Running in my New Shoes

My new running shoes....I feel like Pete the Cat.
If you haven't read a Pete the Cat book you should.  

     I am running in my new shoes today!!!  Every year for our insurance we need to complete two wellness activities.  Every summer they do a fitbit challenge.  If you get a certain number of steps a week your name goes into a drawing for a gift certificate to a local running store and I was the winner of week number 1!!!  The day I found out I won I had been thinking about how I really needed new running shoes, but didn't really want to fork over the money for it.  Although it didn't pay for the entire cost of the shoes it did cover the majority of it.  When I was getting ready to go for my run this morning I was convinced they were going to make me run faster just like Benny in "The Sandlot" does when he puts on his new PF Flyers to try and get the ball back from the beast!!!  By the way...if you haven't seen the Sandlot you really should.  While I didn't set any records today...I did improve from 1.99 miles on Monday to 2.42 miles today...not sure if the new shoes had anything to do with that or not...but I'll go with it.
     My running journey started about 4 years ago.  It has been inconsistent at best.  I had foot surgery the summer I turned 39 and didn't do much exercise of any sort.  The summer after I turned 40 I decided that running was something I really had to try.  I was great that summer, but once school started I had a really hard time sticking with it.  The last two summers running has been almost nonexistent for me, but this summer I have done a pretty good job of sticking with it...now if I could only stick to Weight Watchers as closely I'd have it made.
      Every time I start getting ready to run I have a little shadow and his name is Baxter.  Baxter absolutely loves to go for a run with me.  As soon as he sees me put on my running clothes he starts whining at my feet.  When I stretch he starts stretching too and licks my face like this time he might just convince me to let him come with.  I used to let him come with me when I started off the Couch to 5K program because I did more walking than running.  One thing I discovered however is that every stinking time he'd come with me we'd get half way down the block and he'd have to poop.  Now, being a responsible dog owner I only let him poop in the common area of our subdivision and I bag it.  Let me tell you that running in the summer with a bag of dog poop for almost 2 miles is not fun.  That of course is not the only reason that he doesn't go with anymore...the dog is very distractible.  He sniffs at everything, has to greet every passerby, and it all in all makes running a bit difficult.  So needless to say his running days are very limited these days.
    And speaking of running...I have to go...time to run and get Mitch from golf lessons...who by the way just broke another club.  ARG!!!!!!!  Anyone have golf clubs for sale?