My "Dirty Secrets" for keeping shoes clean

WARNING: I can be a bit nutty about having my shoes clean. 

Recently a friend was asking how to clean her running shoes.  (Looks like I am not the only one who runs FASTER in shiny, fresh shoes!) 

Is there a right/wrong way to detail the trainers/racers?   I think so...

Running wouldn't be as fun for me without a little slog through the puddles, or gravel or mud. It makes me a little sad, though, to see my brand new shoes looking like they aren't new any more. So, over the last couple of years, I have established my own shoe cleaning routine to keep them looking new as long as possible.
Here is my process:

1. Outdoors, use a hose with a spray nozzle and remove as much dirt as possible, so that you are bringing in as little as possible (no one wants a sink or tub filled with dirt!). Using a stiff outdoor car washing brush can help loosen what is in the cracks.

2. Once they are clean enough to bring indoors, take them to a sink or tub (preferably one with detachable spray faucet). 

3. Remove the sock liners, and laces if laces are especially dirty. 

4. Spray entire shoe with a stain remover (I like Spray 'N' Wash). If you don't have it, you can use liquid laundry soap and dab it on. 

5. Using an old toothbrush, scrub any spots or in the cracks where it was missed before. Go over the entire upper and sole of the shoe. You may wish to scrub the sock liner and laces as well.

6. Rinse all shoe parts under a sink faucet, or spray nozzle, until water runs fairly clean.

7. Second wash: Place shoes, laces and sock liners in a sink, half filled with lukewarm water and about 1 small load's worth of laundry soap. Let soak for 20 minutes. Remove shoes and try re-scrubbing any stubborn spots left from earlier.

8. Drain dirty water from sink. (Don't let the laces go down the drain!)

9. Rinse with faucet until water is clean.

Drying

1. Using an old towel, loosen the tongue and put as much towel in the shoe as you can. 
2. Wrap the shoe in the towel and press firmly on the upper, to blot as much water as possible. (Blot the sock liners and laces as well.)
3. Set the shoes, tilted at an angle (to get as much airflow to the upper as possible), in front of a cool fan overnight. They should be dry by morning if you pressed out the water well.

A couple of things you shouldn't do

Don't use hot water
Don't place them in a dryer or in front of a heater.  (This will break down the glue and foam construction quickly and shorten the life of your shoes.)

Are you crazy about keeping your shoes clean? I clean mine before my races as a ritual and visualize my race while I am cleaning them!

Do you have any other tips for shoes? I'd love to hear them!

Brooks GHOST 5 Shoe Review, A few things Running + Non running

Brooks Ghost 5 review
I first fell in love with the Brooks Ghost about a year ago, when I had my gait re-analyzed at my local running store, only to discover I was a neutral.

Since then, I have always had a pair of Ghosts in rotation- first the Ghost 3, then the 4. Now Brooks has raised the bar again, with an even better Ghost 5.

 

To find out what the difference between the Ghost 4 and Ghost 5 is, I called Brooks and spoke with a customer service pro. Here's what I learned:

The Ghost 5 retained the same 12MM heel-toe offset, caterpillar crash pad, and bio-mogo (biodegradable mid-sole), Brooks DNA (special cushioning) of the Ghost 4.

To upgrade the shoe, Brooks removed a plastic piece from the outer arch area. This will make the shoe a bit less stable, but more flexible, (Imagine twisting it side to side from the heel and toe- the Ghost 5 will will twist more). Yay for runners like me, who don't need any extra stability! (Too much actually causes me problems).

Improvements to the Brooks Ghost also includes making it a lighter trainer, 8.8 ounces- down from 9.3.

Test runs:
I find these perfect for easy runs and are supportive enough for long runs. The toe box is nice and roomy, (though it does come in widths for those looking for narrow or wide). On recent tests, it felt firm, but very flexible, (much like its predecessor). Cushioning is there, but they're certainly not squishy...

The Ghost 5 is a thumbs up for me, and I didn't think it was possible to improve on the last model!

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Running related

• After Eugene I had this crazy idea that I might try to race another marathon in early June. Where do these ideas come from? Reading other people's blogs? Nonsense. I know myself better than that. Someone will win a nice pair of shoes this weekend, but most certainly not me! :)

Sidenote: (Just to prove to myself that it was not a good idea, though, I decided to follow Pfitz's back-to-back marathon training plan- sort of- for a couple of weeks. That ended after a few days of easy runs with strides, and a long run with MP (MP was not in the schedule--duh), and an attempt at pushing a jogging stroller with 70 pounds of kids in it for an "easy run". "Easy run" does not = double stroller. Even slowing down by 2 minutes a mile, my heart rate was in the tempo zone. Little muscles that I usually don't notice were tweaked still from the marathon, and from keeping the stroller from launching off the hills and into the creek. Can't let the kiddos drown I guess...)

•  I have some goals- but they are reserved for late summer/fall. Most of what I am doing is just base / easy aerobic running. Recently I tested myself at my high end aerobic zone and ran for 5 miles to see just how slow I could go maintaining that heart rate. Fascinating test. Took me a mile to get to 139 BPM, and then: 8:54, 9:18, 9:33, 9:36. I was turtle-riffic (for me)  and hope to be about 30 secs/mile faster in a month at the same heart rate. (I was training at essentially the same easy pace after Boston last year.) Will be fun to see...

• One new adventure I am enjoying is coaching a friend with her running. She has already improved so much on her own, but I am honored that she asked me to advise her in training. Each day, I check her progress, it is clear that she is committed to her goals and eager to follow directions. I can't wait to see how she does this summer!

•  I found a new blog! Sole Sisters is a combined project with a heart for the Lord. Check them out! I promise these ladies will be worth your time.

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Snippets that prove my life is extraordinary ...

• I am learning the joy of interior painting. My helpers are very eager, but also very messy. I TRIED to mask things well, and laid down cardboard. However, seeing a 3 year old with a paintbrush DRIPPING paint onto the floor, while staring in awe...I realized that no amount of prep would protect the floor from this. Paint in hair, on shoes...shoes came off. In socks...socks came off, all over feet and between toes. Just glad he had fun and the floor was vinyl.  One room, one coat, four painters backing into eachother's brushes, and it took half a day. ha.

• My 7 year old is finishing up his first year of home school. We started in October and he has made SO much progress, even though I have not invested the time I had hoped into it.  He has gone from only knowing basic alphabet sounds and adding single digits, to fully reading by himself, including compound words and special sounds. Nathan can now write short stories (but hates to). He can add and subtract triple digit numbers, carrying numbers, recognize and use basic fractions, read a thermometer,  and loves geography, music and dance (much to his dad's dismay and everyone's entertainment), and science. 
• Yes. I have pulled most of my hair out doing this. Yes. I am a proud mom!