The Right Shoes Make All the Difference in the World

I've been running since March of 2012 as part of my own personal Oxygen Mask Project, and I just suffered my first blister after Thanksgiving. I was wearing Brooks Ravenna 3, and loved them so far. I reasoned that my decision to up the miles in preparation for a half marathon was the culprit for my sudden discomfort, but I wanted to make sure I had the right shoes. I went to a large running chain in our area. I figured since their logo is on every race t-shirt I've received so far, and a friend highly recommended them, I should give it a shot.

Their fitting process involves computer mapping your feet and running on a tread mill. It was strange running in front of someone for the purpose of buying shoes. Nevermind the fact that the person helping me looked like he was barely 16. I'm pretty sure after our conversation, he was at least an upper classman in college. I don't know because I didn't ask, and I sure wasn't going to tell him how old I was. Besides, I think my age radar is broken. Funny how the older you get, the younger everyone else looks. Anyway, the video of my stride, how my foot pronates when I land, how a motion control shoe would be the best for me, it was all very interesting. I bought some neon, motion control shoes.

I'm pretty sure if I ran at night in these, I would glow in the dark.

First run in the new shoes, awesome. Compliments galore. Then, I started to feel soreness in my feet I had never felt before. I decided I just needed to break them in, but the more I ran, the more pain I felt. Then I started suffering some of the same issues I felt when I had first started running, plus pain in the under inside part of my calf. Could they be the wrong shoes? But, he 'tested' me. How are they the wrong shoes? Am I pushing myself too hard? What's the deal?

I shared my frustration with a friend who is more of a natural runner, and she thought my feet were just fine the way God made them and I should try running in a shoe that allowed my feet to do what they were designed to do. (Pause for a second to think about the fact that most creatures in nature that rely on running to eat or survive have padded or hooved feet. I have neither. Does that mean I'm crazy for wanting to run, like for fun and fitness?) So, I started looking into natural running, stride, gate, cadence and basically running like my kids run. I ended up going to a natural running store to have a gate evaluation. Aside from finding out I was doing really well in some things (good posture, good mid-stance form), I found out (at least to the natural chi-running expert evaluating me) that I was not doing well in other things. He talked about learning how to run 'soft' and not landing on my heel. Which I didn't think I was doing, but he video taped me running. So, I couldn't argue. The way he explained it, it was like I was stopping and starting every time I took a step and overworking my lower legs. Lean forward, increase your cadence (180 steps per minute) and land on your mid-foot not your heel; that's what he told me. I also learned from his video that my hips hurt because my core is weak. You know how some people have a 'wiggle' in their walk. Well, I have a 'wiggle' in my run, and that's not good. Add strengthening my core to the list. Oh, the thought of more crunches and planks just made me want to cry. I wanted to tell him how hard I'm already working on my core, that I know he can't tell, but it's SO much stronger than it was when I started all this craziness. I love my children, but they wreaked havoc on my midsection. Ok, back to running. I bought some shoes. I'm not super happy with the aesthetic, but they feel great.

I know Altra makes prettier shoes. If I ever buy another pair, I'll get more color.

After leaving there, I started researching further, learning about stress in your life and how it affects your running. According to other natural running experts, my issues with my lower leg might be due to adrenal stress, and not necessarily a result of my running. So, now my crazy, mommy, wife, maid, cook, chauffeur, therapist, philosopher life was causing me actual physical pain. Awesome. Now what?

Back to basics.

I started running barefoot, as in just socks, on my treadmill, and started working in these changes and my new 'natural' shoes. I noticed lots of positive things. Many of the issues I had noticed creeping up due to the half marathon training were beginning to fade. I started thinking I was on the right track. Then I got the "it's not the flu but it feels like it" virus and was sick for a month over Christmas break. How awesome is that? It forced me to rest and alleviate some of the offending stress, which was good, but I was very frustrated about how far behind I fell on my training. When I decided I was well, I hit the pavement hard and fast, too fast and with poor form. The running expert I bought the shoes from told me to carefully incorporate the new strategies and the shoes into my routine by 10% each week until I was in them completely. I didn't listen and decided since I had to take so much time off for the 'flu', I could just start from scratch. Ha! Running in the new shoes all the time and overdoing the 'natural' thing, I over corrected for the heel striking and ended up running more on my forefoot than my mid-foot. This caused horrible shin splints and calf pain. More time off, more frustration. During this time I would look through my training log and long to be running again. I also spent a lot of time in running magazines and web sites, wishing and hoping. Anyway, in my obsessiveness, I noticed my times in the new shoes were horribly slow. The chi people say running naturally should increase your speed and efficiency. Ugh. I'm doing something else wrong.

New plan. How about the middle of the road?

Hybrid, natural supportive shoes, and steady slow progression back from illness and injury.

These are the most expensive shoes I have ever purchased without a 4-6 inch heel. I've begun to have day-mares that I'm turning into the little old lady in orthotics, buying shoes based on comfort not style. Imagine cold sweats and loss of appetite. Just me overreacting. I think they're pretty stylish actually, and let me tell you, I love them!

No specialty running store this time. I went to try these on at one of those giant sporting goods stores, but ultimately bought them online. I got the brand I loved (like the ones I had before the blisters) and a more natural, low drop shoe. The best of both worlds, and I'm faster and healthier than ever.

I incorporated much of what the chi running expert told me, but ultimately I run the way I feel most comfortable running. I try to lean forward, keep my feet under me, and land mid-foot with a bent knee, but mostly I just run and enjoy the fact that I can.

I'm still very far behind in my training, and I don't know if I'll be able to do 13.1 miles come race day (will only be up to 9-10 miles by then). However, I'm sure I'm on the right track to enjoying running, pain free and healthy.

Some other things that have helped are coconut water (natural hydration helping me avoid headaches after my long runs), foam rolling my legs every day, and active isolated flexibility/stretching a few times a week.

I'll let you know how the half marathon goes. I can tell you no matter how embarrassing my time, I'll be slapping that 13.1 sticker on the back window of my car with pride. Next goal, 26.2!

*Note: Look for another post on the half marathon. Illness, injury and the inability to reach my training goals might cause me to postpone it until November or just skip it altogether in favor of going ahead and crossing the full marathon off my bucket list.