Shape gear

Yeah, I bet you thought this would be another article about my ever-expanding midriff and butt, and Spanx, since I used the word “shape."



Well you’re wrong: this is an article about my decreasing midriff and butt, thanks to my training with Troy Nesby at the Tacoma Center YMCA, in conjunction with lifestyle changes like less wine-ing, more running.



But with that comes the need for stuff. My running shoes, given my slightly larger than pixie-like stature, last me about as long as a piece of chewing gum. So I wandered into South Sound Running — briskly, of course — to get a new pair of kicks and go a wee workout while I was at it, as the fine folks there checked my gait in each shoe I tried on. Naturally, I needed the most stabilizing of shoes, the Brooks Ariel, which I playfully nicknamed the Franken-boot, but which already makes my joints feel better.



On my way out, I noticed watches in the case and inquired about heart rate monitors, since trainer Troy suggested I should get one so he can see exactly how hard I’m working as I’m red-faced and looking grim mid step-up while driving knee and medicine ball to the sky.



Turns out, South Sound Running had that, too, so I quickly got one. The helpful shopfolk even set the watch on it for me, since I was running late (for a training appointment, natch.) But alas, I’m not in love with that gadget.



While I have no real complaints about its heart monitoring capacity, I have to wonder if my heart’s really at 91 beats per minute as I’m panting like a puppy dog and sweat’s rolling. That’s potentially a subjective thing; since I feel like I’m working out harder, maybe the low numbers just piss me off.



Not subjective: the watch is big. And Ugly. Not just ugly, Fugly, with a plastic, weird flamey cut-out band that should, I suppose, make me feel like I’m going faster or something.



Mostly it just makes me grimace as though I’ve seen or smelled something nasty.

But hey, it’s a heart rate monitor. I’m hoping I can talk to the Timex folks and get a women’s watch with heart rate monitoring capacity, with the same frequency as the chest band.



And so we possibly segue to one of next month’s in the bag articles?



[South Sound Running 1717 Pacific Ave 253.593.8786]