After 2 very miserable months off running, a lot of painful physical therapy, a tearful Marine Corp Marathon Deferment, and numerous slow/awful/sad runs the Charleston Half Marathon finally has me feeling a bit like my old self. A slower, more careful version of my old self, but boy does it feel great to be moving again. This really got me thinking about this whole injury and recovery process and the one person that kept me sane – my running buddy, T.
I knew I had to do something for her so I reached out to my favorite people – the geniuses behind Mizuno Running, and my beloved Wave Creations, and asked for their help.
Excerpt of my letter to Mizuno,
I switched to Mizuno a year ago after I lost toenails, got crazy blisters, and pretty much had miserable feet through my entire first marathon training. I have been beyond thrilled with Mizuno and will never go back. As both a customer, runner, and Mezamashii member Mizuno has been nothing short of amazing.
However, yesterday I was reminded of how my Mizuno love affair started. I have been running with the same training partner for the past two years, ever since I decided to tackle distance running. When I was having shoe problems she was the one who pushed me to try Mizuno. She is the true definition of a Mizuno addict. She began wearing Wave Riders about a decade ago and has not bought a single running shoe that was not a Wave Rider since.
That got me thinking – how wonderful would it be if I could get a new pair of Wave Rider 16s for her. This is a woman who has run beside me at every race even though I am much slower than her. When I got injured and had to defer the MCM marathon she instantly did the same so we could continue running and training together. When I wasn’t allowed to run for over 2 months she still called me to schedule walks on all our normal run days to keep my spirits up and then ran on her own later. She is the dream running partner and I feel so lucky to have her in my life. I am finally healthy enough and we are beginning our marathon training – we will be running the full at RnR Nashville this spring and Marine Corp this fall. I would love to surprise her with a brand new pair of Wave Rider 16s to begin our training with. A fresh start.
I wondered if you all would be willing to send me a pair of Wave Riders to give to her. I think this would be an amazing thing to do for the best training partner a girl could ask for, the one who introduced me to Mizuno in the first place, and the biggest Mizuno Wave Rider addict I know.
Thank you,
Abby
Boy did Mizuno deliver. T gave me the weirdest look today after our normal Saturday morning training run, when I reached into my car and pulled out a box for her. Okay maybe that is because said box was wrapped in Christmas paper, but that is all I had.
She asked, “What is this?”
I told her, “Read the card you’ll see.”
All the sudden she looks up with a huge smile, like holy crap I just PRed a marathon smile and says, “Are these Mizunos?” and begins ripping into the paper.
Needless to say she is ecstatic and I am beyond thrilled that Mizuno let me give a fabulous gift to the best brilliant run partner ever! Plus how amazing are the shoes they sent?!? – Too cute!
Thank you Mizuno!
You’re too sweet Abby! Running partners really are the best
Seriously, I don’t know what we would do without them.
Holy smokes, that is AMAZING!! And YOU are amazing for doing that!!! What a wonderful way to say thank you!!
She was so shocked and so happy. It was the best feeling. I love giving gifts. Woohoo Mizuno!
youre such an angel! i know that your running buddy must be so very appreciative!. she’s ridiculously lucky to have you!!! youre an amazing friend! and seriously, how kind of mizuno to do that?! wow. what a fabulous company. youre absolutely wonderful, abs! <<333
Thanks for the kind words Jenna. You’re right Mizuno is wonderful I think it is their people skills as much as their shoes that made me fall in love with them.
Abby, that is just fantastic! You are blessed to have such a good running partner but so is she. Many happy runs from now on! You go!
Thanks Nicole. I do feel so very lucky. I really wonder if I would have made the jump from the half to the full marathon if I didn’t have here there supporting me.
Wow- what a great gift for your running buddy! Those shoes are cute cute cute as well!
Aren’t they adorable. I really hope they starting making the Mizunos I wear in that color. Would it be weird if we matched?
Aww this was such a great post. What a great gift! You guys are lucky to have each other
. Not going to lie, I teared up a little!
Oh, I am sorry. No tears miss Amalia.
So cool on all counts. A supportive friend, you contacting Mizuno, and then having them follow through. Love it.
Seriously this just proves that Mizuno is beyond amazing. Once again, they went above and beyond.
Aww, that’s a great story. I’m so glad they were able to help out. Your friend sounds like a real keeper. It’s not too often you meet awesome people who would do all of that for a friend.
She is the best, when she finsihes Med school I am locking her up in my closet. I don’t know what I’ll do without her.
What an awesome story. You’re such a great friend!
Thanks Natalie.
Love this! I saw the picture on twitter or facebook and thought you went out and bought your running partner new shoes for her b-day or something and I was like oh wow, that’s a great gift… well it’s even better that you wrote that and asked Mizuno for them and Mizuno delivered (literally). Because it’s just the thought and time you put into the letter that means a lot more than plunking down money, of course.
I’m glad you have someone who’s stood by you like that too! I’m so thankful for people like that in my life and I know she’s thankful for you too because you’ve always been there for her. And yeah, maybe she can run faster, that’s true, but a lot of the people who I’ve been there for and who’ve been there for me aren’t as fast as me, or are faster than me, that doesn’t change the bond we have as runners. Regardless of pace, race, injuries, sickness… we don’t leave each other behind <3.
Yes, it was amazing that Mizuno came through for us. I feel so blessed to have her in my life.
Abby what an amazing person you are! This was so thoughtful and a gesture your friend will never forget!!!
Thank you Mindy.
You are sooo incredibly thoughtful! Even if she already had 100 pairs of Mizunos, the thought and reasoning you put behind that gift means 100xfold. You again, inspire me!!
Awesome of Mizuno to come through for you. I’ve been trying to get my hands on a pair of elixirs – which I heard they are no longer making after this most current release.
Oh, too sad I hope they don’t stop making the Elixirs. I’d lose it if they stopped making my Creations.
That’s incredible! Go Mizuno – and go you for thinking of it
Woohoo Mizuno is right!
How sweet! And nice of Mizuno too! The shoe colors are perfect.
Aren’t they gorgeous. I am a bit jealous.
Very sweet of you Abby!!!
Thanks Cari.
How nice are you?! I am sure your buddy appreciates your support just as much as you appreciate hers!
I think we both really enjoy having that other person there to motivate us.
see, it all begins with a support! shoes, friends, etc. <3 it!
Yes, it does. Support makes it all happen.
I think it might be weird, but I teared up a little bit reading this post. You have an amazing running partner to do all of this, and what a fantastic company Mizuno is for sending shoes to you to give to her! I give credit to all three of you. This is a great story. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad you like it Meghan. I was so excited to get to give them to her.
How cool! That’s so nice that Mizuno was able to hook you up like that. Mizu’s are all I have run in since 2008 and they continue to be fantastic. love them.
They are the best brand!
How awesome are you for doing that and how fabulous of Mizuno to hook you up!
It was wonderful when they said yes.
That is an awesome story! You are a kick ass running buddy, for sure!
Thanks Brennan.
What a great story! This is what makes me love Mizuno!
They are fabulous aren’t they? Such a Mizuno fan!
Oh WOW what a wonderful surprize for your running buddy! I too have a running bestie…and she is MUCH faster then be but she always knows how to keep my running fire burning and modivated for that next challenge… maybe someday i’ll be able to repay her like you have with yours…
I am glad to know I am not the only one with a much faster running bestie.
Oh my gosh, I don’t know how the heck I missed this post but I’m glad I found it. Your running buddy is amazing and so are you for reaching out to Mizuno. I haven’t worn Mizunos before but I seriously want to have a pair now just because the company is so awesome!
I used to wear the same brand you do, but must admit I have been beyond happy since I switch. And they don’t pay me to say any of that I just stalk them like a crazy person yelling my Mizuno love.