I believe the most important puzzle of running, is finding
the proper running shoes. I remember my
first pair of running shoes, Nike Air Pegasus, and they were fantastic. However, I
did not race in my Air Pegasus, no, no, I raced in Nike racing flats of
course, silly goose. That said, I am
99.9% sure that I will never buy a pair
of Nike running shoes for myself ever again.
The reason is because Nike’s are not the right shoe for me. The key point of that sentence, was not the right
shoe for me, but they could be perfect for Sally Mae lining up right next to
me, but there is no universal perfect running shoe.
I had an intense education about running shoes during a four month stint in 2004 working at The Starting Line, a premiere specialty running store located in Marina Del Rey, Ca. I learned all about the different categories of shoes from neutral, stability, and up to motion control, (there was no minimal category at the time, but rather just racing flats.) I would analyze runners first walk barefoot before choosing a shoe for them, then I would observe them running on a treadmill in said “shoe”, and start the conversation about they felt, and how I thought they looked, and whether that shoe was the right match. Sometimes I would hit pay dirt the first time out, other times I would go through 4-5 different brands and different models therein before we found their proper suitor. My favorite a part was introducing all sorts of lacing options that would fix nearly every off fit and my customers would leave feeling they were ready to run off into the sunset with their shoes. It was a wonderful job, I loved every minute of it.
I had an intense education about running shoes during a four month stint in 2004 working at The Starting Line, a premiere specialty running store located in Marina Del Rey, Ca. I learned all about the different categories of shoes from neutral, stability, and up to motion control, (there was no minimal category at the time, but rather just racing flats.) I would analyze runners first walk barefoot before choosing a shoe for them, then I would observe them running on a treadmill in said “shoe”, and start the conversation about they felt, and how I thought they looked, and whether that shoe was the right match. Sometimes I would hit pay dirt the first time out, other times I would go through 4-5 different brands and different models therein before we found their proper suitor. My favorite a part was introducing all sorts of lacing options that would fix nearly every off fit and my customers would leave feeling they were ready to run off into the sunset with their shoes. It was a wonderful job, I loved every minute of it.
Along the way I
discovered I was best fitted for Stability shoes, and that Mizunos were a great
brand for me. Sadly, I learned quickly
that shoe companies enjoyed switching up their styles of shoes just as quickly
as couture fashion designers, so a certain model that worked for me one year,
was completely different the next. The Brooks Adrenaline was a big seller, so I
tried it, loved it, and it was the only shoe I ran in from 2004 – 2010. I have a
strict rule to go no longer than three months in one pair of shoes, which is
about 500 miles. I keep track of the tight three month window by writing the
date I buy my shoes on the instep with a black sharpie, just like I used to write
all over my converse in Jr. High, T+O, or whatever boy I was crushing on at the
moment, but this purpose actually justifies shoe graffiti, because once your
shoes start to break down, so do you. Most
running injuries start from the ground up, so the pain travels up from the feet,
to the knees, the back, the neck, and soon your brain is telling you it is too
painful to run, no bueno mis amigos, after three months, every pair must retire.
During the Summer of 2010 I saw a piece on the news about
New Balance shoes being the only running shoe company that does all of their
manufacturing in the states, and since I buy at least four pairs of running shoes
per year, I wanted to put that money back in Uncle Sam’s pocket, and put a
smile on my face. This is where the help
of a running store expert comes in handy, because I knew very little about New
Balance, so I walked into my local running store in the Valley, Runnergy, and
said I need the closest New Balance to the Adrenaline, and they showed me the
way to the 760’s, yay, they were wonderful.
Naturally, their production did not last, so I went to the 860’s, which
were similar enough to the 760’s to stop my blubbering, and aid me through
many, many miles. However, in early
September of 2012 I discovered New Balance’s online outlet, Joe’s Outlet, and picked
out the 630’s on a whim, a hasty, almost adulterous choice that changed my
world forever.
First of all, the 630’s were only $40, which was a monetary miracle
on its own, but they were my first neutral shoe, which meant they were much lighter
than the 860’s, but with more support than a minimal shoe/racing flat, and they
made me fly. In December I ordered three
more pairs to stock up, a brilliant move in retrospect because when I went to
order more in April they were gone from the site, out of production, and gone
from my life forever. I am almost
through my fourth pair which will last me through September, but the illustrious
630 shoe is nowhere to be found, why New Balance? WHY? Then again maybe it is a blessing in disguise
because I have just taken a chance on a whole new shoe company ALTRA, and am
enjoying their zero drop technology just fine so far. I am back to paying full price at Runnergy,
but they are wonderful people, so I don’t mind giving them my husband’s
hard-earned visual effect sweatshop money because the shoes are paramount for
this runner’s journey, and should be for all of us.
The Line Up: Altras, NB 630's, NB 730's
Okay, I will wrap it up here by saying that shoes are VERY important, please do the right thing, and treat your feet with the respect they deserve.
