The Running Shoe Race

A few months ago, I went for the first time to an actual "Running Store" to be fitted for running shoes.  Before this, I had never gone to a professional before and I thought, considering my penchant for injuries, I should perhaps have someone "in-the-know"  watch me run and examine my gait and stance to see if I am wearing the right shoes or the wrong shoes.

My ambitious young shoe salesman, James, did not fill me with tons of confidence.  He was certainly prepared to sell me anything I would buy, but he didn't exactly express himself with a vast amount of authority and knowledge about running, shoes and me as a runner.  But, thanks to modern technology, he didn't really have to, as the computer into which he put all my information, told him (and me) most of the important facts about my feet anyway.  (He did whip out that measuring device to measure my feet, something I haven't experienced since my mom stopped taking me for first-day-of-school-shoes in the 5th grade.)

Together, James and I learned a lot.  For one thing, I am an slight underpronator, which means I land with most of my weight on the outer edge of my foot as opposed to the inside like overpronators. I had always suspected this was true, but I always seem to find/read articles about overpronators, and I could never find very much about underpronation. (I think the reason is, underpronators don't typically have as many injuries as a result of their gait as do overpronators.)  I also confirmed that I should be wearing shoes that are half a size or a full size bigger than my regular shoes, depending on the brand. (Brooks? Half-size bigger. Nike, Saucony? Full size bigger.) I already knew this from looking at the huge hole in the heel of my normal-size running shoes, but it was nice to have it confirmed by a professional-ish person.

In this particular store, they make you take off your shoes and socks and run barefoot on a treadmill.  (A bit of a traumatic experience, since I do not like being barefoot or having my feet be a focal point of any group activity.) But, in watching this video, I did see the way I run for the first time, and had the opportunity to notice that  A.) I am pigeon-toed when I run. Very sexy. and B.) My right arch collapses as I land and then take-off again.  I'm pretty sure these are only minor imperfections, and I don't think that they cause or are in danger of causing any running-related injuries.  Besides, my right side is the one that seems very well-behaved and never seems to cause me any problems....knock on wood.  Nevertheless, James tried his best to sell me some $100 arch supports, you know, just in case.  No thanks, James...the shoes I want aren't even $100, so I'm not paying for arches I don't believe I need. He said they would make me a more efficient runner, but I'm not ever going to win any prizes for speed, so unless this arch will magically transform me into Kara Goucher, I'll be a-okay without them.

Anyway, after about two hours in the running store--honestly, I've had a full hair cut, color and style in less time than this took me to find a pair of running shoes--I finally walked out with a brand new shiny pair of Nike Air Pegasus.  They weren't purple, as I would have liked, but they felt like running on perfect little clouds. Hooray! Shoe victory!

My snazzy new Nikes!

A few short weeks after this running store visit/self-exploration exercise, I noticed a smashingly good sale on running shoes at my local athletic store.  Now that I felt educated on all of my many idiosyncrasies as a runner, I was keen on perusing the selection and finding myself a super-budget busting deal. (Yes, I know that buying two new pairs of running shoes, instead of one, slightly defeats the super-sale prices.  But, if there are $100 Brooks in my size on sale for $40, that's hard for a bargain-hunter like me to turn down! Plus, they were white with navy and purple--a personal fave color combo.)  So, I ordered a second pair of shiny new running shoes.  Also wonderfully comfortable, but in a different way than the Nikes.

My snazzy new super-sale Brooks!

But then came my shoe conundrum: which pair of shoes should I wear in the upcoming marathon?  Do I go with my new, full-priced, professionally-chosen Nikes?  Should I wear my new, 60%-off, super-sale, pretty Brooks? Or should I wear my old, tried and true, been through many races with me and have never let me down Sauconys? What is a girl (and possible shoe addict) to do??

Here is what I did:  I went on an 18.75 mile run around my neighborhood, my last "long run" before the National Marathon this weekend.  I have a fairly hilly 6.25 mile loop near my house, and I ran three laps around.  My plan was to change my shoes (and get water and GU) each time I completed a lap.  Aside from looking like a bit of an odd duck, heading out to my car with three pairs of shoes in tow, I think it was a great plan.  My Brooks, while very comfortable, started to rub a little bit in the arch right around the six-mile mark.  I think they are maybe just a half-size too big (if that), so the arch hits slightly higher on my foot than it should.  Still very comfy, but I probably need to double-up on the socks to prevent the arch from rubbing.  In any case, I was not going to take them out and test them on my 26.2 mile journey.  I changed into my Nikes for my second lap.  They were really fantastic.  I could have easily have kept going in them for another lap....or two...or three....maybe. Finally, I reverted back to my old, dirty Sauconys.  I have loved them.  They've run my first marathon with me, three half marathons, a 10K and countless training runs. Sigh....

But surprisingly, alas, when I put them on this time, they did not feel cushiony at all compared to my wonderful new shoes. Actually, compared to my two new pairs of shoes, they felt like I was wearing those barefoot-running shoes. Flat and hard.  I have to admit, I was mildly distressed that the shoes I'd worn and loved for so long now suddenly seemed sub-par. I ran my final 6.25 mile lap in them, and once I started moving--and erased the memory of my new, softer shoes--they were fine.  Just as effective and functional as they had been in the past.  But, I don't think we will ever be the same...it was like trying to go back to watching Black & White Rabbit-Ears TV after having watched an HD TV...it still works, but it's just not the same, and now I know what I'm missing.

You have probably figured out by now that this weekend in the marathon I plan on wearing my Nikes.  They won this race by a landslide. I only hope now they can carry me through MY race just as efficiently! Cross your fingers.

Countdown to Race Day: 4 days!