I want to buy a new pair of running shoes.

I notice running shoes sole are getting thicker in recent years. All major brands do this. And the outsole wears out much faster than in the "old days". I speculate the trend or the design objective is to make them at "reasonable cost" and as comfortable as possible so runners can run longer.

But I do not need to run longer!

My running objective is to stay healthy and strengthen my muscles. I am not an expert but for my body, running on thinner outsole forces me to use my muscles more. More aches, yes, but that is because I work those muscles.

And that is the point of my running. To work my muscles and to stay healthy. I do not want to run longer. I only want to run routinely at my target distance without any injury.

Shoe brands want customers to believe that runners ought to run longer and brag about it. And that is far from my objective.

Shoe-shopping aside, this reminds me not to get carried away with what the world markets to us. The message of the world frequently does not align with my best interest. As a Christian, I need to be aware of why I do things - what is the intent and what is the back story.

Dear God
please help me stay focused on you
may Jesus always be the centre of everything