the treadmill diaries

My Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10

Having learned that it’s important to change your running shoes every 500 miles or so to prevent injury to your feet and legs, I recently started a search for a new pair.  Little did I know that this was going to be complex and somewhat of an ordeal.  My favorite shoes (a pair of Sketcher Sports) were given to me as a gift several years back by my sister.  And, though not meant for running, they’ve treated me extremely well during my lunchtime work runs.  However, they’re starting to wear & tear and needed to be upgraded.    

I also own a pair of Nike Air Max that I picked up in 2009 for jogging/working out at home.  From day 1, I haven’t been a big fan of these shoes.  I really only tolerate them because they’re what I have around and because I paid quite a bit of money for them.  Finally, after going out and simply trying lots of shoes a few weeks ago, I purchased a pair of Nike Air Moto 7′s based on how they felt in the store.  The sad thing is when I got them on the road – they weren’t made to handle my flat feet – and caused them to roll off to the side as I ran.  So as you can clearly see, my track record with buying running shoes hasn’t been stellar.  In fact, it’s been quite the opposite.    

I decided to go back to the drawing board and to do some research to figure out what might work.  With running, the only piece of equipment you need to invest in to get out there are shoes.  I had to make sure that my latest purchase would be the right one.  Here’s what I did this time around:   

• Checked Runner’s World  Complete Book of Running for advice on how to go about selecting the right shoe.  They had  solid tips for figuring out the type of runner that you are and how to find shoes that match your style.  For example, being flat-footed I’m considered an overpronater  – someone whose foot has the tendency to roll in.  I’ll be looking for shoes that are:
  • straight-shaped
  • motion controlled
  • firm in the midsole and heal
  • lined with denser material along the inner edge to keep your foot upright
• Talked to people who worked at running shoe stores to take advantage of not only their expertise but to get some insight into their and other customers’ personal running shoe preferences.  Through this process, I found stores that offer 15 day test runs (like Finish Line) where you can take your new sneakers out for 2 weeks and then bring them back if they’re just not working for you.  Can’t beat that – insurance that I can keep on trying til I get it down pat. 
• Googled the web for names of shoes recommended for women who have flat feet.  This netted out a list of about 5 that matched all the necessary criteria.
• Went out to try shoes from the list of 5 to see what I liked from a style and fit perspective.  A couple surfaced to the top from Brooks and Nike. 

Who knew that picking out a new pair of running shoes would require so much time and research? Definitely not me.  But at the end of this process, I ended up with a nice, new pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 that are well-reviewed by women runners.  And even better than that, they just felt right on my feet.  The real test played out when I hit the streets with them and they delivered on what they promised. Yay!  As a result, I’m feeling good about my recently purchased sneaks and am eager  to see what I can accomplish in them over the next several months.    

Hopefully, I’ve provided you with a point or two  to consider when shopping for new shoes – regardless of sport.  Ultimately, they need to be comfortable, suited to your body & feet, and be a source of reliable support for those next 500 miles.  Good exercising.