On my feet!
Asics 2140
So, here’s the thing, I have been told by one million billion several local runners that THE ONLY place to go for running shoes is Gary Smith’s Easy Runner. Now, you may not know this about me, but I’m not easily intimidated. Sure, sometimes I flounder on my inside parts if I come across someone who has a better education, or is mega rich, or more awesome (as if!) than me in some way, but very few people have a sharp enough eye to see me flinch. Because I’m that good at hiding my faltering confidence. However, the mere thought of stepping foot into a REAL runner’s store, that only REAL runners shop in, and only REAL runners work in…well, that intimidated the holy hell out of me.
But Momma needed a new pair of shoes so she put on her granny big girl panties and high-tailed it over to the runner’s store. Because she is, after all, a faux runner.
Okay, those guys couldn’t have been nicer or more helpful. They didn’t look at me funny or laugh at me (I had an afterschool TV show moment where I just knew when I walked in they would all start laughing and pointing and yelling “The only thing she runs for is a second helping!!”) They watched me walk, watched me run (okay, that was a little horrifying) and discussed my running gait with me.
Here’s the thing: I supinate (on the outside of my feet) when I walk. I pronate when I run because I run on my toes. I’m TRYING to stop running on my toes because I’m no longer running for speed like I was when I played basketball and softball. (I’m using the term ‘speed’ very loosely here, I assure you) BUT that’s how I was taught to run, so that’s what feels right. (Until I’m 20 minutes into a run and my calves start to feel like acid balloons…)
One of the guys sat down with me and showed me a book where a world famous runner (sorry the name has escaped me) retrained his running style. A real Runner Dude sat down with me and showed me this! With me! The Fat Chick Faux-Runner! How awesome is that?
Anyway, I have a new pair of shoes which are very lightweight, have some cushion at the toe which will serve the balls (that’s what she said) of my feet while I’m transitioning to a different running style, and they also have some outside support for my duck outside-of-the-foot walk. I’ll report back after my first run and let you know how they feel.
Tags: shoes
Now now running is like a cult, the old guard like bringing in new members.
I’m LOL at Melissa’s comment. (mostly because she’s right)
As for the new shoes. Dead sexy!
awesome shoes! and you are a real runner. no more faux.
WOW on the new, fancy shoes.
I had no idea that I intimidated you. Sorry. I’ll be nicer now that I know! 🙂
I will have to honestly tell you that I completely disagree with you about GS easyrunner. I have had MULTIPLE attempts to go there and have them outfit me in the right shoes. They constantly do the same thing. Watch me walk, run, run some more. Each time they put me in ungodly expensive shoes that kill my feet or back. I can’t tell you the hundreds of dollars I spent, but only went back because every runner I knew back then swore by them. It was only until I insisted to them I would only wear Nike and they would reluctantly outfit me in Nike. BEST SHOES EVER! I still go to GS for shoes but I don’t allow them to outfit me unless it’s Nike. And BTW, every dude in the store runs but IS NOT in anyway a physical therapist, orthopedist, or even remotely trained to give you the advice they do. They are same as me and you, runners. They are told how to look at a person’s foot but honestly don’t have any ‘qualifications’ to do this. Don’t mean to burst any bubbles here. But your shoes are pretty! Ask Eric Francis about his experience there, I read on his page about a bad experience with his shoes that stopped his marathon training. Anyway, just saying after 5 years of running I wouldn’t bank on GS to outfit me in anything I can trust. You will get to know your own feet and style with time and not spend near as much at GS anymore. Good luck!
Robyn,
I’m not discounting your experience there, or Eric’s. He and I discussed his experience at length over the holidays. But I will tell you, these guys at least took the time to talk to me, they fitted me in a shoe that cost me $60 LESS than the New Balance shoe did and they were friendly. Which goes a long way for me. My experience with them was very positive, at least so far.
I won’t know if I like this shoe until I exercise in it, but if I don’t, I’ll make sure they know about it. They didn’t offer me in OT or PT advice, just typical knowledge that they’ve gained as runners, which I appreciated.
Either way, the Asics seem to fit me well, they’re lightweight and wide enough for my honkin feet. I’ll know by tomorrow if they are going t work out or not. I’m just thankful they were only $100 as opposed to the $150+tax the NB store charged me.
They gave you pt/ot advice when they told you your gait. They can’t actually do that by ‘eyesite’. They are always nice to me but I’m just saying they are HIGHLY overrated with people swearing they know what they are doing. If you ever go to RunTex in Austin with me you will laugh your ass off at GS. The difference is amazing. Anyway, you may love your shoes. BTW, I had those same shoes. GS convinced me I had a certain gait and those were the shoes for me, two months later they couldn’t explain how I had worn the entire heel straight through from the inside out. And needless to say didn’t refund me my money.