My husband flung open the screen door from the garage. “16 pair Kathy!” he exclaimed. I was pacing the floor with a crying baby while simultaneously trying to keep my 2 year old from destroying everything in the house. I didn’t pay much attention until my husband spoke again.”You need to get rid of some of them, you can’t even wear them anymore.”
Uh-oh, I knew what he was referring to. My collection of old running shoes that were lining the shelves in the garage, taking up precious space where half used bottles of windshield wiper fluid or boxes of nuts and bolts that will never be used could go instead.
I get attached to my shoes and I know I can’t be the only one. My problem is that I tie my shoes to accomplishments and events in my life. There is the pair I ran my 1st 5k in 7 years ago, the pair that took me through long training runs, new pr’s, my 1st double digit run, in the pouring rain for hours, and the pair that shuffled across the finish line of my 1st marathon. And then there was the bitter sweet pair of shoes that saw me through 2 much too short pregnancies between my boys. The shoes that were soaked with tears at the end of a run for the babies I would never meet on this earth. Those shoes moved me forward on auto-pilot when I was just a shell of a person. How could I get rid of any of these shoes?
My shoes hold more than just miles, they hold bits of my life -700 miles at a time. Most running experts will tell you to replace your shoes every 300-500 miles, but I’m bad about following that rule. You can also bet my oil never gets changed on time either!
After just a few minutes of my passionate in-depth speech on how important my shoes are (which he has heard numerous times), my husband gave in. My running gear has already taken over an entire closet, half the house, and now the garage. Thus is the price of being married to a runner. 
Anyone else hoard their shoes or other gear?
3 Comments
I loved this story! Windshield cleaner and nuts & bolts can find another home- I say keep the shoes
I have so many old dance shoes. I have worn out dance shoes that will never see a stage or dance floor again, or the outside of my storage duffle for that matter. But I feel the same way- I can’t let go. My first pointe shoes are so dirty and broken and a horrible sight. But I love them. It was such a huge accomplishment, and I can’t just throw that away. Not yet, anyway:)
What a wonderful story about saving the shoes that have special meaning to you. Maybe you could make a special entry for artprize with them! Between the shoes and your wonderful story you would have a great entry.
So sorry about the loss of your babies, you will carry them in your heart until that day that you are reunited and you can hold them in your arms.