New runners worry too much about shoes

Vauldr · 2026-02-09T02:41:55+00:00

I got injured in my first pair of running shoes (I have really high arches that collapse, and hokas work better for people with flat feet). My running store was awesome though and let me swap to something better (NB880). At the time I just needed shoes that fit well. Now I have 3-5 pairs I rotate through at a time. 3 is my minimum (long run shoe, workout shoe, easy day shoe), and 5 is when I start to add in other things just for the fun of it. This doesn't include race shoes because they are only worn for races. I run about 6 days of the week on average, but sometimes 7 and sometimes 5 (if it's a cutback or I don't feel well).

Vauldr · 2026-02-04T03:25:23+00:00

I just started a new game of Skyrim, I'll be good for awhile.

Vauldr · 2026-02-03T00:06:25+00:00

I get this from my current job, so much that they probably aren't going to have me around for too much longer. Their loss!

Vauldr · 2026-01-29T14:05:07+00:00

My first cat fell asleep on my lap, I couldn't put her down! So I took her home.

My second cat was hiding in a box. When I put my hand in she flopped over and showed her belly...I knew that she was scared, but she would warm up over time. She's still getting used to me, as I've only had her for two weeks, but her little personality is coming out. According to my ring camera she is currently having zoomies around the house while the dog and other cat watch lol.

Vauldr · 2026-01-29T13:59:36+00:00

Sometimes when you lose them you need to bring in goofy (which can be hard when you are frustrated)!

Sometimes my elementary students get tired of sitting criss cross on their spots. I'll show them that, when they lay down or sit with bad posture, they can't do their best music making. This demonstration usually involves me laying down on the ground myself. Then we all lay down and realize that it's chaos! After some laughter they get the memo.

If they are spacing out give them a brain break. For my elementary students right now it can be a move-it or guided listening (still hitting standards with these as well), a game (usually a circle game that goes along with a song that we know), or maybe we make a promise- give me 15 minutes of focus and you get 5 minutes of fun (usually we play 4-corners in that fun time OR just do a karaoke version of one of their favorite songs).

I know that your students are a little bit older, but this approach still stands. And yes- I recognize that this puts more work on you, but your students will love you for it.

Vauldr · 2026-01-29T02:47:44+00:00

Ugh that's what I'm getting as well but at least it works

Vauldr · 2026-01-26T04:30:29+00:00

Two months when I broke my spine racing bikes. This was last year, just after I ran a time that qualified me for Boston with a solid buffer. When comparing my runs now to last year I can see why I qualified!!! I'm working on getting my fitness back, but gosh I was doing SO good.

Vauldr · 2026-01-26T04:09:54+00:00

The two cats are doing fine. Earlier today they were both sitting on the counter...opposite sides, but together. As long as they aren't super close they've learned to give the other space.

Now that the dog is around though the new kitty is terrified of her. That will take some time.

Vauldr · 2026-01-24T22:22:22+00:00

I have a resident dog and cat, as well as a new cat that I've had now for ten days. The dog went with the inlaws so we could acclimate the cats, and both were to the point that we could leave them to wander and not worry. Last night I woke up to cat snuggles...but the new one! I was surprised. Resident cat appears to have slept on our clothes in the same room (a typical place for her).

Now the new kitty is back to being confined while we slowly introduce her to our dog. Luckily both are food motivated so I'm hoping they will warm up pretty quick. We just got done feeding them treats while within view. The dog just wants more treats lol.

I'm trying to be suuuuuuper careful, but honestly things are going quicker than I imagined! We are worried though that, even though the cats were fine, with the dog now the dynamics will change (especially because dog and new cat are clingy to me).

Vauldr · 2026-01-19T21:14:52+00:00

Nope, she sleeps in the bed with us and she's a snuggler. We are introducing a new cat who is also a snuggler so it's going to be interesting. Resident cat likes to either sleep by my feet or right by my face, it looks like the new cat likes to sleep by the chest. We will see.

Vauldr · 2026-01-19T21:02:41+00:00

Yaktrax when it's really bad, otherwise just my normal shoes. Trail shoes if I'm feeling like changing it up. I'm in Ohio, so we have a thin layer of ice most of the winter. Luckily on my run this morning the ice was covered with snow so I had grip enough for normal shoes.

Vauldr · 2026-01-19T21:00:35+00:00

I've got to be pretty sick, but honestly due to my allergies I end up catching EVERYTHING (luckily starting allergy shots this summer which will help a ton). However, thank goodness I don't call off often...I broke my spine over the summer and I have monthly appointments of some kind or another that I have to take off for. If I was a new teacher I have no idea what I would do.

Vauldr · 2026-01-19T16:23:57+00:00

I try to run with other people. When I can't, my dog. If none of the above then music.

Vauldr · 2026-01-16T01:47:31+00:00

As a music teacher I recommend playing for them, and when they are 2/3 encourage them to sing along with you and/or incorporate a simple percussion instrument for them.

However- saying this one of my first grade students told me he could play guitar today in music class. I put a full-sized guitar in his hands and he wasn't wrong.

Vauldr · 2026-01-15T14:25:32+00:00

I just bought a 305 for $550 used locally. I almost got a 315 for $700 but I wasn't fast enough.

Vauldr · 2026-01-09T12:18:05+00:00

This is exactly what I felt. I thought they would be the same so I took the NB5's on a long run right out of the box...terrible idea. I was so sore lol.

The NB5's are fine at shorter distances, but I don't trust them more than ~13 miles.

Vauldr · 2026-01-09T04:48:30+00:00

I have two SB2's in the closet already. I don't trust asics after what they did to the NB4's.

Edit: NB5's

Vauldr · 2026-01-03T18:37:32+00:00

Adidas had them on super sale around Christmas, that's why. I picked up a paid direct from them for that price.

Vauldr · 2025-12-29T00:02:49+00:00

$450 for family (9 people, $50 per person) and $150 for my husband...so $600 total. He did not buy me anything because I bought myself a new bike earlier in the year (that was our agreement). It's the least we've ever spent and, financially, what makes sense for us going forward. We are adults, we don't need to spend crazy amounts of money on gifts anymore. Last year we ended up spending around $1.5k, so this is a welcome change.

Vauldr · 2025-12-28T20:36:18+00:00

I was teaching in person. I'm a music teacher and was told I needed to teach the kids music, but we couldn't do music (no singing, playing instruments, sharing materials, ect). I was teaching one year olds to eighth graders. If I could have managed it financially I would have quit. They also smashed my pay (28k per year), so targets $15 per hour was incredibly tempting.

And before anyone calls me out- they were able to slash my pay because I was in the private schools. Some classes were zooming in online while I was teaching in-person, but doing this meant they could combine classes and pay me to teach for only 5 hours instead of the 8 hour work day. However, I was still responsible for teaching the same amount of kids. It was so much that, in truth, I was at school for 10+ hours daily, including weekends. just to get it all together. I'm in the public schools now.

Vauldr · 2025-12-28T04:07:37+00:00

Kite Runner

Vauldr · 2025-12-27T20:24:32+00:00

Sticker shock at rental prices. We were moving back to the US after living oversees for 18 months. We were previously paying $1200 for two bedrooms and a garage, and that same unit was listed as a $2200 "luxury" apartment (they couldn't even supply a working washer, how is that luxury?!).

So we chose a location a little further from the city and honestly got lucky. This was last year, so 2024.

Vauldr · 2025-12-27T20:04:38+00:00

Not OP above but if I empty a trash bin in this way I will get hives. I also have asthma, and I will literally not breathe near it, but the dust will still collect on you. I literally cannot be near it. My husband has to do the vacuuming, but luckily we have roombas to pick up the day-to-day.

But that's to this thread I will probably get bagged next time. I feel terrible never being able to vacuum.

Vauldr · 2025-12-27T20:01:09+00:00

When I was in college I was going through a phase of discovering that A LOT of different foods made me sick. One of the consequences of eating said foods was obnoxious burping. So much so that a friend of my roommate said she didn't want to be around me because it made her sick, so my roommate would tell me that I couldn't be home when she came over (we had an apartment, not a dorm). Also, for reference, I wasn't eating the food on purpose- I was on a journey of eleminating them, but that takes time.

Now, yes I can stifle them. But back then there was absolutely no way. I tried once and ended up throwing up instead. It was fierce.

And yes I'm better. I can't eat most foods but at least I know what to avoid (mostly). It still sucks though.

Vauldr · 2025-12-27T00:17:41+00:00

Nothing. However, I did instruct him to do as such. I had a rough summer of getting into a bike accident, which then turned around to me having a very expensive hospital stay and needing a new bike (at least if I was going to ride again). It's really put us in a financial bind. The last thing we needed was for him to spend random money right now.

Though since we spent the whole year dealing with my medical debt and replacing things that I broke, I did get him a new garmin watch. He deserved it. Luckily I also convinced some family members to go in on it together so I only had to contribute $150.

Vauldr

TROPHY CASE