Marathon Monday: New Shoes

It’s week four of marathon training.

This isn’t my first rodeo. I know how the training schedule works, which is why I broke down and bought some new shoes.

I know this seems like a boring blog post, but buying shoes isn’t a simple thing. Not only are there a bazillion products on the market, these shoes are très expensive. It’s easier to secure financing for a nightclub than it is to buy a simple pair of trainers.

(Just don’t buy the nightclub where Suge Knight was shot.)

Everybody who’s ever run (or not) has an opinion on running shoes. Your mom, who once ran a 35-minute 5k back in 1997, called me and told me about her favorite pair of New Balance.

(Do you have fallen arches? Do you have bunions? How do I find a delicate way to tell you that I don’t care?)

With a ton of information in my head — from friends, fellow runners, advertorials in Runner’s World — I went to my favorite running store and humbly submitted myself for a fitting.

This part was sorta easy. Once I got over the fear of making the wrong choice, which I know is ridiculous, I sank into the process. I was given three options, and all of them were fine. I picked the Saucony Ride 7 because it was the most comfortable fit on my Fred Flinstone feet. I can return them if they suck. (They won’t.) And I was happy to learn that I no longer need super-clunky stability shoes.

(I need more stability in my life, but my wee little feet are fine.)

I ran 10.2 miles on Saturday, and the shoes served me well. No blisters. No drama. No problems. I will keep my old shoes for mid-week workouts and dance parties.

(Whatever. I don’t go to dance parties, but if I do, I have options.)

My new shoes will carry me through the marathon on November 2nd, and now I don’t have to participate in discussions about foam density and mid-sole stability enhancement.

Hooray!

Now bring on the lectures about running gear and other accessories I don’t need.

(One thing every runner needs? A RoadID. Get one.)