Running 101: Shoes

Well, I'm still plodding along with the running....I'm up to 9 miles!!! Woo Hoo!

I thought I'd share a quick funny story about my shoes.

As you may or may not know, I began this whole running thing back in March. I had been wanting to give it a try and actually started running last year, right before I turned 40. A couple of months into it, I ended up getting mono of all things! Who gets mono when they are turning 40??? Me, of course.

I was knocked on my butt, literally for about 3 months. That was the end of my running career.

This March, one year later, I was trying to do anything to pull myself out of a low period in my life, and just kind of prove to myself that I was alive. That's when I went back to the running. Back then, it was cool and crisp....now of course it's about one million degrees out and the humidity is like a sauna, but I'm still hanging in there.

In April, when I had been running a month and had signed up to run in the MCM, I was talking to my Dad on the phone.

Our conversation was something like this:

Dad: "You know Kat (because that's what he calls me) if you're serious about doing this, you really need to get a good pair of running shoes."

Me: "Yea, I know Dad. I'm gonna do that."

Dad: "You know you can't just go to Kohl's and get any old pair of running shoes."

Me: "Oh......yea, I know that." 

(Thinking to myself, shoot, what about my 20% off coupon??)

.....Silence....

Me: "Okay, where can I get some good running shoes??"

Dad: "I know just the place."

So, a few days later my Dad ended up meeting me at Road Runners, a running store, to help me pick out some real running shoes.

When we got there, the salesman had me walk across a pad that was hooked up to a computer that took a scan of my foot. From this, they could tell about my arches and the weight distribution on my foot. Then, they had me run on a treadmill while they videotaped the back of my calves and feet.

(There's nothing like seeing a close up of the back of your fat calves while you're running.....not pretty:)

From the video (which they also showed me in slow motion.....lovely) they could tell the amount of pronation that I had....that's a fancy running word to see if you lean in on your feet when they land.

So, while I'm huffing and puffing away on the treadmill my Dad is talking to me.

Dad: You know that when I used to run my thighs were as big around as some people's waists.

Me: Uh, Dad, that's not really making me want to do the whole running thing.

Then, the salesman walks us over to the wall of shoes and shows me the section I should choose from. I pick a couple of pairs. He measures my foot and then tells me that for running I should get shoes one size bigger than I normally wear....(which by the way is huge for my height.)

I tell him, "Again, that's not making me feel so good about the running thing."

Sheesh! Men!

I bought the shoes, (they ended up being 1/2 size bigger than what I normally wear......they are size Huge and a half. :)

Here they are:

Lesson learned: If you want to run, get yourself some good shoes. They really aren't that expensive at all, and they've made a big difference.

PS. For all you family members, once I upload my pix I'll post some good ones from this weekend!