It feels like Christmas morning!

This morning around 8 a.m.* the doorbell rang and a package was dropped off,  Inside the package were these:

OMG… look at how PRETTY they are!

I have been running in the Brooks Adrenaline GTS series since I started running.  My first pair was the GTS7 and I have run in all the models up until this one, GTS10.  I enjoy my shoes and tried switching once and switched back within a month.  But now…my favorite shoes are PRETTY!  Seriously…opening the box made my day.

I’ve been putting off buying new shoes.  Mine only have just over 300 miles, but I have found that I need to switch them between 250-300 miles.  Miles or no miles, I bought my latest pair of shoes in January.  You should really replace your shoes every six months.**  If you have been reading here a while, you know that our family is in “transition” and looking for work and money is very tight.  I’m trying to stretch the budget as far as I can.  If I can run in a pair of shoes an extra month, I will.  Unfortunately, I have been dealing with IT band issues and yesterday my shins started hurting.  These are tell-tale signs that my equipment is failing (especially the shins).  No amount of budget stretching will make up for sidelining injuries.  My husband and I talked about it and came to the conclusion that my shoe budget is in the same category as coffee***—not an absolute necessity, but it is tough to live without.

I searched the internet for my trusty GTS9’s, knowing that they would be cheaper since they are discontinued.  Alas, none of the discounted websites had my size.  Where I could find my size, they were $85.  I soon found that I could get the new GTS10’s for that price.  I remembered that my Active Advantage membership offered a 20% discount to Running Warehouse.

I just have to take a moment to give a shout out to Running Warehouse.  I am a very satisfied customer!  I have used them in the past with very good luck.  They always seem to have what I need at a decent price.  With my 20% discount, my $100 shoes were $80.  Tax was $7 (damn California sales tax).  Shipping was free.  I ordered them yesterday morning around 7:30.  Just over twenty-four hours later, they were on my doorstep!!!  Not only that, but they included a label for return shipping if that is necessary.  Free shipping and free returns??  You can’t beat that!

I can’t post a discount code because they use a direct link, but I do know that Gibtown Runner has a link to a 15% discount****.  I am not getting anything for the endorsement of Running Warehouse, but I thought I would pass along my thoughts on this website.  I had used it in the past with good luck, but was delighted this morning with the quick service.

I am hoping that my new pretty shoes do the trick with the nagging issues I have been having the last week or two.  I am running two more races  this weekend (yes, I know… I seem to be addicted, don’t I?  More on that later) and hope that these shoes treat me as well as my last ones did (nothing like a few PR’s and a major marathon milestone to make you love a pair of shoes).

Happy Running…

*way too early after seeing the midnight showing of Eclipse.
**Come to think of it, I should really replace my trail shoes as well!
***beer falls into this category for my hubby, as well.  He enjoys his beer and we make room in our budget for it.  His beer budget is higher than my shoe budget on an annual basis.  LOL  ;-)
****maybe I’ll try to get a link like that on my blog!