Got my bags packed up and ready to hit the road to Santa Barbara….
I decided to retire my old Mizunos WaveRider 12’s for good today. They have 515 miles on them, and with my thutt aching after the last and final run, I thought it’d be a good time to say goodbye.
When they were babies and brand spankin’ new... Goodbye, my first and second marathon shoes. And half marathon PR shoes. and BQ shoes. Would someone please stop me from being so lame?!? please, Shut me up already!!
I’ve upgraded to the 13’s only because they don’t make the 12’s anymore; I broke these in already and used them for my last marathon.
I had hoped to put about 600 miles on the shoes, but pain-free trumps 85 extra miles any day. I’ve also decided to use these for ONLY running, not cross training, walking the dog, running errands, wearing just so I look hardcore….
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A couple of you asked about the compression socks from Walmart. Compression is like stretching; some studies show it helps and some say it doesn’t. The idea behind them is to “improve oxygen delivery to muscles, speed lactic acid removal and stabilize the lower leg for greater muscle efficiency.” (I have no idea why the font is so small)
Women’s CEP Running 02 Compression Sock $59.99
HERE is an article about whether compression socks work or not from the Running Times Magazine. It basically says that there wasn’t any improvement to runners wearing them WHILE running, but they did speed recovery after runs.
I personally like them for recovery; I’ve never worn them while running but I put them on after most long runs. I even wear mine snowboarding or if I’m going to be on my feet all day. They just feel good, like your legs aren’t as tired.
Problem is they are expensive.
Zensa compression sock $49.99
There are also leg sleeves that are a little cheaper, but I talked to a running store employee who said they don’t work as well as the socks do.
Zensa Womens leg sleeves $39.99
So what I use is Truform classic medical-style stockings from Walmart. I said they were $11 but I am a liar. They’re actually $19.97 at Wally’s take over the World. But they are way more expensive online which is weird.
Sweet leg, dude.
I bought the smallest and tightest ones they had, meaning they have 20-30 mmHg of compression (if you get less compression like 15mmHg, they might not work as well) which is the tightest and a size M which was the smallest size Walmart had. They feel tight but not uncomfortable or anything. You pretty much forget you have them on until you go outside in a short dress and look like a complete goober.
My husband is a complete giver; he said that he would even take a Sharpie and write “Zensa” on mine so I’d have namebrand ones. I’m also going to have him do the double C’s so I can have Chanel Tempo shorts, LV on my Louis Vuitton Target sports bras, and paint the soles of my shoes red so I’ll have Christian Louboutin running shoes!
Do you do compression? Thoughts on it? Think it works or just a money pit?
