Shoes

I'm doing what every runner does when they can't run, shop for running goodies.

Well, I've no idea if every runner does this or not quite frankly.  But I'm doing it.  I'm also going to talk about my struggle with the finding the perfect shoe.  Not that it matters since I can't run.

But first, foot/ankle update:  There is no update.  I was supposed to have the bone scan today but had to postpone until next Friday.  I'm fine with this as I don't think it is a stress fracture at all but rather a sprain of some sort as it is getting better mostly.  I was able to walk without limping today and that was terribly exciting.

Sigh.  But I'm starting to get sad.

Oh well.

On to shoes.

For a six month period before I started running, I was doing a ton of hiking.  In fact, that is what launched me into running.  Some friends of mine signed up for the Big Sur 21 Miler as a walking event and I thought it sounded like fun so I signed up too.  So we spent every Saturday from Oct to April climbing up local mountains in preparation.  I loved loved loved that time as we'd work hard but also go out for breakfast afterwards.  It was all wonderful for this rather sluggish woman who hadn't spent a lot of time in her life exerting herself.  Oh but I had a heck of a time finding the right shoe.  After what felt like zillions of $$ spent, I was fussing on the trail one Saturday morning about my sore feet and my friend's hubs said that I should try the Nike Frees -- he had gone through quite the bunch of shoes and settled on those.  Loved them.  I tried them as was sold.  Walked 21 miles in pure Free bliss.

It was natural then that when I started running, I'd just keep the same shoe on my foot.  And that is what I did.  Ran half marathons in them. Ran up and down mountains in them.  Ran 10ks in them  All was fine.

It would seem there was no problem right?  Not so much -- the half marathon distance was fine but by the end, my feet would sort of burn.  Maybe everyones feet burn at the end of 13.1 miles.  I'm not sure.  But it seemed that possibly another shoe was out there waiting for me.  Plus, if my feet were on fire at 13.1 miles, how in the heck were they supposed to go 26.2?

So that leaves me with what I've tried so far.  The Sacouny Kinvara's and the New Balance Minimus.



The Kinvaras are out.  I'm still running in them because I bought them and I have to get my money's worth and for a run under 10 miles they are fine.  Well, sort of fine.  They seem to rub a hot spot between two toes that never callouses so it hurts every single run.  And recently they started to hurt the outside ankle of my left foot.  I did run the half in them the day after Christmas and my feet were not pleased at the end.  So they aren't THE shoe.  The'll do  for short stuff but that's about it.

When I first put on the Minimus - my feet thought they were in heaven.  Actually, whenever I put on the Minimus my feet feel like the are in heaven.  But then I start to run and the shoe is pretty stiff.  It feels like running becomes a bit more work in these shoes for some reason. I think they'd be awesome at a track where there is some give but on the streets and sidewalks I feel like I'm working too hard. Which is weird for a shoe that is so light weight it is hardly there.

Anyway, I can't imagine it going the full distance (which darn it, I will run -- may not be in April now but I will run it THIS year.  just sayin').

Anyway, my quest continues for the perfect shoe.  I like a light weight minimal shoe -- since I'm already there.  I think next on my list is the Brooks Pure Flow

It is pretty -- and I like what I hear about it.  But possibly I need to go back to the Frees full time.  I ran the The Half Marathon of Death in Frees.  Usual results -- but maybe I just need to get used to that.  

I want to have a shoe. A shoe I love. A shoe I call my own. I want to say "I run in_____".  I'm not so certain why this is important to me but it is.  

Of course, right now I'd settle for "I'm running again".  But whatever.  

And I am taking donations to my 'find the perfect shoe' fund.  

Happy Weekend.