New shoes! And then more new shoes!
I had a rougher time than usual buying new running shoes over the weekend. My running shoes were shot -I’ve had them for over year…I’m actually not sure how much longer than a year I’ve had them. Way too long, certainly, and I could feel it when I ran. I went to my local running store last Friday evening, tried on 5 or 6 pairs of shoes over the course of 90 minutes (I had a very chatty sales guy), decided on a pair of New Balance shoes, and went home.
I took Saturday off from running, so I just admired my pretty pretty shoes, and then Sunday I took them for their inaugural run. It was also their final run. My feet hurt in ways they’ve never hurt before, in places they have never hurt before. I ran a little over 4 miles, just to make sure I was fully warmed up and loose, and it didn’t get better, so I went back to the store Sunday afternoon.
The chatty sales guy was there and recognized me right away. He brought out my two runner-up pairs, but he had other customers (who were there when I got there), so I didn’t get much help after that. I didn’t really need any help, though, so it wasn’t a big deal. I just tried on one pair, ran around the store, then the other, ran around the store, then the first, then the second, then one on each foot, etc., until I felt comfortable enough with my decision. Of course, this time I was a little gun-shy – what if I chose badly again? And I didn’t make it easier on myself – I didn’t choose the same model I had before. I chose another pair of New Balance shoes, a brand I’ve never bought and the brand of the shoes that didn’t work for me just that day. But they’re so pretty!
I promise I didn’t pick them just because they’re pretty, and luckily, after two runs now (and a total of 11.5 miles), I can confirm that they’re good (and I am relieved). Yay new shoes! But I will be forever nervous when I buy new running shoes in the future.