I never thought I'd grimace to hear the words: "You should take it easy. Rest your legs." In fact, I've dreamed of hearing such a command.

In my dream I run so easily that each stride bounces me gently into the air, slow-motion like, and eventually I become so light that I never touch the ground at all. I just run, mid-air, along the streets of the neighborhood I lived in when I was little. Then Chef Ramsay (Of Hell's Kitchen fame) calls to me from below, "Shannon, I've cooked you a splendid grilled cheese sandwich. Take a break and have a bite, yeah?"

But in reality, my running hasn't been nearly as carefree. Seems the combination of running in two-year-old shoes, walking to work in paper-thin flip flops ($5.99 at Target, thank you very much) and too much running (that's right - too much) has irritated my leg muscles. From just under my knee to the inside of my ankle there is a distinct pain that started during a run and, well, hasn't left since.

With the race only a week away, another run or two isn't going to make much of a difference in my training - beyond where I am right now. It could further agitate the legs, though. So, I'm at peace with taking it easy the next several days - and getting new running shoes.

As for the flip flops, I'm too cheap to buy well-crafted ones with adequate foot support. Instead, I think I'll staple some Dr. Scholl's inserts to the ones I already have.