Top Gear: It's gotta be the shoes.

Gear. You can’t undertake any endeavor without first getting cool gear. For us Woggers that means we run a fine line. There is lots of cool stuff out there but we don't want to be "That guy." Also, I don’t know that a Wogger needs the same stuff that an Olympic Marathoner does. But there are a few things we do need and first and foremost that would be shoes.

Who knew shoe buying could be so complicated? I mean they’re shoes. They’ve been around for a long time. Yet shoe buying today seems to require some sort of advanced degree. Or so the other magazine who shall not be named will make you think.

Oh, I’ve read their “Shoe Issue” and learned all about pronation, heal strike, arch height, blah blah blah. Now look, I’m not saying these things aren’t important. They are. But what I am saying is that I don’t have to be the one to make the critical reads of my foot. I am not going to measure anything. I am not going to videotape myself Wogging to study how my heal strikes and my foot rolls. But that’s ok, because someone else will.

I got fitted for a pair of shoes in high school by the dude at Footlocker “random mall shoe store”. And it was fine. But upon reflection, someone dressed up like a referee that’s not a) a referee or b) at a Halloween party, should not be taken as a great authority. So what you need to do is find a really good shoe store. I went to “Luke’s Locker” and was very happy. I have heard good things about “On the Run.” I also like the margaritas at “On the Border” but that’s a different story. If you are unsure where to go, ask that person at the gym that lives for working out and running. Just try not to end up at the mall with referee guy fitting you because he’s probably concerned more with how to pick up the girl at the Pretzelmaker than he is with how your shoe fits.

And it is important to get a good fitting shoe. As I said, I got fitted in high school. So when I decided to do the San Antonio ½ marathon last year I went to some place  where I could fit myself and save a few bucks (I won’t say their name but it rhymes with Bacademy). I got the same type shoe I wore in high school. Guess what, my waist ain’t the same size as it was 20 years ago and neither is my foot. So I Wogged my little heart out at that ½ and Wogged three toenails off at the same time. So I bit the bullet, paid non-bacademy prices, got my shoes fitted and Wogged another ½ in March of this year and had no problems whatsoever. So go ahead, gear up. Learn all you want about shoe-science. But remember, someone else is learning this stuff so you don’t have to.

Alright my Wogging friends. It’s time for me to go. I will be back  Monday to let you know how training went this week. And remember, it’s a Wogger’s World out there. So let’s stand united. Well, let’s not stand too much because we’re trying to get in shape.

In the beginning ...

So, here I am on Monday morning (late Monday Morning) about to begin my training for the San Antonio 1/2 Marathon on Sunday November 13th. And by about to begin my training I mean sometime today.

I am not a morning person. In high school I would run in the pre-dawn hours but that was only because the coach said I had to. Now that I am an adult ( I wonder when I am going to starting acting like one?) I can make my own choices. And I choose not to work out inthe mornings. Unfortunately I have also used all this power to spend the last 20 years eating horrible (or eating awesomely depending on the viewpoint) and not exercising. Oh I would walk from my desk to the printer from time to time but that was about it. But now it’s belling-tolling time. As in :For whom the Bells Tolls? It tolls for Dan.

And there is a lot of tolling that needs to take place. I currently weigh 200 and blah blah pounds. I need to get in the 160 / 170 range. That means I need to lose ... Ha! you thought you could trick me into saying how much I need to lose and then add it to the 170 number to get the two blah blah number. Fat chance. Get it? Fat. I digress. Basically I need to lose enough weight to build a pre-teen.

But it's more than just losing weight. I do want to eat better. I want to feel better. I want to live a good long time. Also, when I ran cross country in high school, I found running to be meditative and fun. The problem is that while I was not in great shapre my freshman year I was not fat and 20 years out of shape. Hell, I wasn't even 20 years old. So that is one reason I have created the blog.

To surround myself with people who could encourage me. I need you all to keep me honest and motivated. In return, I will try to inspire you and most importantly entertain you. So each Monday you will get a report on how the training is going. On Thursdays you will get musings about the World of Wogging. So what's up with my training? Today I am starting a plan given by Runner's World to be ready for a 1/2 Marathon in 10 weeks. Since I am, in the words of Gunnery Sgt. Hartmann from Full Metal Jacket, a disgusting fat body, I reckon I will need more than 10 weeks. Ha. So here is the Week One plan:

Monday: Rest (I like it already)

Tuesday: 3 miles

Wednesday Rest (here I assume rest to mean not move because I just wogged 3 miles on Tuesday)

Thursday: 3 miles

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 3 miles

Sunday: 5 miles (ugh)

Wow! and that's Week 1.

I will let you know how it goes. I am trying to figure out how to link a workout log from the website Running Ahead so you can watch me train and see if I can figure out how to give you all access to the log so you can use it too. Also, I will have a new poll question up in a few days. Thanks for all the love. I hope you have a wonderful week and I will see you all on Thursday. Remember to keep Wogging out there; It's a Wogger's World!