Marathoning for Marriage

So is “equipment” important in running??  Like any hobby or sport, there are too many options for different items from shoes to socks to water bottles to nutrition products – and it can be overwhelming.  We have been trying to take our time and rush out any buy things but figure out the key things that we need.

The one area that we are not compromising in is shoes.  I’m no usually one to spend a lot of money on shoes – I don’t wear the cool tennis shoes and tend to stick to basic dress shoes that I can find at one of the shoe discount stores.  But when it comes to running, it was a no-brainer for me to get my running analyzed and get fit into the right pair of shoes.  Don’t get me wrong – financially, it’s a bit discouraging to think about plopping down $100 + on a pair of shoes and then repeating that in 3 -6 months!

Finding a running store that can look at your gait and then tell you if you are pronating or supinating or whatever the crazy terms they use and then finding a comfortable shoes is critical.  I was surprised at the difference in shoe manufacturers even when I had been narrowed down to the right category of shoes – stability, in my case.  One brand had high arches, one felt more squishy and others felt like the toe box dropped off and my toes weren’t supported. 

I recommend that you take your time to try on the different brands and models – walk around the store, run on the treadmill……bottom line, don’t rush the process!! Julie laughed at me when we bought our latest pair of shoes because I had the shoe store order me the specific year of shoes – I wasn’t trying to be picky but the 2010 model shoe had some stitching that rubbed against the side of my foot while the 2011 model didn’t!

For us, we have both settled on Brooks running shoes – I’m already on my second pair. I really like the level of cushioning and how it fits my feet. Julie likes them for comfort level and the support they give her.

After seeing the importance of good shoes, I wonder how many people give up on running because they are trying to run in bad shoes?