling shirt, pants and crocs. The ultimate in professional attire. He looks at the chart and then at me and says "Why did you stop taking your meds?"

Pardon me, doesn't a conversation start with hello?

"I take them faithfully."

"Then why is you BP so high?"

Excuse me, your the guy with the fancy degree, you tell me.

He decides to raise all my medication. This is totally the wrong direction. The whole reason I started walking, the whole reason I cut my Coke intake by 90%, the whole reason I started eating better was to lower my blood pressure. I'm not perfect, I know that, but I am working hard to get off the crap and it just keeps increasing.

But then the morning got worse. He asks me if there was another reason I came in today. Yeah, read the chart, the intake nurse wrote it down in detail. "Yeah, I'm doing the 3-Day and the Avon 2-Day and I need a doctors permit to walk."

With these numbers I don't think I can do that.

"Daggers" flew out of my eyes and across the room. If looks could kill, his crocs would be floating down the hall in a river of blood. I calmly explained how I've been training, blah, blah, blah. What I really wanted to say was I'll race you to the Wawa and if I win, I get the permission slip. It would have been a risk, he might be in better shape than I am. Though I don't think so.

Bottom line, I got my slips. I'll copy them and send them in tomorrow.

I had parked at BJs and walked to the doctors office. Then left there and crossed Airport Road to walk to AC Moore. The walk signal gets you almost halfway. The flashing hand about 85% across, then you run like heck before someone hits you. I timed it. Twenty seconds to get across a six-lane highway. Amazing.

Then I walked back to BJs, did my shopping, hiked back to the car and came home.

What the heck????

Today I got some really crappy news, again, from the doctor. So when that happens I head for junk food.

When I first found out I had high blood pressure it was a pizza. Today it was McDs. I had their new bacon Angus burger. It was good, and quite filling. Several hours later I'm still full. That, however, will not stop me from eating dinner. I am, if nothing else, an emotional eater.

So I ordered the food. I had a coupon for the Angus burger with a free medium fry and drink. Pat and I shared the fries. Pat took the Coke. I ate the burger, and she had a fillet of fish. Now I read an article recently about mandatory food labeling in states like New York, but I hadn't realize till today it was going mainstream.

Now, when I walked into McD's did I say to myself what healthy low fat choices do they have here? No. I wanted beef. Full fat greasy beef and fries. I was not looking for something healthy. I have NEVER walked into a restaurant of any kind looking for the healthy choice.

The McDs packaging had a full-blown Nutrition Facts on the bottom of the box, and a more graphically interesting version (the condensed version) on the side. That's what caught my eye as a designer.

What the heck? Is nothing sacred?

I read them today just because they were there. The calories disappointed me. I had bacon, cheese and beef and it was 790 calories. I would have thought it would be well over a thousand. About half were from fat. Shocking? Not really....beef, bacon and cheese. I'm surprised it wasn't more. The salt was high. That did surprise me.

Bottom line it was more or less what I expected. I didn't care. They could have those Facts printed as the wallpaper and I still wouldn't care. In Fact, if they were on the menu board I would probably look for the absolutely worse food, and order that. Just because I could.

Now I need to go get a Coke.

the worlds most expensive walking shoes

I went to Foot Solutions today to try on sneakers. wow, what a selection. I walked in and immediately saw the walking shoes. A fairly regular selection of ugly clunky sneakers, and then several very interesting ones. Some, like the Finn Comforts, didn't look like sneakers. They are after all, walking shoes.

I was greeted by Melody, a pedorthist. What is that you ask? I had no idea. I tried to look it up in the dictionary, but to no avail. So then I tried the web. Of course the first hit was Wikipedia. "A Certified Pedorthist, or C. Ped. is a specialist in using footwear - which includes shoes, shoe modifications, foot orthoses and other pedorthic devises - to solve problems in, or related to, the foot and lower limb." What did we ever do before the internet?

Anyway she asked a ton of question. I felt like I was at the foot doctor. Then she had me walk across the room, and I got on a machine which took a picture of my feet and how I stand. I said to her I should have brought my camera. She made me an extra print out. I've scanned it and it's above. The red dot's are maximum pressure on my feet. It's my heels so that's good. I apparently shift a lot of weight to my right foot. Now the young man on Sunday said I had flat feet. Her fancy computer said I had a medium arch on one foot and a high arch on the other. Whatever.

She measured me at a 10, but I tried on shoes from a 9.5 to 10.5 or 40-42 European.

The ones I was attracted to initially were Mephisto's. I knew immediately they wouldn't work. Then I tried on the Finn Comforts. They are German, with a replaceable footbed and fully repairable, so your shoes last a long, long time. They should, they cost a kings ransom...$275. I felt like I was trying on Jimmy Choos. She only had 41s which were too small. Even too small they were the most comfortable shoes I had ever had on my feet. Like my Birks, the foot bed will mold to your foot. And they have arch support.

I tried on the MBT Rockers. Boy was that weird. She said it passes after you get used to it. They, like the Skeetchers with a roll bar, are supposed to lift and tone and improve circulation, ect. (Both cost about $200 sense a trend?) We had looked at them last week in NYC on a bus stop billboard. I liked the Skeetchers, but I felt like I was walking out of them.

That happens a lot.

I also tried on some New Balance (A bargain at $110!). They were too small and they didn't have then next size up. But if I ultimately buy them, I'd get them from the New Balance store. They are a 3-day national sponsor. I might even get a discount.

All in all I tried on about 10 pair of shoes. I was there nearly an hour and a half. She ordered the Finn Comforts in my size, to try on.

When I was little, we didn't have much money. (Gee, some things never change.) But my mother always insisted on buying us good shoes. At least by the time I came along. "You only get one pair of feet", she'd say. "You have to take care of them". [She grew up wearing "relief" shoes. They were always the wrong size and her feet were a tangled mess of bunions, hammer toes, and arthritis. She wanted to spare us that. Although I think my eldest sister and brother may have worn "relief" shoes too.] So she'd scrape together money to buy us really good shoes. Every year before school started we'd get a new pair. The old pair was relegated to "play" shoes. Each pair was the same, just older. On Easter we'd get patent leather Mary Janes from the pre-cursor to Payless on Stefko Blvd. You'd wear them to church and come home and immediately take them off.

Enough memory lane. The question remains, do I dare I really spend that much money on one pair of shoes?

I don't know.

Mama?

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To see the super expensive and super comfortable Finn Comforts, click here: http://www.finncomfort.com/collections/prod_detail.aspx?style_sku=82736&name=Cusco