Leap Year Virtual Run Race Re-Cap

Date:  February 29, 2012

Race:  Leap Year Virtual Run Race by Life As A Running Mom

Distance:  2.9 miles

Time:  29:57

Thanks to Life As A Running Mom for hosting my first virtual race of the year!  I've been looking forward to this race because not only was it a fun way to spend the extra day, but I also got to race in my Saucony Hattoris for the first time!

My time wasn't stellar, I've run a faster 5K than that, but that's ok.  I've been very cautious lately, running at a much slower pace, because I'm afraid PF will strike again, and I can't have PF with my half marathon in 2 weeks!  So I took off slow, but found myself going 8:45 at one point on my first mile, so I reeled myself back to a slower pace.  I did that at every mile, making sure I was not going too fast.  Is it the Hattoris that make me want to go fast?  Who knows.  Couldn't help but wonder what my pace would've been if I didn't have to reel myself in.  I'm just so scared about my PF getting worse 2 weeks before my half marathon!  But finding those paces in my Garmin and feeling good while running at those paces really had me intrigued.  (Patience, Marie, patience...)

I have to admit, I felt very free running in my Hattoris - like a kid running without a care in the world.  I'm really looking forward to running in them more, once I build up more miles in them.

I'm not sure why I picked a hilly course for this virtual race, but then again, it's so hard to avoid hills around here.  I had a blast, though!  Felt really good!  Thank you, Life As A Running Mom!  Check out her blog post to see who the winners are for this fun virtual race!

(Note:  I was not compensated in any way by Saucony for this mini review of their Hattoris.  I bought these pair of Hattoris myself and my opinions of them, thus far, are my own.)

Wordless Wednesday: Ode to My Hattori's

 

 

 

Day 1 With Saucony Hattori

 Do you like my new pair of pink running shoes?  I decided on this color for fun and, being in an all-boy house, I needed to have something pink and girly.

I love getting new running gear.  I bought a pair of these Saucony Hattori's back in January when the Running Warehouse had a huge sale.  For $30-, I could not resist.  I've wanted to explore and try minimalist running shoes and after running in Saucony Kinvaras for 7 months now (and loving it),  the Hattori's were a natural progression for me, and the timing price-wise could not have been more perfect.  So I'm going from a 4mm heel to toe lift (Kinvaras) to now 0mm (Hattori's).

I thought this would be a great time to start getting used to running in these Hattori's because I'm currently coaching a Couch-to-5k running group 3x a week.  We are on Week 4, Day 1 of the C25k plan, and the jog/ walk ratio is the perfect pace for me to slide into these shoes gradually.  My goal is to run the 5k race in March in these shoes.  I won't be going at race pace, since I'll be cheering my running group at their pace, but I'm hoping it would be a safe intro to running races in them.  I can't wait!

Why am I trying the Hattori's?  I'm so tired of getting injured!!  Currently I have PF (plantar fasciitis).  Again.  It's frustrating especially when you have a 14k race this weekend.  Argh.  Reading Christopher McDougall's Born To Run definitely pushed me into this direction to try minimalist shoes.  So I'm willing to try these out especially if it would mean less (or no) injuries!  I'm going to stick with my Kinvaras for the longer/faster runs, and use these Hattori's only for my C25k runs for now.  So excited!

I had to use the Shoe Fitr over at the Running Warehouse to figure out my size.  I wear a Size 7.5 in the Kinvaras and according to the Shoe Fitr, I'm an 8.5 in Hattori's so they run small.  I really like the fit.  It fits like a sock.  It's not constricting or tight at all, and I have wide feet.  They're meant to be worn without socks which I was a bit nervous about because I blister easily, but there are no seams inside the shoe.  So far so good.  In my first run today in them, they felt comfortable.  It felt like I was running in slippers!  

Do you wear minimalist running shoes?  Which ones and how do you like them?  Or are you interested in trying out these type of shoes?  

(Note:  I bought these Hattori's and was not compensated in any way to blog about them.  Thoughts about them are my own only).