Friday, May 8, 2009

The Hidden Miles

I keep track of the mileage on my shoes. Right now my red 2130s have 257 miles on them and my Kayano 14s have 256…or do they!?! I’ve been thinking about all of the hidden ‘miles’ on my shoes. For example, I first put my running shoes on in the locker room. I walk from there to the stretching area, walk around to get some water, back to the stretching area, then head outside (occasionally to the restroom first), and then I turn on Garmin the Great. My runs rarely end at the front door, but GtG stops as quickly after the number of miles I’m scheduled to run—usually an additional .01. But then I walk to the gym, to the stretching area…you get the point. When I do intervals, the clock stops but I walk around a bit as I try to recover…more unaccounted for steps.

So, like many Dominican baseball prospects, my shoes have more mileage on them than their official records show.

Why is this important? Where do those hidden miles go?* Isn’t the additional mileage on my shoes likely to be a mile, maybe four at absolute maximum over the course of their lifetime? Good point. Alas, this is what I fret over during taper.

______

“It’s rude to count people as you pass them. Out loud.”
---Adidas ad

* Do they hang out with Bigfoot in the Hidden Valley eating carrots with delicious ranch dressing?

4 comments:

Amy said...

Oh jeez, thanks for giving me something else to think about...

And you forgot to mention all the extra mileage at races. Walking to and from your car a few times, checking in, the walking you do after the race while you munch on bananas and wait for the awards.

Nitmos said...

You know what's weird? I once had a pair of 2120's - and I keep meticulous track just like you - that had 312 miles on the right shoe and 288 miles on the left. You can imagine how awkward it was to even those miles up over the next few runs.

Irish Cream said...

HA. I am dying over here about the Bigfoot/Hidden Valley comment. But seriously, that's something to think about, isn't it? Lord knows there have been times when I've, say, walked to the grocery store or to the corner bodega after a run. In fact, I have to walk upwards to 2 miles to get to and from most races in NYC. And what if you're standing on the subway? Does that affect your mileage? Good grief--listen to me! And I'm not even in taper yet!

Ms. V. said...

You have too much time on your hands, my friend. How about watching the Dodgers/Giants tonight? Keep your mind off the taper?

Ha.