Ready for the Weekend {A Three Things Thursday post}

There was a moment this morning when I realized today was Thursday – not Wednesday. What a relief! Just one more day of work and then it's onto the weekend.

And what a weekend it will be! Here's what I'm excited about:

1. On Saturday, I'll make the two-hour drive down to Indianapolis to attend two Silver Sneakers workshops (Classic and Circuit). Silver Sneakers is a fitness program that focuses on older adults, providing a chance to exercise in an environment that's fun and encouraging. My primary motivation in attending is to earn much needed continuing education credits to maintain my personal training certification. Though there are tons of options, many of which don't involve additional program certifications, I have subbed older adult classes and very much enjoy the atmosphere and attitude of the clientele. Sure, barre or cycling would be sexier sexier and closer to how I work out but moving forward with my fitness work, I want to focus on what's rewarding and beneficial to me.

2. Lauren Fleshman is speaking at the track club banquet on Sunday. {cue fan girl screaming} I had heard rumors for nearly a year that this was in the works, and I am so excited personally and for the community to have her here in Fort Wayne. I had the chance to interview her for work, and she was just like I thought she would be – honest, funny and totally rad.

I am going to go full geek for the banquet and wear a Fleshman Flyer shirt that I picked up at the local running store. I think it will look appropriate with a maxi skirt and belted cardigan, don't you?

Bonus: Kim and Tami are coming in to Fort Wayne on the weekend just to see me see her. Well, see Lauren with me. Whatever.

3. Running in new shoes! While I was at the running store to get my flyer shirt, I made an unplanned walk down the clearance shoe aisle. I wasn't in the market for shoes, per se, as my Skechers GORun only have 100 miles on them. I had blown out the sides of my Saucony Fastwitch, though, and they are looking rougher by the mile. But anyway. Three Rivers had a pair of Brooks Ravenna 5, what I was wearing before I switched to Skechers based on cost, in my size. Marked down to $77. And I had a $25 reward/credit. Fifty-two dollars for a new pair of shoes? Don't mind if I do. They are so pretty and clean, and I can't wait to get some runs in them.

What has you excited?

A few housekeeping items:

• Nuun has free shipping through today. So if you are running low, now is the time to order! We are down to caffeinated flavors so I've got a few things in the basket to get us through our winter fitness endeavors.
• It's time to break out with PRO Compression's latest sock of the month. The black-and-white stripes are reminiscent of old jail uniforms but 1,000 times cooler. Use the code JAN for 40 percent off the socks. Or, BLG14 might still be good for 40% an entire order. Free shipping for those orders $25 and more.

Cost analysis

Whoever said running is cheaper than therapy apparently didn't have insurance.

Mark and I had stopped by the running store on Friday night to pick up some salted caramel Gu. As I was paying for the packets of insane deliciousness, I spotted a sign promoting 15 percent off apparel with a shoe purchase. Me being me, I not-so-coyly pointed it out to Mark, who rolled his eyes, surely thinking it was my desire for all things bright and shiny motivating that look in my eyes.

Truth be told, though, I did/do need clothes and shoes.

It seems like just yesterday that I switched to the Brooks Ravenna 4 but yesterday was April and nearly 350 miles ago. It's definitely time to consider new shoes, which retail for $110 (about five times more than a standard co-pay), as I came thisclose to my first 30-mile week of this cycle and many recommending two pairs of shoes for a relay like Hood to Coast.

And speaking of HTC, we are lucky enough to have some amazing sponsors beyond Nuun. Like Team Sparkle, which will be supplying skirts of the same name so that everyone in a 200-mile radius will see me coming. I'm ready to don it save for one thing: booty shorts. I currently have a singular pair of compression-like shorts that are three years old and have the elasticity of my 86-year-old grandma's skin (sorry, Grammy)!

I will run three legs, wearing the skirt for probably two, which means two new pairs of shorts. Or one if I'm being cheap. Sadly, I didn't fit into the teensy-tinsy Asics that were on clearance for $10 at 3RR. My favorites were the 4-inch Moving Comfort shorts, which retail for $30 (x2 = $60, three therapy sessions). They made my thighs look like crap but they felt nice and no one will see them anyway.

Oh, and of course, there are all the other costs of running - socks, bras, race entries, travel, Gu ($4.50 for the three I bought Friday, post-session latte) and the vast amount of food to satisfy the rungries.

Not that I'm complaining or looking for a handout (though, Brooks, if you'd like to send me new shoes, I'd gladly accept). Just merely pointing something out. Well, pointing out something that Mark pointed out. And, given my mental state of late, I'd probably go through four pairs of shoes worth of co-pay in therapy before I wore out one pair on the road. Thank goodness for Mark, I'd much rather run angry than lie on a couch and share my feelings.

Celebrate good times

It's a sad day as a runner when you realize that you only have one pair of usable shoes.

For the better part of six months, I alternated between two pairs - Nike Structure Triax and Nike Lunar Flys - in addition to a few old pair of Triax that I could throw in the mix if I was on the treadmill and forgot to bring my shoes to the basement. Since ditching the Triax in April, I've been rocking the Brooks Ravennas exclusively.

I do have some miles remaining on the Lunar Flys but I have a sinking suspicion that the lighter pair of sneaks are related to some IT tenderness I was experiencing after Run the Bluegrass in March. No bueno.

And though I laced up the Ravennas yesterday for a short 3-miler, I slipped them on again this morning for 5 miles on June 5 in honor of National Running Day.

The run was pleasant. The oppressive humidity that hung in the air for the past two weeks has dissipated and the sun is beginning to rise just a bit earlier, with the light peaking out over the horizon before I finish. It's cool and bright, a rare combination. I took an out-and-back route that keeps me from bailing before 5, and I was able to catch one of the last whiffs of the lilac bushes for the season.

The gratuitous watch shot is not nearly as cute with the Motoactv as it is with a Garmin model. Womp, womp.

My legs were a bit sore from yesterday's double (or triple if you count the a.m. 3-miler) - teaching Piloxing and BODYPUMP last night - but the pace felt nice  and my body thanked me for moving. It was a run that made me glad I do it. Reminded me of why.

According to a Brooks Running survey, runners participate in the sport for exercise, enjoyment, health and mental health (in that order). I'd probably put mental health a little higher, especially after having such a clear head this morning.

The survey also said 57 percent of runners buy two or more pairs of shoes a year and since I'm only at one six months in, I think I have earned a new pair. For alternating sake, at the least.

Happy National Running Day! How did you celebrate?

Ready to Rock? The Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series is offering the biggest discount of the year with $20 off any race in the series domestically today only in celebration of National Running Day. Join the ranks of Will Ferrell, Sheryl Crow, Bachelor Sean Lowe, James Marsden, Jennifer Love Hewitt and others who have participated in the races. I stood next to Guiliana Rancic and totally talked to her when I did RnR Chicago and got to split 13.1 with my BFF in New Orleans.

Babbling Brooks

I don't think I had ever been happier to see a glass of wine.

After spending a half-hour on the verge of a complete meltdown, panicking that I had lost $100 cash intended for a new pair of shoes - when in fact I had spent it on groceries - I needed something to bring me down. Get me in the spirit of things.

And by things I mean Ladies Night at Three Rivers Running Company.

The shop has hosted the event for a few years now - and I have been twice before - but Saturday was my first time attending the event in its year-old location, and I found it to be quite the night. The larger space allowed for tons of socializing, and the store was able to put out a spread of fruit and wine along with samples of chews and various nutrition bars. (The bars were at vendor-type tables with representatives from Shakeology and Advocare.)

There was also representatives from Girls on the Run, on-the-floor bra fittings and a fashion show, which featured this super cute Brooks shirt (color 955) that I just couldn't bring myself to buy. Extra skin + sheer fabric is not a match made in heaven.

As for me and Brooks shoes, that turned out to be another story. I've always considered myself to be a Nike girl, and I had intended to buy the updated Nike Structure Triax while I was there. The always knowledgeable Casey advised me that Nike had made some changes, and some customers weren't happy with the new feel. I had heard some rustling of this online and when the store didn't have the shoe in a 7.5, I took it as a sign to try for something new.

Seriously, if you live in Northeast Indiana, come here to buy shoes. They KNOW them.

I tried a style of Adidas that are similar to the Triax but even with some adjustment on the lacing, I found it to be too wide in the heel. As I jogged in my jeans - keeping it classy, folks, I tell ya - on the treadmill, I felt as if my heel was slipping out. No good. No good at al. There was another shoe, though. One that was a bit lighter. One that could work.

The Brooks Ravenna.

I've always wanted to wear Brooks (for no rational reason) but have never liked a pair that I tried on, resigning myself to the fact that I couldn't #runhappy. So it was with trepidation that I tried them on. But like Cinderella, once the beautiful purple shoe slid on my foot, I felt like a running princess. A princess who could take on a BQ.

Or another glass of wine.

And I did, wandering the store, hanging out with my friend Chris and chatting with the ladies. It was a lot of fun, a welcome surprise for going alone and on the verge of tears. Maybe it was the wine or maybe it was all of the ladies who were so open and friendly, reaffirming my love for the running community.

What did you do this weekend? Any races?