Breaking in the Brooks

Took another hike to Blue Ridge this last weekend with the Fiance and the pups.

Been having some shin pain and foot pain - figured it was time to get new shoes. The Patagonia trail runners I had were wearing down and not even super feet could save them. It's life - I really only get 6 months out of a shoe. I had stretched these too far.

Went to REI to get a new pair of trail runners. I love REI. It is Mecca for me. I fell in love with the first pair of shoes I tried on. Um, this doesn't happen in the real world, not with my flat, skinny feet. But it did. I ended up with Brooks Cascades - with the recommendation from an AVID trail runner at REI. I did go up a size simply because they run "short" and I like to allow for swelling.

So Sunday we decided to break in the Brooks. Fiance ALSO bought a pair of Brooks Cascades. I am still pondering how a pair of shoes fits my feet and his - we have opposite feet. He has a high arch and instep, runs wide. Maybe these are God shoes.

Last time he attempted Blue Ridge, he threw up multiple times on the trail. Typical Spring condition this time - thank God it wasn't too hot. But the mud, OH THE MUD. It goes like this: Dirt, soft dirt, mud, snow, mud, soft dirt, dirt. All the way up. Not even a quarter mile in and my purdy new shoes were covered in over two inches of mud. Let's not talk about the way down. Where I slipped in the mud, dropped the dog in the mud. I had to ride back home sitting on a sheet. But before all that...

The trek up was easy for me. Okay, I breathed a little heavy on the steep parts. I was on a roll! I blame the aerobics. I had to wait for the Mr. - he was having severe shin pain. I think he "shuffled" the last half mile. The jury is not out yet on the Cascades for him, but we have a theory. He normally wears mountaineering boots to work. He wears Asolos to walk to town. He wears them to Disneyland. How? I have no idea. I'd be dying in mine. I do die in mine. Maybe, just maybe, he had to walk/hike differently and used different muscles. I suppose if you go from heavy sturdy boots to light flexible below the ankle shoes, you just might have some shin pain. We'll see how the next hike goes.

As for me, I felt good. The whole time I kept thinking - how can I make this more challenging? I want to backpack! At the campground (at the top) I started scheming a backpacking trip that involved this trail, but not to stop there. I want to go to Guffy via that route. It's doable and fairly mild for an overnight trip.

Penelope

Teyla

The campground - horrible lighting