Saturday, July 19, 2008

Buying the Right Shoes

After my triathlon this last weekend (which overall went well--it was super hilly!), I realized I really need a new pair of shoes. I have never thought much about the shoes I run in, I usually just buy the ones that look the cutest! But I have really realized the importance of the right shoe. During the run on my triathlon both feet were numb almost the whole time. Usually, my left foot goes a little numb when I run on a normal basis and I just ignore it always thinking it was just me being out of shape or something. During my run in the race, when both feet were numb and I really wanted to just quit, it hit me; it's not me, it's my shoes! So I did some research and found this great site which helped me figure out the kind of runner I am. And that then helped me figure out the kind of shoes I needed to buy. I did my first run in them tonight and what a difference, my foot did not go numb! 

I've heard of specialty stores that watch you run and then customize your shoe for you. Anyone heard of this and/or tried it out? 

6 comments:

Lisa said...

If you have a Roadrunner Sports near you, they do that. It is nice, but keep in mind that it is still a subjective measure and ultimately, you are the best judge what feels right. The best thing is that they give you 60 days to decide if your shoes are right for you.

Anonymous said...

I've also been to roadrunner sports and ended up with a great pair of shoes. I would definetly suggest you try them out next time you're in the market for new shoes.

Felice Devine said...

There is no Roadrunner Sports near me, but there is an independent running store that offers the same service. I tried it when I was having problems about 5 years ago. The owner watched me run on a treadmill, then had me try on a few different running shoes. I still run in the shoes that the he recommended for me!

5 Miles Past Empty said...

We have a store near me that does it. I gave it try and I am really happy with the shoe that I got. Here is a link if you want to just see what it entails:

http://www.thebalancedathlete.com/

But Lisa is right, what really matters is how the shoes feel. I had the same numb feeling and actually during one 12K I swear my feet were on fire! They were literally burning. Those shoes are now my walking around shoes. The shoe does make a difference from knee pain to shin splints.

Good luck in finding a store who can help you out!

Suzie Petunia said...

I've also been "tested" at Roadrunner sports. I was lucky to find an associate who was extremely knowledgeable about shoes. They did a great job. They video record the back of your feet as you run on a treadmill and analyze it right there with you. It was especially interesting to see how different shoes affected how much I pronate. The right shoe can make all the difference in the world!

Cotter said...

I was having knee pain while running and finding the right shoes made all the difference! We don't have a roadrunner sports by our house but I found an independent running store. They wathed me run (up and down the strip center... it was kind of humiliating) and told me which shoes to look at. It worked out great!