Yes, your holiness

Workout: 2.3-mile walk with Denali

Mark's been making fun of me. A lot lately. And not because my belly seems to move and grow at the whims of baby boy. Lucky for him, too, because I'd punch him in the mouth.

No, Mark's been making fun of me because it seems every pair of athletic shoes I own have at least one hole in them. There are my Nike Air Pegasus 26s, which carried me in the Flying Pig half, that have a hole in the left toe box. My Mizuno Wave Rider 13s, which I wore for the RnR Chicago, that are showing wear in both toe boxes. Then the shoes that I wear to run now, the Nike Zoom Triax 13s, which have a hole in the right toe box.

The Pegasus and Wave Rider pairs are in semi-retirement, serving as my walk-the-dog shoes, but the Triax I still wear to run. They have had a whole in them since at least November, when I noticed my right foot getting extra wet during my rainy turkey trot. The Triax were good, though. They had miles left.

Until, well, now (I can definitely feel it, too). Now, though, isn't when Mark and I want to plunk down $100+ new shoes for running -- especially when I'm anticipating the doc to cut me off next week.

So what's a girl to do? She clicks on Skinny Runner's site, takes advantage of her 10 percent Running Warehouse discount and searches for a closeout pair of stability shoes that are less than $50. And, much to my chagrin, I found the Mizuno Wave Nexus 4 -- a bargain at $40 after discount.

Aren't they pretty? I was a fan of my Wave Riders so I'm hoping to have equally good luck with the Wave Nexus. I did order them a half size up to account for swelling down the road and, well, because they didn't have a 7.5. I also think part of my holiness is that I need a smidge more room in the toe box.

They should arrive Wednesday (yay!) and I should be able to take 'em out for a spin on Thursday. I'm so excited! There's nothing like a new pair of shoes to get you going.

Does new gear give you a bit more oomph? I always want to go for a run when I get something new!

P.S. Giveaway winners, your packages were mailed today. I am sorry for being a lazy bum for the delay but I was a bit frazzled last week.

Morning glory

Workout: 3-mile run with Mark and Denali

Let me tell you, we know how to live it up in the Healthy Strides house.

Mark took his Dad to see "Rango;" Denali is sleeping on the rug; and I'm hosting a "Sex and the City" marathon ... for one ... while a pot of Cincinnati chili simmers on the stove.

Talk about an exciting afternoon but I guess that's what you get when you pack all the good stuff in the morning.

When I woke up this morning, I decided to move my run to the afternoon. I was STARVING and knew a small snack wouldn't even make enough of a dent so that I could run. Thankfully, Mark agreed.

But we forgot to include someone in our little run later decision: Denali. He was howling up a storm as we put away laundry (after breakfast, of course), and I decided that we could squeeze in a few miles before we met our Realtor to look at two more houses.

The miles were a bit chilly - 26 degrees - but not too bad. I've discovered that wearing my Bella Band over my belly helps a bit with the heaviness. Sort of like wearing control top panty hose. Sure, it rolled up a bit but helped to keep things in. I like to keep things in.

I am noticing that the breathing part is getting harder. Darn baby compromising my lung capacity! I am hoping that spring's warmer weather will help with that.

What are you looking forward to most about spring? Feel free to mention my birthday :)