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Dorothy Beal

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ASICS Shoe Finder: Finding the Right Running Shoe for Your Unique Body!

January 13, 2021 by Dorothy Beal

Happy 2021! I still am finding it hard to believe yet another year has gone by! 

One of the main questions I continually get DM’s about on instagram is what the best running shoes are. My response is always the same – there is no ONE best running shoe! The best running shoe is the shoe that works best for your unique body. What works for me might not work for you and what works for you might not work for me. 

On top of that – depending on the day or type of run you might want to wear different shoes. The shoes I like to run in for long runs aren’t always the same shoes that I want to run in for an easy 5 miler. 

So how do you find the perfect shoe for you if someone can’t just give you a blanket answer?

First, most brands will have the type of shoe you need, so once you figure out the type of shoe you need you can then find what shoes in that category might work for you. 

If you want to give ASICS a try, a brand I’ve been running in since 2000, they have a SHOE FINDER on their website! The only caveat is that it’s helpful to know if you need a stability or neutral shoe. 

First the SHOE FINDER asks your gender, so it knows what shoe you would prefer, men or women’s. If you are a woman who prefers men’s shoes click men’s or vice versa if you are a man who prefers to run in women’s shoes for fit or color reasons, etc. 

It then asks you what terrain you plan to run on – trail or roads. Trail shoes are different than road running shoes. Pick whichever place you plan to run on more. I occasionally run on trails but more often than not wear my regular running shoes for those runs. Trail shoes are not going to be comfortable in the long run if you primarily run on the roads or a paved trail like I do. 

It next moves on to what your typical weekly mileage is. This is important because “Beginning runners and runners logging long distances may want extra cushioning to provide comfort and protect joints. Paired with your specific goal, distance can inform which materials and technologies will suit your needs.” That being said you might like extra cushioning even if you are an experienced runner who runs a fair amount of mileage each week. You can explore that later, but for now just stick with what you typically run weekly and let the calculator do its job!

Want to give ASICS a try? I have an awesome giveaway over on my instagram page today to enter to win a pair of ASICS running shoes of your choice! 

Your running goal is up next – further or faster? Many of us will say but wait – I want both. I hear you – I too want both! My suggestion would be to pick faster if you are looking for shoes to wear during speed workouts, to possibly race in, or if you plan on running shorter distances. Pick further if you are increasing your mileage on singular runs or your weekly mileage or if you are training for a long distance event such as the marathon distance. Again this is an option you can go back in and play around with later if you want to see what options the SHOE FINDER will give you if you change this variable. 

Lastly you chose the level of cushioning you prefer – regular, extra or maximum. 

It’s that easy! The SHOE FINDER then gives you recommendations based on those choices!! 

@mileposts Favorite Black Shorts

November 30, 2020 by Dorothy Beal

Feels strange calling myself @mileposts but after having that handle for 11 years online it’s what people google vs my name.

I frequently get asked what my favorites are, so in an effort to cut down on the mess that is my instagram DM’s I’m going to put my favorites in to a series of blog posts so I can send them over to you whenever you ask!

First up are my favorite black shorts. I’ve been running races for the past 20 years and blogging for 11 so you could argue that I’ve tried a pair of shorts or two! I HATE wasting money on gear (…I actually just hate wasting money in general) so these are my TOP favorites because I’d hate for you to waste money on gear too!

Keep in mind that shorts are truly a personal preference. What I love, you might not and visa versa. If I had to pick 6 pairs of shorts to keep and toss all my others, these would be the ones I’d wear on repeat.

MALO PR Shorts: These are my go to tight black shorts. I have a bunch of them in the prints as well and have worn the printed ones in multiple different marathons. According to their size chart I should be a smaller size than I purchased but when picking out shorts I have to consider the size of my waist compared to my thighs, which are much thicker in relation. I often struggle to find jeans that fit because if they fit my thighs, they gape in the waist. If your body is like mine then you might want to consider sizing up. I have noticed that the solid colors of these shorts feel tighter than the prints – just as an FYI. I’ve had some runners tell me that the legs roll on them – they don’t roll on me – that’s usually a result of not having the correct size for your body type – though sometimes tight shorts just roll up in general. If you want a longer version I have the MALO Little Bit Longer Shorts and like those as well. They are also super cute as a lifestyle piece worn with a big comfy sweatshirt!

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Athleta Hustle 3″ Shorts:

If you are looking for looser black running shorts with liners these ones from Athleta are one of my favorites. I find I chafe less in shorts that are shorter so that’s why the majority of my favorite black shorts are shorter. When a short has a longer inseam there is more fabric that can bunch between my thighs vs using some type of glide with a shorter short. The fabric on these shorts is really soft and dries quickly.

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ASICS Road 3.5″ Shorts:

Another one of my favorite looser black shorts with a liner are these ones from ASICS. I often struggle to find looser running shorts that fit comfortably because they don’t stretch like tight shorts. When I get a size large enough to fit my thighs then they are swimming in my waist, that’s not the case with these shorts from ASICS – they fit perfectly. There is a draw string in these shorts so you can get them over your hips and then make them tighter in the waist. The back of the shorts is slightly longer than the front, which is barely enough to notice while looking at them, but makes a big difference in coverage while running. Wore these for LA Marathon this past March and like them so much that I just ordered another black pair the other day.

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Lululemon Hotty Hot Short II 2.5″:

In comparison to the Athleta and ASICS shorts these ones from Lululemon are lower rise (though in this picture they don’t look that way!). They sit more on my hips than the other two and while you can pull them up a bit they are still low. That being said I like having different styles of looser black shorts with liners. I gravitate towards these shorts more in the summer than in the winter months because I like tucking in a tank top in the winter to keep my stomach warm and there really isn’t much to tuck in to in these shorts. I wore them for Berlin Marathon and loved them + did not chafe at all (I always use glide though because I’m just someone who chafes in general).

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Rabbit catch me if you can 2.5″:

Another favorite that I’ve worn during multipe marathons, including Boston Marathon are these black ones from Rabbit. They are tiny in comparison to the other shorts I’ve mentioned – so I gravitate towards them when I’m feeling fit. They are the type of short that makes you forget you are even wearing shorts. I like that the back pocket is 100 percent functional – I’ve stuffed gels in there and had no issue with them bouncing while trying to run fast-for-me.

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Day Won Biker Star Short 5″:

I love love love Day Won for their size inclusivity. They go from a size 0 to a size 32 in this short. When I first pulled the shorts out of the bag I wasn’t sure they were going to fit because they looked really small, but they fit perfectly. The fabric is a bit thicker than my other tight black shorts and offers more compression, so even though they may look smaller than you actually need, they fit perfectly (they suggest sizing up if you want a looser fit). The rise is higher which is nice on days you want more support. There is also small pocket which is great for holding a gel and an ID or something similar.

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Are you OK?

November 12, 2020 by Dorothy Beal

I’m ok but not okay, if you know what I mean.

I haven’t used the “d” word because I just don’t like it. I don’t want to be someone who is getting divorced. No one walks down the aisle (I didn’t walk down an aisle which in hindsight makes me laugh a little) thinking that their marriage is going to end. If you thought it was going to end, why would you even let it begin. Yeah, yeah the better to have loved and lost thing, and yeah I get that but I’m also a bit bitter and jaded and all that jazz, so maybe better to have not loved and not lost is sort of how I feel right now.

So yes, I’m getting divorced but I’d like that to not define who I am as a person. I’d like to just be me going forward, only this me doesn’t have rules I never signed up for. This me doesn’t have to fake smiling on the outside when I’m not smiling on the inside. This me says, yeah I cried on my run today and I had a hard time breathing because it felt like a full on panic attack.

I could say oh yeah I’m fine every time someone asks me are you okay, but sometimes I’m not fine. I think it’s okay to both be OK and NOT OK at the same time. In this season of life I’m giving myself grace and letting myself feel the emotions that bubble up rather than stuff them down.

I spent a good portion of yesterday crying, which sucks because I had my kids and I don’t like crying around them, but for the most part I shut my bedroom door and just let myself cry and then would pull myself right back together again and return to mom life. Today that feels silly. Today crying is laughable, well other than when I ran in to a friend at Target and started crying while talking to her BUT my point is that I don’t feel the need to fake it anymore. I’m going to cry and that’s okay. I’m going to feel on top of the world and that too is okay. I’m going to do things that people tell me not to do or advise against and that is also ok, because this is MY life now and I don’t have to live it for anyone other than myself and my kids.

So yes, I’m okay….thanks for checking on me. Welcome to the real me.

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@mileposts on Instagram

whenever I am sad I let myself be sad for a day an whenever I am sad I let myself be sad for a day and then I pick myself back up remind myself that running always has been there for me and always will be. it’s the longest relationship I’ve ever had ❤️ “the sun’ll come out tomorrow, it’s only a day away” #irunthisbody
🌊✨ I really like trees & running AND running 🌊✨ I really like trees & running AND running amongst the trees 💚 I’ve kinda been in my head a little lately (little might be an understatement) and I’ve honestly wondered if I’m any good at running. Maybe I was running away for so many years that the pain of a marathon felt like an escape & maybe now that I’m not running away - a marathon might seem hard, like the type of hard I’m not sure I want...but today was one of those runs where my heart was like - stop being silly - you were never running away, you were always running towards the life you wanted. You LOVE MARATHONS & running & all that jazz...being good at running never really mattered anyways...running to me will always be MORE than that ❤️ so yeah...goal for next week is to get out of my head more + HUG more trees 🌳 #lorax #irunthisbody #ihavearunnersbody #divorce
14 miles today to finish out the week with 47 mile 14 miles today to finish out the week with 47 miles (5 runs)✨

Felt like a very good day to sign up for another marathon!

I guess nearly 11 months is how long it took for me to embrace the idea of a virtual marathon lol 😜

All registered for the AbbottWMM Global Marathon on May 1st/2nd :) 💙 @wmmajors 

Who else is running a virtual marathon (or race of any distance) this spring!? 💙✨💙

#GlobalRunClub #irunthisbody #ihavearunnersbody #abbottwmm
the more I run, the more I want to run... the les the more I run, the more I want to run...

the less I run, the less I *think* I want to run...

amiright? OR amiright? Cause if I’m wrong I don’t want to be right 🙂🙃🥰 #run #irunthisbody #dreambigrunlong #girlsjustwannarun
I’ve been trying to get back to running in the m I’ve been trying to get back to running in the morning BUT at the end of the day I’ll take running at the end of the day ;) :) ✨the best time to run is any time you can ✨ 8.5 miles before the sun set 🖤 thankful for running friends who make the miles go by a little bit faster! 

#SoundMindSoundBody #irunthisbody #ihavearunnersbody
🔥 GIVEAWAY!!! I often get asked what the best s 🔥 GIVEAWAY!!! I often get asked what the best shoes are for running and I honestly can't answer that. There are no BEST shoes. The BEST shoes are shoes that work for your gait pattern and your unique body. I wear neutral shoes because I supinate but a neutral shoe might not work for you. That's why it's important to not only do your research on what shoes might work well for you but to get fit properly by having someone watch you run and assess your running biomechanics. Once you have been fit, you will have a general idea of what shoes will and won't work for you!

Because I want you to have running shoes that work for YOU - this giveaway is for one pair of @asics running shoes of your choice!!

How to enter: Follow @mileposts + @runkeeper (style up to you) and comment below on why you want to win or tag a friend in the comments (extra entries for each person you tag - please only tag actual friends and do so in a separate comment for each entry)

Winner chosen randomly on 1/19/21 and will be contacted via instagram DM + announced on this post. Giveaway not sponsored or associated with Instagram. I will verify you follow both accounts. The winner has two weeks to claim their prize before a backup winner is chosen. Shoe availability subject to change. 

#trainwithrunkeeper #soundmindsoundbody

Dorothy Beal

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