The Beginning of Freedom

Ending school and starting back up my blogging hobby required a change of scenery, and background. Some would accuse me, especially after considering my background choice, as being a shopping addict. That would be a relatively correct accusation. Paying my way through school the last 3 years has put quite a damper on that particular hobby. This is not to say that we weren't financially cared for. Adam's job does a good job of that. It just meant that those extra $$s that I used to have freedom to spend were sent in a different direction. So on and off, ok more on than off, I've been making a mental list of things that I'd really like to get once I finished school and had a little extra cash. As you can imagine, the list got longer and longer. It included new hiking shoes, possibly a new pair of Keens, or other shoes of choice, a new coach bag, and few other things. For those out there who make a hobby of looking for faults in others, you might call this a possession obsession, or love of money. I'm not gonna lie, I like to shop, and I like to buy things, but this particular buildup I justify as a reward for all of those months, days, hours, and minutes spent frying my brain on the computer. 

My recent freedom, or soon to be complete freedom from Kaplan's finance department has led to a rather giddy couple of shopping trips. The first was to invest in a new pair of running shoes. Those who followed my blog before the last interlude remember that I took up running a few months ago. The shoes I was using I've literally had since I was 14. They still have paint stains on them from my academy Guatemala trip, senior year. Needless to say, they are a little old and in need of replacement. Add to this the fact that my knee has been bothering me since I started running, I was quite ready to look for a new pair of shoes. 

My search started at one of the local stores in town. After trying on several pairs, and observing their limited selection, I went across the street to a different shoe store. There I found a wider selection. An add in a sports magazine opened my eyes to the concept of "barefoot" running. This concept seeks to go back to the way we were intended to run: without shoes. I'm usually game to try something new, so I asked to try a pair of Merrell Barefoot shoes on. I found that they were really comfortable. The lady then showed me another line of barefoot footwear, called fivefingers, by vibram. They are those funny shoes with cutouts for all of the toes. I was a little skeptical, but I tried a pair on. I was surprised by how comfortable they felt. I tried on a different pair and fell in love. This is what they look like. 

Yes, I know. They're funny looking. I get that. But I don't want to hear it until you try a pair on. It wasn't just the comfort I was sold on, though. The concept of barefoot running was also intriguing. These shoes get runners to land on their midfoot instead of the heal. This process strengthens the the foot muscles to be able to absorb the shock, so the heal and knee joints don't have to. This post has already become rather lengthy, so I'll save my experience with these shoes for later. :) 

As for my other shopping trips, I recently acquired the Merrell Barefoots that I originally tried on, more for walking than running, and a small coach purse, which was very reasonably on sale. :) With the shopping dragon fueled, I'm ready to enjoy our upcoming vacation. :)