Never Quitting in my Mizuno Wave Inspire 10 Running Shoes

Tell us about what happened to your legs this past year.

My legs started to get tingly during cross country season and by the end of indoor they started going numb every time I ran. I saw 8 different doctors and specialists and none of them had answers. They finally decided to have an MRI done and found that I possibly have a condition called spondylolisthesis. Its a vertebrae in my back that is misaligned which causes my legs to go numb. It’s hard to stop after I race since I can’t feel
my legs so I have to have someone catch me as I fall into them. It’s similar to what Kayla Montgomery has to do, who was featured on ESPN. She’s my hero and I have no idea how she does it. I recently got another MRI done so they could get a closer look and am waiting to hear back for a definite answer.

What are the 3 P.R.’s you’re happiest about?

I am happiest about my 5:13 1500, my 20:22 5K, and our 4×8 while breaking the class C section five record.

Besides your PR’s, what have been some of your biggest highlights as a runner?

Breaking school records in 4×8, 4×4, distance medley, and 1500.

What has challenged you the most as a runner?

What’s challenged me the most as a runner is keeping my head up and continuing on in my running career. Although people think running with numb legs is an advantage because I feel no pain, it’s really not. It’s like when your foot falls asleep and you try to walk on it. I was getting frustrated that I couldn’t finish workouts and thought about giving up all the time. But I learned that everyone was just as tired as I was and all I had to do was listen to my feet hitting the track. I may be a little bit wobblier than other runners but I can still do it.

What’s a life lesson you’ve learned from running?

A life lesson I learned is you don’t have to be the best to be great. I know I’m the furthest thing from being the fastest runner, but a quitter was not something I wanted to be known for. When competing against another team, their coach told me, “You are the hardest working kid out here and you are truly an inspiration.” So, even when it gets hard people will notice the effort you put in. And it’s great people like that, that kept me going. Obstacles will get in your way, but you can overcome them and create something great. My favorite quote is, “A runner must run with dreams in their heart.”

On a lighter note, every runner has a favorite running shoe. What’s your favorite?

My favorite running shoe is the Mizuno Wave Inspire 10. I absolutely love them because I have long narrow feet and they feel very comfortable on runs. They also help keep my ankles stable. All other running shoes I’ve tried, no matter how tight I tied them, always slip off.

Run Smiles:
Do you think they look good?

They definitely look good! I wear my old ones to school all the time. The are quite the fashion statement. Haha. But I really do like how they look. The colors they put together look very sharp and colorful.

What part of the shoe is wearing out the fastest?

The part wearing out the fastest for me is the outside on one sneaker and the inside of the other sneaker because I get dragged off the track and the track just chews them up.

I would definitely buy these shoes again. About to get my fourth pair after 6-years of running. I always go back to them.