What do your shoes say about you?

Tues – Run 3 mi and Gym

Wed – Swim 45 mins

I thought the run went well yesterday, as I felt pretty strong throughout. Again I'm having no problems on the right side, and I'd put the left at 90% throughout: no pain, but not as strong as I'd like. But towards the end of work and into the evening, things on the left side were feeling a little aggravated. I don't want to do the yo-yo routine I keep falling into of building up then stopping completely, so any aggravation at all is a sign to slow things down now. It's still early in the new strength routine I started, so it could just be a matter of my body not quite being ready for 3 miles. Patience is very difficult for me, and I feel like just because I've been doing the strength work, results should be instantaneous, even though I'm smarter than that and know it takes time for strength work to kick in. Depending on how things feel the rest of they day, I’m either going to shorten the run tomorrow, or scratch it completely if things are the same as last night.

I made it 4 laps this morning using my new 3 strokes/1 breath routine. I think I'm getting a little faster as well (not because I'm actively swimming faster, but because I think I'm struggling less than I use to).

Gym Commentary: I find one of the easiest ways to categorize someone at the gym is to just look at their shoes. I'd say most normal people wear your typical running shoe. That's pretty much what you'd expect. Just to let you know, this is what various shoes tell me:

Basketball Shoes – I am in High School or College. I come to the gym to get "big." Tonight I am going out with my friends and we are going to get soooo wasted. Awesome.
Bike Shoes – I am a hardcore biker. And even though these are impossible to walk in, I am still going to do leg presses with them on. So everyone knows I am a biker. And hardcore. Look at my calves.
Sandals – I am a tool. (Note: I have never seen anyone in the gym wearing sandals who was deserving of any respect. No exceptions*. Do not wear sandals to the gym. And no it doesn't help to wear both socks and sandals. And yes, this is a huge pet peeve.)
Pumas (or other designer sneakers) – I'm not going to lift anything heavy or else I might sweat, and that's not good for my Juicy sweatpants. I will be spending most of my time in the stretching room doing ab work in just my sports bra. My boobs are huge. And fake.
Solid White New Balance – I am a 70-year-old man. (No other possible interpretations).
Converse sneakers - I don't take this seriously, but I'm still going to life some weights so my girlfriend won't leave me for one of those guys in the basketball shoes. I'm listening to Emo on my ipod right now. I'm deep.

So I guess the moral of the story is, if you aren't wearing something which could be classified as a "running shoe" and you cross my field of vision at the gym, know that I am totally judging you.

*Ok, only exception is if you are going straight to Yoga class and leaving straight afterwards. Don't decide you are going to lift some weights last minute. Just don't do it.