It's March, the Journey Marches On!

Anyone know what's up with that woman on the left?...Hicksville NY resident Amy Palmiero-Winters, who was seeking to become the first amputee athlete to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials /2008 U.S. She needs to meet the Olympic Qualifying standard of 2:47 at the Sarasota Marathon yesterday, March 2, in order to qualify for the Olympic Trials in Boston on April 20. I saw the top female finisher in the Sarasota Marathon ran a 3:10 - did not note Amy's name in the results. She's a member of the Greater Long Island Running and as late as Friday they were issuing press releases that she would be racing on March 2 in Sarasota, and I know yesterday was the last date possible to qualify for the Trials around the U.S. However on Amy's site it says she's schedule to run at the Virginia Beach Marathon on March 16 - which suggest prior to Friday - for some reason she opted out of trying to qualify for the Olympic Trials - and scheduled this mid-March race. I did some decent running this weekend - I'm out of shape - however nothing I can't snap back from in a month of solid training and diet. I was at The New York Running Company yesterday - Time Warner Center - a fun place to visit if you ever come to the City....they probably have the most expansive collection of running shoes in the City - I am guessing. If you don't mind paying full retail, a guy there named "Jerrod" or something like that - I think he's a sales manager - he's always there when I go - and I know he was a serious runner - he knows as much about running & his products (the shoes on the rack) as anyone I've ever come across. It's not common to go into a running shop and see a full fleet (line of product) of Mizuno shoes for example, most shops don't carry Mizuno at all, if they do, perhaps 1 or 2 models at best. I think I saw the whole line of Mizuno running shoes yesterday. That's important because most runners have never owned a pair of Mizuno running shoes - ever. I feel they make some of the very best running shoes hands down. Generally when women ask me for running shoe suggestions - I point them to the Saucony line - historically Saucony devoted more design efforts, etc. to serve the woman runner - consequently at one point some years ago before they were purchased by Stride Rite - 70% of their market of runners were women. Very likely due to their Japanese origins - Mizuno running shoes tend to fit better with those with a more narrow foot. Every shoe maker makes a clunker now and then, a model that just stinks as running shoe - I've owned 8 or 9 pairs - I can say I've never gotten a pair of "stinkers" from Mizuno - and I've ran in their stability shoes, light weight trainers, cushion shoes, flats, you name it. I feel Mizuno makes the best running shoes (design/engineering/quality) in general across the board - of the shoes that are made in China - the vast majority of everybody's shoes. Next time you're looking for a shoe....try something you've probably not - try a pair of Mizunos! Okay - it's March - time for all us who've been taking it easy over the Winter - to stop foolin' around and get out there. That's how I am feeling. Now though Nike Running shoes basically suck - I will give them credit - they come up with the best ads & slogans - and that one above they placed in Midtown Manahattan sums it up! It's time to do the damn thing - and get my running swagger back on! Have a great day!