Here we are at the last Friday of the month! Unlike October-December, when I want time to slow down, I’m always happy to see January end. Let’s move right along to February and get the year officially started off right.
But first, I’m joining Marcia for runfessions. Yep, I have a few!
On Sunday I had my last long long run of this training cycle (there will be another “short” long run before the official taper.) I ran 26 miles, and I runfess that I was so glad to be done, it didn’t even occur to me to run the extra .2.
However, I give myself credit for a marathon, because at one point I stopped my watch to cross a busy street, and ran for a few minutes before I remembered to start it again. When I say I “give myself credit,” I mean I mentioned it to my husband about a dozen times: “Oh, could you bring me my tea? I ran a marathon today, you know.” (YES. I KNOW.)
I’ll also runfess that I’m ready for this taper. My feet have been especially achy lately. I thought the issue might be fixed with new shoes, so I went to REI to get another pair of the Altra FWD’s. They carry the men’s version in black, but the women’s only in white. When I asked if there were any other color choices, the woman said “Yes, online there’s a light gray and purple option. We could order it for you, if you’d like.”
YES, I would like! I would like that very much! Those are my colors. But it was the night before my long run and I really wanted new shoes right away, so I opted to buy the ones they had in the store.
The last thing I’ll runfess is that on my long run, I re-listened to two old episodes of the Florida Trail Runners podcast that recap the race I’m doing (Forgotten Florida) from previous years, and I succeeded in scaring myself thoroughly. There was a lot about water, knee-deep mud, and people getting lost. ACK! Well… I wanted a trail adventure! It sounds like I’m going to get one.
White/peach or light gray/purple- which would you choose?
Are you ready for January to end?
Header photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash
40 Responses
Let’s see…I’d go with the gray shoes because gray>white for staying the original color, but the peach/white combo is cute. Although if you’re really going to be facing knee deep mud I guess it doesn’t matter lol. How many shoes do you go through a year? The purple can be a treat for after the race.
I ran 13.2 miles for both of my virtual halfs in 2020 – I rounded up a bit over 13.1 since “real” race courses are almost always long. I remember so well how looooooong the final 0.2 miles felt – so I don’t blame you for calling it good at 26.00!
Ha ha, that’s a great point- after this race all shoes will look the same. I’ll get the purple and gray ones in a couple months!
I totally would go for the light grey/purple shoes as well! And yes I am SO ready for January to be DONE. You know how I don’t like to wish away time, but still. Congrats on the MARATHON!
Thanks Marcia. Yes, you’ve had an especially rough month. Time for it to be over!
Congrats on your last long long run.
I bought the grey purple. I wore them when I fell so I haven’t put them on since. lol.
We are getting an rei store here. Excited.
I love REI! That’s funny you were wearing the grey/purple version when you fell- maybe they’re cursed and it’s good I went with the white.
I would go with the gray/purple though I runfess that I usually go for the brightest colorways for my running shoes, which is one reason I like Hoka because they have so many colorful options!
Your race sounds like it’ll be quite the adventure! Knee deep mud? Our trails have actually been kinda muddy here this week after we got some rain but I can’t even imagine super deep mud! But it’s exciting that it’s only a few weeks away now!
Yes, I’m cautiously starting to get excited about this race. And about Hokas- I was wearing and loving the Cliftons, but I felt like every year they got more and more narrow in the toe box, which I didn’t love. That’s why I switched.
I would probably go with whatever was not white, although I am not a huge fan of purple. However, I usually go for whatever color is on sale, so have had some pretty ugly running shoes over the years. Luckily I couldn’t care less and most of the time they get dirty so fast that they all end up brown/grey anyway! I used to run circles in the parking lot if my run came to 9.8 so I could have a round number of miles, but now I am just happy to still be able to run 9.8 miles and don’t really care if it is an even 10. I think 26 can be called a marathon if you want to call it that! You are the boss of your own miles.
Thank you Kyria! Okay, it was a marathon : )
You’re right- these white shoes will probably be gray by next week anyway.
Chalk that baby up as a marathon!
I think the white/peach is a very pretty color combination as long as they’re clean, but we both know that won’t happen with any sneakers, especially trail shoes. Sooo…
Yes, they won’t be clean for long! I think white is a dumb color for any running shoe, but in the end I don’t really care as long as they’re comfortable.
Like you, I’d probably go with what they had in stock, but it is a bummer when you can’t get a color you like.
Congrats on running that marathon distance — I have no doubt you covered 26.2!
We start a new fiscal year on Feb 1 for work, so January is year-end with Feb starting the new year for me for real!
Ha! So it IS a thing! Or, I’m making it into a thing- the new year starts Feb. 1st.
Woo hoo! A marathon (and then some). So proud of you Jenny and enjoy this taper – you earned it!!!!
You know I love purple and grey, so that would be my first choice, but I think the peach ones are a great colour too!
I WILL get the purple and gray version eventually, and I’ll be sure to post a picture!
You ran a marathon by yourself with no support or cheering fans! You rock my friend.
True, there were definitely no cheering fans (only honking cars. Not honking in a good way though.) Thanks Deborah!
Light grey / purple are my colors, too! I am so impressed with your practicality having the long run the next day. I have to say “Oh, could you bring me my tea? I ran a marathon today, you know.” is such a FLEX and you should use it for more than just tea – that is AMAZING!!
Ha ha, oh I did use it for quite a few things that day. Imagine what I’ll be like after my race!
Nice work on that 26 ultra (I’m guessing you probably surpassed the 26.2 distance with the extra running you mentioned). As for the shoes… I have been known to swap out the laces for something brighter, or even use a brightly-colored Sharpie to enhance the sole of the shoe 🙂
I’m not sure I want anything brighter than these peach laces! I’m also not artistic like you, so I wouldn’t go near my shoes with a sharpie.
Haha, the things the husbands of running wives have to endure!
The one thing about that podcast on your ultra that would freak me out is the “getting lost” part.
Can you download the route on to your Garmin, just to be sure?
Yes, they actually require you to download a GPX file. I don’t know exactly how to do that, but I guess I will learn!
Wait, no other choices than white and light gray? LOL! I guess it would have to be gray. But after a few runs you will now have beige instead of white 😉 Enjoy your taper!
Thank you Lisa! Yes, these shoes will be grey after my next trail run.
All of the color choices sound kind of bad if you don’t want your shoes to look terribly dirty fast! I did have to buy some peach colored Hokas last summer but they don’t look too bad. But I much preferred my magenta colored ones from the previous year.
Congrats on running 26 miles! That is a LONG run and to think that is just a training run and just over half of what you’ll run in that race. Gah. I can’t imagine.
I am ready for January to be over, too. I’m always glad when Jan and Feb are over becuase they are my least favorite months, even though my bday is in February. It’s usually very cold here during those months and I struggle w/ the cold!
Yes, January-February were definitely my least favorite months up north.
I think I had those same peach hokas (were they Cliftons?) I wore them for one trail run and they were trashed.
No mine are called Mach 4s. I don’t know anyone who wears them. Seems like most wear Cliftons. I don’t know if I tried those on!
I would go with the light gray/ purple! I know you are going to do well at your race! Hopefully you will find someone around your pace that you can run “with,” a buddy system of sorts! I am excited to hear all about it after you have finished 🙂
Gray/purple would have definitely been my choice, but I understand why you couldn’t wait… however, don’t you have a grace period to take shoes back? Just a thought 🙂
Covering the marathon distance without the fanfare of a race is amazing! You are more than ready for your race – can’t wait to hear how it goes!
You ran a marathon!!!!! You are such a superstar, Jenny. I admire you and your dedication to this sport so much.
Love the new shoes! I would probably have picked the grey/purple also because I love those colors, but I like the ones you ended up with! I hope they help with the foot pain.
I couldn’t agree more about January! It’s a non-month in so many ways. Just a long transition between Christmas and almost spring (if you’re in Ireland, that is)! Now I ended January with being sick with the flu. Just says it all!
Light colours are so not my colours. I have a white nice tunic that goes well with dark skinny jeans or leggings, otherwise I always, always choose darker colours. Grey/purple would be my thing on those shoes. I love the dark purple of my Altra Lone Peaks!
I hope your feet get back to normal asap.
A marathon! WAY TO GO!! And yes, I’m glad you lived up that “I just ran a marathon” mentality with your husband. Hahaha.
Ooh, I love a colorful running shoe! Gray/purple is a great color combo!
I am laughing at you not giving yourself credit for a marathon but HOLY HECK . . . you ran so long. I say fudge away.
Bummer about the shoes but I agree if you are gonna be in knee deep mud, might not matter much. I steer clear of white shoes bc I expect they wont stay that color for long.
EEEK! I hope you love this next adventure! I know you’re going to do great, but I’m not about all the mud!
I NEVER buy white running shoes if I can help it. But I also understand if you need shoes immediately. In that case, I might have bought the men’s… my foot is big enough that I can usually wear either kind. I have absolutely bought the men’s shoes before if I like the color better.
I like purple, but if they’re just going to get dirty, eh. You do what you gotta do.
If I ran 26 miles, you would find me curled up in the fetal position for the next fifteen days, so congrats! You are doing such amazing training for this race.
You know I”m a purple people eater, but the peach is pretty.
You’ve got this!
February is almost here! And I’m here for it 🙂