Tales from the running shoe store

I wrote the following a couple weeks ago...

So, I started running on the treadmill in our basement this week. I downloaded the Nike/Serena Williams (just in time for the French Open next week) Interval Training from iTunes (which is quite good, btw), and I did a pretty decent workout for not having run in about a year; however, my shins and calves were completely killing me. Horrible, horrible pain. My shoes were old, and there's a mirror right in front of our treadmill and I could see how bad my feet were spilling over the outside of my shoes.

I went onto the Road Runner Sports site and plugged my info into Shoe Dog, and it came back with a few recommendations. I know lots of you have great luck with Asics, so I targeted those since I've never had a pair, and went to Kohl's. I picked up two pairs. I tested them out today, each for 15 minutes during my workout, and I was in pain the entire time. Ugh. Miserable.

I decided to suck it up and go get properly fitted. I al

ready spoke to Stephanie about how I felt ridiculous and scared about getting fit. I seriously thought if they made me run in the store that the store was going to start shaking. Add to that my fear that they would think to themselves, "Why is this fat ass looking for running shoes. Apparently, she's not really a runner." But I put all of that out of my mind, and dragged myself to the little mom and pop store. I already had it planned to say that I was starting running to help get rid of the baby weight, and if they asked how old my baby was, I was telling them 6 months. LOL!

The salesguy was very knowledgable. He knew right away that I was a supinator, wide foot, low arch. Basically, fat feet and I walk/run on the outer sides. He measured me and had me walk around just to be sure. He pulls out a bunch of Asics, and then he grabs the holy-orthopedic New Balance pair (you know, the ones that don't have the arch on the inner sole - they're completely flat). All my life, I've avoided this style. And not only is this pair orthopedic, but they're the most horrible colors - not the nice yellow, orange, pink, or purples of all the other cool shoes (NB WR882 for those in the know). But he forces me to try them on first. And they feel pretty good. He then has me try on a pair of Adidas and a bunch of Asics. You know where this is going, right? Yeah, the ugly-ass pair fit the best. I haven't given them the official trial, but I hope tomorrow to be semi-pain free in the calf area while running.

Update: My shoes rock! I highly, highly, highly suggest getting properly-fitted for running shoes. I will never buy another pair of non-approved shoes for my feet. I've been running pain free for 2 weeks now.