There is no greater relationship a runner has than with their shoes.

This past Sunday, I had my weekly long run scheduled.  Ten miles was planned, but the weather was brutal.  It was absolutely tipping down, so I decided to cut out a couple of miles and only run 8.  Off I went in my good old Brooks Glycerin 11 running shoes.

By about mile 3.5 to 4, soaking wet from head to toe, I started to get a nagging little twinge in my foot.  Luckily I wasn’t too far from home as I was doing a couple of out and backs on the trail.  After mile 5, I ran on home to put on dry shoes and socks, a dry top, and then headed back out to finish up my last 3 miles, although I was somewhat concerned about what was going on with my foot.

However, once I got back out on the trail, it dawned on me… my good old faithful Brooks were past their mileage.  My feet started feeling much better in the dry pair of shoes I had put on that hadn’t even gone 100 miles yet and I was able to finish my run strong and relatively pain-free. Unfortunately, I realized it was now time for me to retire my beautiful 11’s.

The Brooks Glycerin’s and I go back to 2012 when I got my first pair of running shoes.  I had gone to the local Road Runner Sports store and was properly fitted.  It was determined the Glycerin style was best suited for me, and I’ve been wearing them ever since because, quite frankly, the people in the store were right.  I started with the Glycerin 9’s.  I’ve tried other brands and styles, all to be returned as they just don’t do for me what the Glycerin’s do.  

I got this current pair last year before I ran RNR Vancouver in October.  It is now time for me to bid this pair of Glycerin’s adieu.  Thank you, 11’s, for getting me through a year’s worth of races and helping me earn 6 medals.  Time for you to slow down and just walk from here on out… you’ve done your job well, and I am grateful. You will be missed.