you're getting hail in p-town too? wow. what is happening in the ol' valley?

i've seen that a lot of folks in the newbie/basic training forums say that running outside is a lot harder than running on a treadmill. i guess that tells me that the hardest part of running for me is staying distracted, not focused! if i start running on the bike path here, go slow, and zone out on whatever, i think i could literally run all day. when i'm on the TM and there are all these numbers staring up at me, reminding me that i've only been running for fifteen seconds since the last time i looked down, it makes running more than an hour seem impossible.

fyi, i ran outside today.

Oh, that book looks great! I'm definitely going to check it out. Maybe I'll get lucky at Smith Family Bookstore and they'll have a used copy. Or I could call Powell's in a pinch.

I have another question for you or any other current or ex-Eugenian: where do you buy your running shoes in Eugene? I bought four pairs of a brand I liked forever ago (my feet are shaped really funny and so I knew I would want to stick with the shoe for a while), but now the final pair is really wearing out and I need to go to a good running store. I pass by that little RunPro place all the time but I went in there once and the guy kind of turned his nose up at me. He might have been in a hurry, but I was kind of turned off. Do you have any suggestions?

I need somebody patient, as I am an underpronator with high arches, long toes, and heel spurs, and, therefore, running shoe store guys hate me. But I like to buy local rather than off the 'net (which is why I am picking up the phone to call Smith Family right now!)

Tangent...........

Nike, Nike, Nike. That's tough. I have to admit that all through high school I ran in Nike shoes. I didn't know any better. There's no doubt that Nike makes shoes that fit my feet better than any other shoe I have found since.

They treat their workers badly, as do most of the large shoes companies. Nike is kind of in a class by itself though.

So what to do? I abhor their policies. I also abhor running in shoes that hurt my feet.

I'm not making any judgements about those who wear Nike gear. I mean, they fund my alma mater. I'm just on the lookout for good shoes made by folks who are treated fairly. Any ideas?

Hi Kate,

Are you going to Boston? I hope to qualify someday. I'm getting apprehensive about this Crater Lake thing. I ran 10 miles at 5,000 feet a few weeks ago and I thought I was going to pass out. I was huffing and puffing like mad. I won't have the time off to go a week ahead of time-- the most I'll be able to hope for is two or three days. I know I need to relax, it's in August, but altitude is such a wild card and not something I can really prepare for. I just need to be in really good shape, I guess.

Aaack. I need motivation. I've been thinking about running the Columbia Gorge Marathon in June as kind of a "warm-up."