The Wet Test

This morning I finally did the "Wet Test." It's something I've seen mentioned in Runner's World for years now. I've had a subscription to Runner's World for a very long time and these days I always let out a little sigh when I pull it out of my mailbox. Oh... I wish I was still a runner! I try to convince myself I am a runner "on hold" for the time being. Still, I have continued the subscription. I let my subscription to Triathlete Magazine run out about 6 months ago. Hopefully someday I will be able to start it up again, but right now it's too hard to look at it each month and then see the annual Road to Ironman issue. Hey, if I'm 80 when I do my first Ironman, well, so be it. I've realized there is no deadline on a race, so I haven't given up hope.

Back to the Wet Test. I'm sure I've mentioned this in a past blog, but every six months, or maybe a little more often, Runner's World publishes a running shoe recommendation article. Sometimes it's simply a new shoe guide, other times it's trail running shoes or track shoes. The latest version in the December issue is the "Winter Shoe Guide." Within each of these articles, they always include instructions for a Wet Test, a way you can determine what type of foot you have; Low, Flexible Arches, Normal-Arched, or High, Rigid Arches. Depending on your foot type, different levels of low to high stability shoes are recommended. I have known for quite some time that I have high arches, although I had not actually done the Wet Test until today. Here are my results:



If I ever had any doubt about having high arches, wow, it became even more clear here! This is where I get confused though. Early on in my running experience, running shops, podiatrists, and physical therapists all put me in higher and higher stability shoes based on my minor aches and pains at the time. The Runner's World Wet Test states: "High, Rigid Arches need more impact protection. These Runners do best in neutral-cushioned shoes." I wonder... have I ever been put in the correct shoes for my body?

I mentioned the Runner's World shoe recommendation for my high arches to my last physical therapist back in January of this year and she said, "OK, try more cushioned shoes." Huh? This was after years before the she put me in the high end of stability (not motion control) shoes after I did one of those tests where they video tape you running on a treadmill to check the pronation of your feet. Usually people with high arches supinate, meaning the opposite of pronate (where your feet turn in towards each other when you walk or run). I am a high-arched pronator, which seems to be an unlikely combination. All of this makes me think that no one really knows what shoes are best for me. Yet again, I'm on my own and need to figure it out for myself. Maybe I need something to keep my feet from pronating (such as an arch support shoe insert), COMBINED with a shoe with extra cushion. Hmm... maybe I'm on to something here! Based on this, I'm considering that my next new pair of running shoes are going to be neutral-cushioned. It's another one of those "worth a try" situations.

Walking Tall

I've decided it's time to get back to some serious walking. After I met with Dr. Dye, over a month ago now, I have been somewhat at a loss as what to do for exercise. He didn't give me any restrictions, he simply told me surgery was likely the next step for me. It's up to me decide if and when I undergo surgery and that is still something I am mulling over. In the meantime, I have barely been breaking a sweat at all. Between a crazy work schedule, which has not lent to any lunchtime walks, and being unsure what I should and should not do, my focus has been far away from a workout. 

Last week I kicked off a new regimen of walking. One morning, I chose to walk the first segment of my commute to work rather than my bus-to-underground Muni routine. It took about 35 minutes and, as usual, I underestimated the hills in San Francisco. Going up was a bit of a leg burner, but going down was worse. Next time I do this, I will not choose Clay as my street of choice. A steep downhill is supposed to be worse on my knee than going up, so my route needs to be diverted for a slightly less knee-pounding path. Still, I had a very nice view of the city. Enjoy! 

Optimistic and Proud

I am optimistic about so many things lately. I started this blog to track the progress of my recovery from knee surgery and I try to continue to make it a focus of my latest news. As I always say, I hope someday my knee will heal and I will be able to exercise like a normal person again. But my feeling of optimism does not end there and my blog is lately more about life in general. Of course, being forced to veer away from my former competitive/athletic lifestyle has been a disappointment, but no matter what happens with my knee, I'm moving on with my life. I am grateful to have a job I love that has growth potential and I am happy to have close friends and a wonderful family. I cannot say there aren't things in my life that are missing, but overall I know I don't have it so bad.

My optimism over the last few days is for our country. I'm not one to get into politics much, but I have so much more hope for America since we elected our new President, Barack Obama. I'm writing this as a person who grew up in a very conservative household and as someone that still holds onto old fashioned values. I consider myself the fiscally conservative, but socially liberal type so sometimes it's hard to decide where my priorities lie. I'm sorry Mom and Dad, but I have not always voted as a Republican. My vote depends on who is running for office and the state of our country at that time. This year I was undecided until the time I filled out my ballot. In the end, I voted for John McCain. This was mostly out of respect for a great man who unfortunately had his best time to be elected President pass him by 8 years ago. It was not as if I felt my vote wouldn't count, but this year especially I knew the electoral votes for California would go to the Democrats. Also, in poor economic times, statistically the Presidency does not go to the incumbent party. People want change and that is understandable. I am one of those people too.

My personal opinion is that no matter how a person voted in this election, whether staunch conservative, far right liberal or independent, we all should be optimistic and proud. Tuesday night, when I was watching the election coverage on television, just after 8:00 PM PST there was a brief pause on the NBC station I was watching. Barack Obama's image flashed up onto the screen as our "ELECTED" President of the United States. For me, it was as if time stopped for a moment. Right then and there the world changed and history was made. I get all choked up thinking about it. At first, it seemed that people were in disbelief. As hard as Obama's supporters campaigned for him, I'm not sure if all of them felt he could actually win. It was uncharted territory. Could an African-American ever be elected President of the United States? YES, yes he can and it was about time! I feel this historical event is not just about African-Americans or Democrats, it is monumental for every American. Regardless of race, gender, political party, or economic background, anything is possible. It was about time the mold was broken. Enough of the "white guys" holding the highest office in the land. Becoming the President of the United States is now a real possibility for any U.S. born citizen. Who knows, maybe even the "U.S. born" rule will go by the wayside someday in the future.

I'll step off my soap box now. I just felt as if I needed to comment about the significance of the last few days. It's going to be a hard road ahead for President Obama. This would have been the case for anyone elected at this time. I simply hope we all have a little optimism in our lives now. If anything, for an upturn in our economy and for the well being of our men and women in the military. It may take some time, but things will get better.

Sophisticated, Yet Youthful

This was my favorite comment on my new haircut. I got my hair, as I say, "chopped" a week and a half ago. Someone else said to me, "You look like a different person!" I'm not sure what to think about that, but overall I like my new haircut a lot. My hair had been long and straight for years as it was convenient to pull it back in a ponytail and out of my face when running, biking or swimming. Lately though I was growing impatient of the work it took to dry and straighten long hair. I just dreaded getting ready in the morning. I decided it was time to try a shorter hairstyle again.

I've had short hair before. The shortest cut in my memory being (besides my Dorothy Hamil haircut in the 4th grade) my shaggy, flippy cut similar to Meg Ryan's hair in "You've Got Mail." A man had once followed me around a mall in Salt Lake City thinking I was Meg Ryan. It was funny, but creepy at the same time.

As soon as I have a photo of my new haircut, I'll post it. For now, my hair is a layered "bob" style cut a little longer than chin length. It now takes me about 10 minutes to do my hair from drying through straightening or curling. Yay! It's so much easier. We'll see how my new haircut reacts to the upcoming cold/rainy weather in San Francisco though. Hopefully it won't turn into a short, frizzy mess! I'll have to get some tips from my sister Meg. She had her hair cut to about the same length a few months back. We're back to being twins. ; )

Tagged

Morgan Territory recently tagged me for a meme. Up until this point, I didn't know anything about memes, but I guess it's a "blogger" thing. Does that make me a legitimate blogger? Cool.

All the answers to this meme need to be just one word. This should be interesting...

1. Where is your cell phone? table
2. Where is your significant other? none
3. Your hair color? blond
4. Your mother? practical
5. Your father? planner
6. Your favorite thing? hummus
7. Your dream last night? confusing
8. Your dream/goal? companionship
9. The room you’re in? office
10. Your hobby? running
11. Your fear? loneliness
12. Where do you want to be in six years? family
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you’re not? running
15. One of your wish list items? healing
16. Where you grew up? California
17. The last thing you did? email
18. What are you wearing? sweater
19. Your T.V.? CNN
20. Your pet? passed
21. Your computer? Mac
22. Your mood? optimistic
23. Missing someone? niece
24. Your car? Jeep
25. Something you’re not wearing? coat
26. Favorite store? Gapinc
27. Your Summer? busy
28. Love someone? hope
29. Your favorite color? teal
30. When is the last time you laughed? morning
31. Last time you cried? Sunday

I’m going to tag A at Annetics and J at Hawaii Adventure.