Shoes

I need new running shoes. I bought these at the beginning of this year, and when I purchased them, they were shiny and pretty and full of bounce. But now the shine has been reduced to a mere glimmer and the bounce has bounced itself out. The soles are getting worn, and there's paint splattered across the toes.

However, I can't get new shoes yet because I can't afford them right now. I have other costs weighing on my mind, and something responsible tells me it's more important to pay the phone bill than to buy yourself a new pair of running shoes. So I'll have to make this pair last a little longer.

It would be better if running shoes weren't so expensive; it's a bit ridiculous considering how long they last you. One of the reasons I got into running as a hobby was because it was relatively inexpensive. You just need shoes and clothes, and you're good to get out there and run. But once you start to get into the sport, it turns out that is just a trick to get you interested. Becasue shoes are spendy, and you're supposed to buy new ones every six months or so; the clothes can also be pricey (at least the fashionable, non-chaffing clothes), but at least they last longer; inevitably, there's the newest music product to buy, and they don't come cheap; and lastly, if you want to compete, there's the dozens of races to register for, each one costing you some pocket change.

For me, and for many others, there is also the gym membership, which is slightly superfulous, but at the same time, absolutely necessary for maintaing a workout schedule. So that in the end, staying in shape really adds up. And running to stay fit is expensive, despite claims from its proponents that it is an every-person sport.

Yet, I also know that I have to stop comparing myself to others I see at the gym or on the race course who look so much more like runners than I do. Someday, I too will sport stylish shoes with plenty of cushion and cute shorts to match. My hair will actually fit back into a neat pony tail or long braid, and my earplugs for the MP3 player will sit snugly in my ears as I run. I will be put together, pretty. Oh yeah, and I'll also run well.

When pigs fly.