A happy runner has happy feet.
An unhappy runner has an injury, side stitches, or horrible shoes.
I wish I would have kept the shoes I wore when I started running back in late 2006. Seriously, you would laugh. The were heavy and ugly. The pinky toe portion was blown out. The first real race I ever ran was in January 2007 and my pinky toes are still upset with me. They had no shelter from the cold.
The biggest problem was that they were WALKING shoes, not RUNNING shoes.
Yes, there is a difference. A big difference. Trust me.
Walking shoes are usually stiffer and heavier than running shoes. This is because the walking motion does not require as much flexibility as the running motion. Also heavier shoes provide more cushioning for the foot. Although it may seem as though runners would need more cushioning because of the greater impact, runners typically choose lighter shoes because heavier shoes can make striding more difficult.
When I finally put enough miles on my walking shoes to prove to myself I was committed to the process, I went to a local store that specializes in running shoes. They measured my feet and determined I needed a wide shoe (*gasp* NO! Really?) They put me on a treadmill and video taped my feet from behind to see how I run, then determined which shoes would help improve my running.
The first time I went out in my new shoes I felt like the Roadrunner. The difference was amazing! Unlike most other shoes, you should never have to rely on a break in period - running shoes should feel good the day you buy them.
For my friends joining me on July 12th -
I promise you don't want to be worrying about your feet during the race. You don't have to buy a $100 pair of running shoes (I saw a nice pair of Reebok's at Sam's for $17 last week), but if you're shoes aren't comfortable you will be miserable.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for running shoes:
- Shop in the later part of the afternoon - feet get bigger during the day and they will get bigger when running
- Wear the socks that you would normally wear during running
- A number of other factors should be taken into account when deciding which shoe is best for you - such as how much you run; how heavy you are; presence of any specific foot problems
- It often can help to bring an old pair of shoes with you, so the sales person can see where your shoes tend to wear the most
Are your feet happy?
5 comments:
I hope my feet are going to be happy.. I did go out and buy a nice pair of shoes on Saturday,, There was no way I was gonna be in such misery again. I have not yet tried them out but I think today will be the day. My legs are feeling much better today although they still hurt from Saturdays race. ... To your readers.. Chelles post is right on!!! I made the mistake of having bad shoes and trust me this is something you really want to avoid.
Wow, that is fantastic info Michelle! Thanks for sharing! I love my Adidas shoes, even though they might be considered a little clunky. Thanks for the info and have a great day! You rock!
How funny that you would post this. I swear, God just leads you to your next blog! A few months ago, I replaced the laces on my shoes instead of buying new shoes. I've had these shoes since high school so they were a little worn out! I had to get Jakob some shoes a couple weekends ago for t-ball and there was the "buy one and get the second pair half off" deal. So I bought myself some shoes. I didn't know what kind they were but after reading your blog, I did a search online. I do believe they are running shoes! Thanks for letting us know how important they are!
See you July 12th and hopefully beforehand for a mock race!
Great info! Yes, my feet are happy! Denise S.
Just another thing to consider (or really...to reiterate)
You all really should get your feet checked out at a running store like Michelle did. Most places will do it for free, though you may have to listen to them solicite their shoes for a little while. Myself, I still havent done it, but I wish I had at a point a month or two ago. I purchased a pair of really nice, expensive running shoes, and a week later, I was forced to sit on the couch because I had injured the side of my foot. For now, I am forcing myself to keep using the shoes because I paid for them, but I only have a 100 or so miles to go before I need to find a new pair. Get those feet checked out! Theres certainly truth to the process!!
(and you can find the shoes the suggest for much cheaper on eBay!)
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