One of the most frequent questions I see posed by beginners is “What shoes should I buy?”
Well, here is the scoop: my favorite shoe may cause you a world of hurt. Why? Because we all run a little differently.
If you opt to head to your local big box discount store and say “Oh, I think the blue ones from Nike/Adidas/Asics/whatever are cute! Look, they’re comfy as I walk a few steps in the aisle. AND on sale? SOLD!” you may be in for a sad surprise when you actually go out and run. Why? Because those “comfy” shoes walking around may not be the ones you need when actually running.
Your shoes are the single most important piece of gear you will buy for running and a properly fitted shoe can mean the difference between a comfortable run and a run riddled with knee, leg, shin, or foot pain. (Now, while they can alleviate issues caused by your gait, they will not heal other injuries.)
Your first step is to find a local running store. This is NOT the time to head to the mall shops or discount warehouse. You want a store that focuses on running. They hire and train people – usually runners themselves – that know the shoes, how to analyze your stride, what surfaces you will be running on, and what kind of running you are doing.
Now, if you’re like me, I was intimidated as all get out walking through those doors. I had it in my head that I had no business being there.
I was too fat.
I was a beginner.
They are going to laugh at me, and I should just leave.
While I am sure you will find the occasional jerk, what I found was the complete opposite.
I shyly told the man I was a beginner and wanted to get shoes. He asked what program I was using (C25K) and what surfaces I would be running on. Well, at the time, I was really self conscious about running outside, so I told him I planned to start on the treadmill then when I got brave enough, I would move outside.
He had me hop on the treadmill and started me off at a slow pace. I’ll admit, I was feeling very exposed on that treadmill. I was in my regular clothes running on this machine in the middle of the store in front of a window where everyone could see me, but I sucked it up and went through the motions.
In my bout of self-consciousness I had not realized he was filming me running on that treadmill!
Eek!
After a short distance, he stopped the belt and queued up the footage (footage – running.. Get it? No? I’ll stop.) and I wondered how my feet and ankles would look running.
He played the video and I watched my footfalls in slow motion. It was rather fascinating, actually. How often does one get to see little details like that?
Turns out I have a fairly neutral stride with a very slight pronation on my left foot. This told him I didn’t need a model with a lot of stability or correction, but we did have to take into account that I was a heavier runner and my limbs would be taking on more pressure than someone who was lighter.
He measured my foot, then brought out a few models and I tried them on one by one. We first went for basic fit and I walked around the store. If they are uncomfortable just standing or walking, there’s a very slim chance they will be better when you start running.
So we narrowed it down to a few pair and back on the treadmill I went. After a little back and forth noticing how my heels slipped in one, I felt a weird rubbing on another, another was a little more snug in the toe box, another felt good overall, so I settled on a pair (Brooks Dyad 8) and off I went.
I took my new shoes out a couple days later for their inaugural run and discovered a weird pain in the front right leg area. Huh.
Happened again on the next run.
I went back to the shop and told the guy about the issue. He had me hop back on the treadmill, asked some more questions, then pulled some inserts off the wall and suggested I try them.
I paid and left, then stopped at the fitness room on my way home and tried out the new setup.
The pain was gone, my friends.
Why this long tale about my shoe buying?
First, there is no way I would have had that level of attention at some giant discount store or online.
Second: this man really, really wanted to make sure I had the proper shoes. He is a runner and I felt he sincerely wanted me to succeed and become a fellow runner.
The local running store will let you try out the shoes for 30 days (usually) to make sure they work for you and will let you exchange them for another pair (or help get them fine tuned as was my case). Will you pay more there? Of course. But I also feel completely justified in paying extra for that level of expertise and knowledge.
My shoes are my buddies in this adventure. The only thing I have to worry about are tight or tired muscles and building up my miles. I’ve since changed from Brooks to Hoka One One (Brooks discontinued the Dyad 8 I was wearing and the toe box in the 9 was just too narrow, so my shop refitted me and I tried the Hokas – winners!)
THIS is why you get fitted.
<soapbox> I highly suggest you buy at least your first pair from that store that just spent all that time working with you. If you want to comb for deals on that model later for replacements, that’s understandable. But to go into your local shop, have them spend close to an hour on just you and your fitting, then to buy your shoes somewhere else is a little inconsiderate. </soapbox>
Oh, and major thanks to Boulder Running Company for being so awesome.
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