I have a favorite model of running shoe.
But the shoe thats right for me isnt the shoe thats right for everyone.
Heres what my quest looked likeand what it’s crucial that you know to find yours, too.
The only problem was that I didnt know how to find the right one.
One, theNike Presto, was flimsy and soft, with a sock-like upper.
I liked that it was comfy and lightweight.
The other, I barely remember.
It was more of a traditional running shoe, and it was blue.
I had no such problems with the Presto, so I kept running in those.
That is, until I decided to train for a marathon.
Within a few weeks, I developed a different ache in my feet.
In hindsight, I know that it was just a mild tendonitis that would have resolved itself with rest.
But at the time, I had no idea.
I also had no health insurance, so I didnt get it checked out.
Instead, I posted on a runners forum.
I mentioned my training goals, my mileage, and my shoes.
(Fleet Feetis a chain you might recognize, butlots are independent.)
Fine, I answered.
He said it was a good shoe.
I didnt know what else to do, so I bought it.
I was disappointed in the service, but since then Ive visited running stores with better results.
After all, theyre businesses that see a lot of similar customers, and sometimes theyre busy.
I didnt know that Iprobably could have returned them.
I didnt see any point in going back to the store.
Instead, I gave up running.
This time I picked amotion control shoe.
It only hurt sometimes, so I ran in it for a while.
Id met a few weirdos who were into barefoot running, but wasnt ready to shed my shoes.
Then I learned aboutVibram Five Fingers, more popularly known as those ugly toe shoes.
(Without any cushion on the heel, thats the recommended way to run in these.)
They were a smashing success.
My feet loved these non-shoes.
Well, except for one thing.
Experimenting pays off, because it helps you figure out what works and what doesnt.
It also helps if you dont get too attached to the subject of your experiments.
While I was wearing the toe shoes, I talked up their awesomeness to everyone I met.
But in the end, they werent the right shoes for me.
Instead, they pushed me further along my path toward finding the right shoes.
I Listened to My Body, and You Should Too
Timing was finally on my side.
Then I realized something.
Some people hate the way Nike shoes fit, but theyre perfect for my feet.
Nikes shoes are usually made on a narrow last, which matches my narrow feet.
Youre supposed to replace your shoes every 300 to 500 miles, but I wasnt willing to chance it.
But we were not permitted to mess with success.
Whatever you have, he said, buy that exact same shoe.
The extra toe room meant I didnt develop any more blisters or black toenails.
I ran my marathon in these shoes.
Thats them, above, after 200 miles or so.
When you find shoes that can keep your feet happy for hundreds of miles, stick with them.
When you find shoes that can keep your feet happy for hundreds of miles, stick with them.
I dont try on shoes anymore, or ask running store employees or anyone else for advice.
I justorder more pairs of the exact same thing.
Nike has redesigned the shoe a few times over the years, but it still works for me.
That gives me a good starting point for my search.
I bought a second pair in water-resistant fabric, for running in light rain and snow.
Its been years, and Ive run through and retired five pairs.
Im on my sixth.
She thinks its weird that there are shoes I cant run in.
A few followed a path like mine, trying minimalist shoes after more structured ones failed them.
My advice to new runners is to stick with the shoes youve got if youre happy with them.
Dont let anyone tell you theyre too flimsy or too structured or too trendy or too old-fashioned.
If they work, they work.
And if you havent found that perfect pair yet, go ahead and start experimenting.
(Be sure to ask about their policy.)
Sometimes you have to try a lot of duds before you find the perfect shoe.
I just had to experiment with other things to learn that the hard way.
But now that I have a new favorite shoe, Im sticking with it.
Illustration by Beth Skwarecki.
