One good thing about being inactive in the winter is that I can look forward to a new season of running. It all starts with the shoes, and I order three pairs per year. One pair is actually for day-to-day walking and that pair will see little running. Another pair is for training. The third pair is for training and the inevitable long event I'll be working up to this year. (Even I don't know what that will be yet, so don't ask. Last year it was Chicago, and all I can tell you is this year will NOT be my first choice of New York -- I wasn't accepted in the lottery.)
On the left, the New Balance Zante Fresh Foam. For three years now, the Fresh Foam has been my go-to choice for comfortable daily wear. I try to put in some walking every day, and these shoes caught my eye from the time they were an editor's choice in Competitor magazine a few years back. My only issue with this line of shoes is the mesh, which is the reason they are so comfy, tends to fray in places, especially near the toes. The Zante is a different edition of the Fresh Foam, and it appears to have better toe design, so I'll have to update you later about how they work out.
On the right, the Brooks Ghost 9. I ran Chicago last year in a pair of Ghost 7s, and have heard from a Brooks sales rep that the 9s are even better. (Gee, that's surprising news.) I'll be the one to evaluate them, thank you very much, but I'm hopeful the Ghost 9 will be this year's long event footwear! This will depend on what the third pair of shoes turns out to be; I am still choosing. Perhaps my third pair should not be so blue. :-)
And, oh yeah, it's Saint Patrick's day.
St. Patrick's day on a Friday during Lent puts me in an interesting spot. I'll usually take advantage of one of the many deals on fish sandwiches that not so surprisingly appear this time of year. Today was no different, and I ended up selecting the most Irish fish out there.
In fact, the Filet O' Fish owes its existence to the Catholic Friday fish tradition, which some, like my sister and her clan, follow all year long, while others, like my wife and daughter, adhere to only during Lent. I'm not Catholic myself, but follow these dietary practices with pleasure to support my family.
When dinnertime came around today, though, the gloves were off and I was ready to savor something with beef for the occasion, so I made a selection from the 99 Restaurant's St. Patrick's menu. Braised beef with root vegetables -- the sauce was really tasty. It will take many miles on my new shoes to burn this one off!
So fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate’er befalls
And gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all
