A Running Shoe's Anatomy.

A good running shoe should:

* have both heel and toe padding
* be one size too big to accommodate additional socks
* have laces that don't come undone
* have good ventilation in the summer, good insulation in the winter
* have a good grip in the winter
* not get wet in rain or slush.

I've got only two pairs of running shoes, one at least three years old. If you run a lot over the year, it's recommended to buy a new pair every year because the padding loses its effect. I haven't, because I'm such a scrooge. Maybe next spring.

They're both for summer use. I've been running a lot here in Hollola during my Christmas holiday, because it's the only kind of sports that can give me my endorphin fix.

I don't usually run in the winter, since I don't have proper shoes. Summer shoes get wet if there's no snow and it's raining, or worse, slush on the ground. Without snow there's often ice too, and summer shoes are simply too slippery. They're slightly slippery on snow too, but I don't mind it too much. I'm thankful for the snow and it looks pretty too.

I hadn't had a jog in weeks before I came here. Once I got running again I had a huge epiphany about what a wonderful thing it is. It's as close to heaven as you can get. I tend to forget that fact in the winter when I'm too busy with aerobics and circuit training.

Aerobics and especially circuit training are good, but nothing compares to running. If I had to define my happiest moment, it would be running along a country road, watching the fields slowly pass me by in the sunshine, listening to music or the steady rhythm of my feet hitting the ground repeatedly.

It's a perfect time to allow yourself to think. Let your mind wander off wherever it wants to go. Besides, I read that exercise increases blood flow in the brain and improves your ability to think clearly and effectively.

So really, I should get me a pair of winter running shoes. Shoes where my toes didn't freeze up or get wet, shoes which have a good grip. Last winter I gave it some serious thought, but I decided against it. They're so damn expensive and I wasn't sure if I would use them often enough to pay themselves back.

But this time, I got a sizeable sum in tax refund, and for the moment I'm wealthier than usual. All that money, it's just begging to be used! Keep the economy running, eh!