Adjustathon

No one told me that I needed time to adjust to new shoes but you know what, even if they had told me, I would not have done it because I'm difficult like that.

Saucony Kinvara 4s have a toe to heel drop of 4mm. Apparently that is rather low and apparently one should alternate with old shoes to make sure one's body adjusts.

Pfffft. My old shoes were too small and there is no way I am wearing those again. Never ever. Not for running.

So then. Sure, the first two runs last week were fine. My calves hurt a little. The third run on Thursday was more painful but I had a whole day to recover so pfft, fine.

The weather was perfect for an Irish summer day on Saturday. I was hot but whatever because summer! Summer in Ireland! What is this mythical summer thing that I have not seen in eight years?

Summer happened and a 12km run happened. I used to live in this nice area called Clontarf. Clontarf is on the Clontarf bay and there is a walkway with a wide strip of grassland along it for a stretch of several kilometers. On a good day it's rather popular.

It was a good day. Sailboats on water, people on grass. Dogs running, people running, people walking, cycling, reading, sleeping on the grass. A dude boxing an invisible opponent, not too many kids running around.

I really should have taken pictures but the picture-taking device was strapped to my arm, GPSing away.

I find it easier to run on a dirt trail but for most of my runs I have to make do with pavement. I have pavement right outside my door, why should I bother to drag my ass farther?

What I'm trying to say is, it could have been worse. I may have had to run my 12k on pavement. But I didn't because actual grass grows in Clontarf and indeed the nicer areas of Dublin, whether plebes are allowed on it or it taunts us from a respectable distance in tiny front gardens.

The last 7k were painfully painful but my calves are almost all right by now, Monday afternoon. It's just muscle pain and as the muscles are stretching and getting stronger, I expect the problem to be gone by the end of this week.

But yes, you should alternate shoes if you buy new ones that are different from your old ones. Unless you are hard and stubborn like me in which case, enjoy the pain.

Oh, oh! Big news! I got a tan. An actual tan! I look slightly toasted. It's amazing because Ireland gets sun for about an hour each month, no joke.