I’m Having An Affair…

I must confess… I am weak…

Long ago I made one of the most important long term decisions a runner could make ( next to starting running of course )… I selected and committed to running in a brand of shoe that worked for me…Let’s call this shoe “Brand X”…  now “X” was a great shoe, and still is… and I have no regrets spending the past 20 years committed to “X”, faithfully selecting the next incarnation of my long time road companion. “X” supported me and carried me through many a running season. The 12mm comfort of “X” continued throughout my years of running…I was committed to “X” and never even considered looking elsewhere…and then, in a weak moment… it happened.

It was rather innocent, to be honest… a cute little 8mm shoe from “Brand Y” caught my eye in late August…I was curious, and as a result, was tempted into “just trying a pair on”… they felt great, and had lots “wiggle room”…something I seemed to be missing in “Brand X” the past few years…I don’t know…maybe “X” had changed, maybe I had changed…maybe we were just drifting apart… maybe my subconscious was telling me it was over between “X” and I.  Bottom line is “I AM IN LOVE”…um with “Brand Y”… I want to shout it from the rooftops people…”I LOVE MY NEW SHOES “ !!!

Now I must admit I was kind of having a fling with “Brand Y”’s cousin…a fast little 4mm number since June…so for a time I was enjoying the company of both “Brand X” and “Brand Y” over the summer… I was feeling guilty about spending my time with both… I could see the disappointment in the shoe I left behind while I was out running with the other…I know shoes have feelings…I mean… I’m not a total monster after all…

Now getting back to my love affair with “Y”…three months of training and  two big races and “Y” keeps giving me the comfort, stability and support  I never knew I was missing in my other shoe… my friends are even tired of hearing me gush about how good my feet feel in these shoes… I just think they are envious of our new found amour …

I am guessing there is a moral or two somewhere in this whole thing…

First, if you are happy with your shoes then by all means stick with what works for you.  Don’t go changing shoes mid-season … if you are looking for a change use the off season for the transition.

Second, don’t be afraid of experimenting with different brands and lift variations of shoes…make sure they fit properly, and they are comfortable, and offer the support and stability you need…consult with your local running store and get them to asses your running gait and foot plant.

Finally, if a cute little 8mm number catches your eye, don’t be shy, go ahead and introduce yourself…you may just fall in love.