Unintented Consequences of Marathon Training

Many ladies who are more of an athletic build may be frustrated by fashions insistance that we wear knee-high boots in both the Fall and Winter seasons. Why???? Because after hours of working to tone and build our bodies an unfortunate consequence arises: our calves become too "thick" or "wide" to fit into these oh-so-trendy boots.

All the celebrities insist on showing off their
skinny calves by parading around in boots. Victoria Beckham (aka Posh Spice) always looks like she just stepped off a runway, and Paris Hilton enjoys making us feel even worse by not only fitting her boots over her calves ... but a pair of JEANS as well.

Well, in a recent shopping trip to DSW I followed my usual routine. I looked at flats and sneakers: flats for work, sneakers for reality. I came across a pair of low boots (that dont get to the calf) that I really like (works for work & play) and picked those up. As I made my way up and down the aisles I passed a pair of boots several times, each time my eyes paused. I liked them. Alot. But they were knee-high boots so I contined to walk. On my 10th or so circle I stopped. "If they have my size I am just going to try them on". They had my size. I tried them on. THEY FIT.
There are two possible reasons for this phenomenon: 1) These boots are just funny-fitting for "normal people", making them perfect for me 2) My calves are smaller. I didnt think about trying on other pairs to test theory #1. Now that its in my head I need to go back and check to see if this is the true reason. But I believe that #2 is actually the answer. Marathon training is often equated with muscle loss - which is why we see so much stressing the importance of including weight training into our overall routine. I did do some weight training, but I admit it was minimal. And, in fact, it was much less than what I would regularly do prior to marathon training (when I would work out for fun, not because I was crazy enough to run a marathon). So I think I experienced muscle loss in my legs - the most common area for a runner to experience muscle loss. And I am thrilled. Yay for marathon training! It made my legs skinnier :)