Fitted for Shoes...

After speaking to friends (some who have run marathons, and some who have not), reading some blogs, checking out a few books & magazines about running and what not it became very clear that there were certain priorities that I should attend to. First among them is picking a decent pair of running shoes.

Will Jog for Shoes...

Now, most folks who really know me would call me a "plodder". Though that may sound like what a fairly large IT professional (such as myself) may make when attempting to run, what I am talking about is that I like to plan things. I like Research. You know, use my Google skills. For I am very strong in the art of Google Fu! I would rather read reviews, pricing and online options about products or places rather than buy them or go to them. It is definitely part of my introverted side showing its dominance. So, the googling was on!

I learned about over pronation and under pronation, motion versus stability control. High arch versus low arch, left and right foot dominance. I learned about how your feet swell when running so you have to buy your running shoes a bit big, and if you don't wear the right socks you may lose a toenail or two when running long distances (Eewwwwwww!). I learned that most decent running shoes only last between 300 and 400 miles (That could be expensive!) and that most running socks are good for up to 1000 miles. Seems like an 8 hotdog, 6 buns kinda deal, but hey - I am just googling along here.

A side note about my big toes...

If you don't already know, I have gout which typically rears its ugly head in the form of gouty eposides usually affecting one or both of my large toes. When I say episode, I mean crazy, searing pain the likes of which only pregnant woman experience during child birth, except concentrated in my metatarsal phalangeal (specifically my Digitorum Brevis) which is the knuckle portion of where the big toe meets the foot. This pain is so bad, that the mere weight of a single layer of an ultra-light, 600 count Egyptian cotton sheet resting lightly on said toe can turn me into a truck driver or ex-military personel due to the profanities that pour out of my mouth when such an occurrence happens due to the pain the bed apparel caused. Given this area of complication, it is VERY (and I mean VERY!) important that I find the right shoe and the right support that will help avoid a gout flare-up due to me aggravating that knuckle inappropriately, for which long distance running is bound to do.

Back to the shoe of things...

One of the sites I went to, one that is now at the top of the list of my favorites for running, is called Runners World They have a section on shoes, and reviews and types and prices etc. I highly recommend visiting this site if you want to learn about shoes, what shoe types you may want to investigate for yourself as well as increasing your overall Shoe Fu. My Shoe Fu is weak, but growing ever stronger thanks to this site.

So, Googling was fun. Browsing Runners World was fun. Finding that Runners World had an affiliated type store in Scottsdale called Road Runner Sports = priceless!

The trip...

I headed down to Road Runners Sports to see what all the hubub was about, and if I could find the right shoe.

I entered the store, and was taken aback. There were "Running People" everywhere. You know the type, skinny, tan, healthy looking, perma smile and so far away from my spectrum of existence that my self-confidence took an immediate dive. Right on the spot. They had a plethora of equipment in the middle of the store. Video cameras tread mills and fairly attractive type humans with clipboards nodding their heads as other fairly attractive humans ran in said treadmills. I looked to my left, where a good friend and future marathon companion (Lee Dayley) was standing. He had volunteered to help guide me on my journey to find the right shoes, and had tagged along for moral support. Lee is in uber shape. He has been since he was 8 months old I think. He probably felt right at home. I almost left, but I sucked it in knowing that I had promised God, my family and all my friends that I was doing this marathon thing ... and I needed shoes ... dammit!

Thankfully I was approached by the tree hugger, read headed unkempt facial beard employee dude, rather then the several blonde vallery girl types that were present. He said plainly enough "Can I help you?". I then explained the marathon, the gout, I'm fat and that I need shoes things. He motioned me over kindly and said "Let's go through a shoe fitting process that starts by gathering some more info then getting on the treadmill amongst a few other things. Once we have all this data, we can point you in the right direction." I said sure, hesitantly. I was now pleasently passed the self-conscious thing, and started wandering into the "holy crap, this lookes intense, I hope I can afford shoes here" thing...

He asks my age, weight, what terrain I will be running on and for what purpose (or goal) was I running. He has me take off my shoes, and roll my pants up. I have noticed that everyone else here is in shorts, except me of course; I make a mental note to do so the next time I come back. He then has me stand on this plastic, gel thingee that looks allot like a extra large weight scale. It is all soft and squishy. I stand still for 30 seconds. Much harder to do then it sounds folks. He then asks me to roll my pants up even more, and jog on the treadmill. Jog? Really? Jog now? I came here to buy shoes, not jog! I can't jog! I want to jog at home or at the Gym. Jog here, barefooted, with my pants rolled up? Really? I look at Lee, he has totally missed my spiking anxiety. He mumbles something about hating white shoes and then mentions that he may want to get fitted as well and wanders off. Where is my moral support? I lok at hippy dude, and think buck-up or shut-up. I get angry. I will jog! I will! 15 seconds later, panting crazily, I have jogged on the treadmill. I have jogged! I have officially stared my marathon training! Destiny, take that!

Now that I have had my 60 second break, from my 15 second jogging session the red headed bearded dude asks me to come take a look at the Video. You see, they film each foot individually. They are checking out in HD the mechanics of how my feet hit the ground, how my arches flex, how I roll my ankle and other things that this guy thinks are important. He also brings up the results of that squishy gel'ish scale thingee. He says I am left foot dominant (at rest, 60% of my weight rests on my left foot), that I have high arches, and that both feet have similar arch heights. This is a good thing, as I need speialized insoles but can avoid the cost of custom insoles due to my matching arches - nice! He also says that I over pronate pretty bad on both feet and that my left foot angles outwards while my right foot stays fairly straight and aligned when hitting the ground. He also shows me how bad my left ankle seems to explode outwards when my full body’s weight lands on it during the jogging. It explodes outwards, like no one’s business. It is very gross looking. I almost throw up in my mouth. Holy crap. My ankle does that? I ask him what this means. He says he has seen worse (Really? I doubt it!) and that he would like me to try on several motion control models of shoes along with super feet green arch support insoles. I agree.

6 shoes later, all of them fitting fairly nicely, I settle upon a size 12 (you know what they say about men and shoe sizes eh?) Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10. Very high motion control rating and really provide my ankle (you know, the one with the yucky blow out thingee happening?) a ton of support. It is an overall great fit with a high degree of awesomeness. Did I mention they only cost 89 bucks? Yup! That is it. I was taken aback how affordable they were. All the science and gismos, and service and the shoes were only 89 bucks. Such a deal!

Now for socks and insoles...

I try a few pairs of socks on. Fully synthetic, hybrid, wool mix, yarn mix and 100% cotton. Standard, crew, cushion no cushion, arch support no arch support. Blah blah blah. Do many choices, so little time. I quickly settle upon a 100% synthetic, arch snugging Road Runners store brand. They also suggest the Super Feet - Green insoles to help counteract the pronation, provide more arch support as well as a superior cushion for running.

Wammo. Shoes, Socks and insoles. Done. Total experience, Shoes and all, was about 45 minutes. I felt good. I felt supreme. I felt like Road Runner Sports deserved my money, my accolades as well as my personal recommendation to anyone who will listen. I truly think that if you need any type of athletic shoes, you should try Road Runner Sports. The store I went to was in Scottsdale, near the 101 and Scottsdale Road, on Mayo just west of Whole Foods.

Road Runners Sports - Scottsdale / Mayo

Now, I just need to start running...


Cheers,


-Aaron