Running in Heels

Wow, so much for updating regularly...

I'm pretty much choosing to skip over the whole "snowpocalypse" or "snowmageddon" if you will. I'm so sick of snow it's not even funny.

So...if you've ever seen "The Holiday" with Cameron Diaz, do you remember the part towards the end when she's running back to the cottage to see Jude Law? She's running how I would be running in athletic shoes, except she's in heels. Or Beyonce...have you ever seen her dance on stage? In her stilettos? It's like she's practically barefoot, it's so fluid. Whenever I put on heels, I always think of these moments...wondering how much time I would have to spend in heels before I could run 10k in them or be able to "drop it like it's hot" in them...

Let's rewind a little to Wednesday...I gave a lecture at NIH on Pain and Injury Prevention with Aging. I was really excited about it! Usually in college, I would get a little nervous before a presentation but for some reason this week I was 100% ready...no nerves. I dressed up, all business-like, in my black pants, grey dress top, AND heels. Now...I can handle heels just fine. It's not like I look like a baby giraffe just learning how to walk- but I've never looked as graceful or sexy in heels as other women. Not to mention it puts me at about 6 feet tall. I can't quite figure it out. So...I had a little time to practice. My lecture was on main campus and I just planned on walking from my house (about a 10-12 minute walk). As I was walking, the scene from "The Holiday" flashed in my head and it sparked my curiosity. Can I run in heels? I started at a slow jog...more like a trot, really. Throwing one leg out there hoping I would land on the narrow heel. Picture this...please. It's still pretty much at the pace of a walk..but with a little hop thrown in. I think, "ok, I'm ready to go a little faster." By the way, I'm in no hurry to get there. So I pick up the pace a little..it still doesn't look like a real jog though. My hands are staying glued to my sides, a few wobbles back and forth after I land on one foot. I progress to a jog...except I'm cheating by landing on the balls of my feet rather than my heels. I probably looked like a 4 year old in her mother's heels. Cameron Diaz kept flashing in my head, so I threw the heel of my foot out there....Erin, you are no Cameron Diaz...you're a baby giraffe in heels. Crash and burn. I didn't fall COMPLETELY to the ground. I made a nice save, but if anyone was watching..I probably provided them with a story for dinner.

So...enough of the running. I was just going to perfect my walk. I decided to give my "runway walk" a go. This I could handle. Runway models always put one foot directly in line with the other foot when they walk. I actually felt pretty confident doing this...until after about 5 steps when I would start to keel over from lack of balance. On the upside, this is doable with a little practice...I just don't know that anyone really walks like that off of a runway. I did get a honk from the Fed-Ex guy though...and he got a "that's not ok" look from me.

I'm almost to the building at this point...my feet already screaming at me. I don't know how women do it! I was tempted to just walk barefoot the rest of the way. Don't worry...I didn't. I sucked it up. But you better believe I walked all the way home with those bad boys in my hand! I'll leave the running to Cameron...but Beyonce, I'm comin' for you next!