Fantasia - The Dance of the Hippos!!!

So last week was the week I got real proper running shoes - trainers!!!!
My lovely friend from work Atlanta has been trying to get me out running and finally after much "but I don't have the right kit" excuses; she dragged me to the running shop on Thursday lunchtime to get the right kit!!!
So gold daps in bag - in case I needed flat shoes for the tests they do - off we popped to the running shop!
The very understanding and lovely man at Run Swindon asked me what running I had done before? Answer - none; actually whilst we're on it no exercise before this!! What was I running in at the moment? Answer - a combination of these, gold daps and some pink running shoes that I don't like? "Right" said the lovely man "lets try on some trainers and get you on the running machine" !!!!
Now at this point I'm looking around the very nice shop thinking there is nothing here I like and please dear lord don't make those trainers over there be the ones for me!!! To say this shop was a new experience for me was an understatement. And the tests on my feet for size and well shape I suppose take me back to the scary foot measuring machines at clarkes when I was a small person.
Neutral ugly trainers on – video camera ready to go, yes video!!! this whole experience is quite terrifying, I haven't been filmed willingly since I was about 13 in the school production of Joseph - and there I am standing on a running machine in black tights; a floral warehouse dress & giant black beads; oh and did I mention ugly trainers!! And I'm running; well waddling/mincing.
Horror of all horrors watching the film back all I'm thinking is that I look like one of the hippos from Fantasia, skippy and all TuTu'd up. At this point the lovely man is explaining runningy type things: gaits, toes, feet, angles etc etc.. and the next pair of trainers go on and we repeat the running. This time without the necklace. The giant beads are a bit bumpy whilst running. These trainers are better - they look much nicer on the video, the soles are pretty and they are a colour combination I can work with - luckily the lovely man also thinks they are good! but he wants to try one more pair to see..
Oh Dear Lord - Lovely man even if these are the best trainers in the world there is no way on hells earth I am wearing these ever, they are the ugliest things I have ever seen ever ever ever!!!!
Phew they are not the best! So to the till I go with the 'White with turquoise and silver detailing trainers'
£90!!!!! £90!!!!! And with the shock the words "I have never spent that much on ugly flat shoes before" fell out of my mouth. Poor lovely man, I don't think he knew what to do! So he threw in special socks! And I didn't have the heart to tell him they didn't match my trainers! Note to self go and find special socks that match your new running shoes.
So new running shoes purchased, what difference did they make?
Well this week unlike last week I managed three 4/5k runs in the gym and 4 miles outside!!!! toes a bit tingly but legs and feet don't hurt now so bodes well for the training.

This week I must run lots mid week as we have friends staying; I must try not to drink too much!! - and I must go and buy a sports bra - Why all running related products have to be so ugly I don't know - any tips on where I find a pretty sports bra let me know????