Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Speaking of Shoes*….

After reading through a couple of the comments that were posted, I wanted to tell a story about how I figured out that the ASICS GT2160’s were the shoes that made sense for me.

Being an old fart, I can empathize with one of our ex-Presidents:

When I want to avoid getting fooled, I go the tried and true conservative route. That meant that the first time I realized that running shoes were not the ones that you pick up in the sale rack at a discount retailer, I decided to head down the street to Road Runner Sports.

To be honest, they do a great job for beginning runners. They put you on a pressure pad and then do a treadmill, look at your footprint and watch your gait, and then put you into the most expensive shoe they can based on your analysis. Oh well.  They’re entitled to their profit.  After my first visit, they put me in a pair of ASICS Kayanos (maybe like the 13’s or 14’s back then). And they were heaven…

Until I reached about 250 miles and started having all these aches and pains. I went back to Road Runner and they put me in a new pair of shoes. I was in heaven again. For another 200 or so miles. Needless to say – this was beginning to become an expensive proposition. By this time I had joined a running club and after talking to some of the folks in the club, I was pointed to a local store that was run by a guy considered to be reputable. Long story short, I visited the store, took my shoes, and he gave me the entire rundown on ASICS. He then suggested I get into a pair of ASICS GT-2130’s. Basically the same support, a little less cushion, but a lot more wear. And I was in heaven. This time for 450 miles. I replaced the 2130’s with 2140’s. 400 miles and repeat. And repeat. And repeat.

These days, shopping for shoes involves sitting at my computer and finding the best price on a pair of ASICS GTwhatevers. But – I couldn’t have done that without that first trip to the big store that set me in the right direction to begin with.

*Sorry about the inconsistent posts these days**. I am going to try to make an effort to be more consistent in both my training and running. Lots going on these days, but if I told you about that, I wouldn’t have anything to post about later this week.

** And thanks for reading! Even with the inconsistency and the lack of real content, I am floored every day when my Google analytic reports come in.

14 comments:

  1. Ha ha... as much as I can make fun of Dubya, I do admire his dodging skills.

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  2. I pick my shoes haphazardly. "Oooh, these are cool looking. They don't feel weird. I'll take them!"

    I'm lucky my feet are adaptable.

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  3. Never had a shoe issue for 35 years...then one day.....

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  4. I'm still wondering if my google reader feed view shows up on your analytics. I'm in TN and read every blog (thanks to the reader feed) but didn't know if that showed up.

    Good info on the shoes! I'm in some New balance 122* whatevers, my second pair. Now that I use dailymile, I know what my mileage is and I will be paying close attention!
    I'm also frugal and love a deal, so hopefully I can find a pair that lasts longer as well.

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  5. So for years I was a Brooks girl. Then one day I thought, wow, those Newtons are popular, I think I will try those. Even though my Brooks had worked for me, I went for the shiny hip new thing...

    Guess what? I was injured within a month.

    So now I am more fussy. Hope these work out for you!

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  6. I wish we had a Road Runner Sports out here in Connecticut. I have to say our local runner shop is super but doesn't carry a lot of running related gear like RRS does. We do have 2 REIs and I love there sales. By the way I'm a fat runner and googled "Fat guys that run" and here I am. You're now book marked.

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  7. hmmm... I think I need to visit your shoe guy! (I live very close to the OC area, btw)

    I think there's a heck of a lot to be said when it comes to finding running shoes that work for you - I hate the trial and error method, even with some professional guidance, it still seems like a hit & miss at times.

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  8. There's nothing like a great new pair of running shoes. I hope they get you through the next few hundred miles -- pain free.

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  9. i hear you on the **. i'm surprised i still have Followers on my sidebar. haha.

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  10. My first pair of Running shoes were the Asics kayano, 15 I think. They have 1000+ miles and I still use them for jogs or not so serious runs. I love the GT series, I tried out the 2160s and they are pretty good. Though I think I will be doing the Gel Nimbus instead>

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  11. Finding a shoe that just works is never easy!

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  12. I go to our local RRS when they are running a sale on my shoes and make it clear I just want the shoes and nothing more. I learned after stockpiling Sauconys that your feet change over time and one model may not work a few years later. I hope those ASICS continue to treat you well.

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  13. I have gone through several models of the Asics GT's over the years. They have served me well and seem to change very little from model to model. Nice shoes!

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