You know what, there is nothing worse than a crappy pair of running shoes. And right now I have the crappiest pair in the world. Wont mention any brand names, but these shoes are kill’in me. Ripp’in my feet to shreds. I have had the shoes for about six months and they just keep getting worse.
So the big question is, ‘Why don’t you simply get a new pair of shoes? What type of fool continues to run mile after mile in a pair of shoes that make your feet bleed?’ And here in lies the heart of my issue.
Buying a pair of running shoes has become a more technical and complex process than flying the space shuttle. Read any of the tri rag articles about running shoes or an individual shoe company’s web site and there are terms, techniques, and consideration regarding proper shoe ergonomics, structure, and construction that would confuse an astrophysicist!! All I know is that when I start reading about overpronating (?), torsional support (??), or stability considerations based on weight and foot strike (???) my head begins to swirl so much I wish it would simply explode.
Beyond the “helpful” articles are the even more confusing manufacture ads. Take this gem, a little barrage of verbiage copied verbatim from a very recent ad. “3D Grid Triumph… Angled 3D Grid System – that provides shock attenuation and cushioning heel; Internal Midfoot Support Bridge – that helps keep the foot in a neutral position in the midfoot phase of the gait cycle…” OK – I am no genius but after 10 years of higher education (not all at the undergraduate level mid-you ;} ) and you think I would understand a sneaker ad. What in the hell is shock attenuation and if someone can tell me what the midfoot phase of the gait cycle really means and why it is so important, well I am nominating you of a McArthur Genius award.
As a kid I remember that there were really only four or five types of sneakers. Addidas, Puma, Converse, and the new hot shots Nike and New Balance. And each of these companies only had a few styles. Beyond that your choice was picking a pair of tennis shoes made of synthetic leather (read hard plastic) out of a 6x8 foot bargain bin at the Discount Shoe Tree store. You know the type of place I am talking about. Incredibly bright florescent lighting above and horrendously dirty linoleum floor below. How did these places ever stay in business with the enormous electrical bill and selling $3.99 shoes?
Granted for year my dad always opted for getting our sneakers via the giant crate at a store that could easily be converted into an auto repair shop if sneaker sales went south. But finally my brother and I got him to break down and spend a few more dollars for a ‘good’ pair of shoes. You know the type. Ones that would make us run really, really fast.
We became Puma Men based on the cool synthetic bluish suede shoes they made. There was no discussion beyond which shoes looked the best and cost the least. Deal done. Had I even mentioned to my dad that there was no way I would take the Puma’s because of the possibility that they would cause me to underpronate, well bargain bin here I come.
Thus buying running shoes was always an easy task. All I needed was good value, fair fit, and maybe a hint of style. Oh Ya, and my dad being in a good mood because who in their right mind would ever consider paying $15.99 for tennis shoes?! Obviously we would abandon the quest for the later (style) in the event the former two (value and fit) were found.
But today the world is completely different. Buying running shoes is simply the most complex process on the planet. So difficult that I currently am suffering in constant, bloody pain due to the reality that it is far too overwhelming a task to go into a mega sporting goods store and buy some comfortable running shoes. Though I have tried, I cannot face the ‘Wall of Sneakers” that is far higher and longer than the Vietnam Memorial, with more shoes on it than names inscribed on that truly moving monument.
Nor can I believe that I am having an intelligent, informed product conversation, a conversation that will determine the fate of my feet for months to come, with some sales kid who was probably just moments before picking his nose and cracking fart jokes in the break room. At $5.15 an hour I cannot expect any expert advice.
And please don’t get me started on specialty running shops. I know the folks who work there are very informed and only what to help me. Truly good people. But once they start in on the technical questions… Well I think you know where I am going. All I can tell you is that on days when I want to feel really stupid, those days when my spouse is out of town so I have not gotten my daily does of whoop-ass because Rob has done something incredibly bone-headed, well I head straight for the running shoe store. I know I can always leave there feeling dumber than a rock.
Thus I carry on, writhing in foot pain with every step I take. Incredibly embarrassed realizing that a simple decision I used to make as a kid, what sneakers to buy, has as an adult rendered me a complete idiot. What has all this madness come to? Maybe I should just run bare foot!
http://www.clevetriclub.com
rob reddy
So the big question is, ‘Why don’t you simply get a new pair of shoes? What type of fool continues to run mile after mile in a pair of shoes that make your feet bleed?’ And here in lies the heart of my issue.
Buying a pair of running shoes has become a more technical and complex process than flying the space shuttle. Read any of the tri rag articles about running shoes or an individual shoe company’s web site and there are terms, techniques, and consideration regarding proper shoe ergonomics, structure, and construction that would confuse an astrophysicist!! All I know is that when I start reading about overpronating (?), torsional support (??), or stability considerations based on weight and foot strike (???) my head begins to swirl so much I wish it would simply explode.
Beyond the “helpful” articles are the even more confusing manufacture ads. Take this gem, a little barrage of verbiage copied verbatim from a very recent ad. “3D Grid Triumph… Angled 3D Grid System – that provides shock attenuation and cushioning heel; Internal Midfoot Support Bridge – that helps keep the foot in a neutral position in the midfoot phase of the gait cycle…” OK – I am no genius but after 10 years of higher education (not all at the undergraduate level mid-you ;} ) and you think I would understand a sneaker ad. What in the hell is shock attenuation and if someone can tell me what the midfoot phase of the gait cycle really means and why it is so important, well I am nominating you of a McArthur Genius award.
As a kid I remember that there were really only four or five types of sneakers. Addidas, Puma, Converse, and the new hot shots Nike and New Balance. And each of these companies only had a few styles. Beyond that your choice was picking a pair of tennis shoes made of synthetic leather (read hard plastic) out of a 6x8 foot bargain bin at the Discount Shoe Tree store. You know the type of place I am talking about. Incredibly bright florescent lighting above and horrendously dirty linoleum floor below. How did these places ever stay in business with the enormous electrical bill and selling $3.99 shoes?
Granted for year my dad always opted for getting our sneakers via the giant crate at a store that could easily be converted into an auto repair shop if sneaker sales went south. But finally my brother and I got him to break down and spend a few more dollars for a ‘good’ pair of shoes. You know the type. Ones that would make us run really, really fast.
We became Puma Men based on the cool synthetic bluish suede shoes they made. There was no discussion beyond which shoes looked the best and cost the least. Deal done. Had I even mentioned to my dad that there was no way I would take the Puma’s because of the possibility that they would cause me to underpronate, well bargain bin here I come.
Thus buying running shoes was always an easy task. All I needed was good value, fair fit, and maybe a hint of style. Oh Ya, and my dad being in a good mood because who in their right mind would ever consider paying $15.99 for tennis shoes?! Obviously we would abandon the quest for the later (style) in the event the former two (value and fit) were found.
But today the world is completely different. Buying running shoes is simply the most complex process on the planet. So difficult that I currently am suffering in constant, bloody pain due to the reality that it is far too overwhelming a task to go into a mega sporting goods store and buy some comfortable running shoes. Though I have tried, I cannot face the ‘Wall of Sneakers” that is far higher and longer than the Vietnam Memorial, with more shoes on it than names inscribed on that truly moving monument.
Nor can I believe that I am having an intelligent, informed product conversation, a conversation that will determine the fate of my feet for months to come, with some sales kid who was probably just moments before picking his nose and cracking fart jokes in the break room. At $5.15 an hour I cannot expect any expert advice.
And please don’t get me started on specialty running shops. I know the folks who work there are very informed and only what to help me. Truly good people. But once they start in on the technical questions… Well I think you know where I am going. All I can tell you is that on days when I want to feel really stupid, those days when my spouse is out of town so I have not gotten my daily does of whoop-ass because Rob has done something incredibly bone-headed, well I head straight for the running shoe store. I know I can always leave there feeling dumber than a rock.
Thus I carry on, writhing in foot pain with every step I take. Incredibly embarrassed realizing that a simple decision I used to make as a kid, what sneakers to buy, has as an adult rendered me a complete idiot. What has all this madness come to? Maybe I should just run bare foot!
http://www.clevetriclub.com
rob reddy