So I went and bought new running shoes today with the minimalist theme in mind. It kinda goes hand in hand with my new paleo eating habits. The idea is that you shouldn't really strike your heal when running, but strike mid-foot and/or forward. It's optimal and actually the way we were meant to run. There are some great blogs about it that I've been reading up on to do my research. (runblogger.com is definitely a great one to check out)
Well, after much deliberation and web-searching I went back to a trusted source, the San Diego Running Institute. It's a favorite for many reasons to include that the owner is an M.D. who works in an office next door, the staff is always friendly and knowledgeable, and therefor help you make a very educated decision about your footwear. All I had to say was that I was looking to try a minimalist shoe and several of the ones I had read about and several others came out in a stack of shoe boxes all in my size (they still had me on file from my 2007 assessment/purchase, nice!) I tried them all on, from the cool Brooks Green Silence (which I almost chose) to Saucony's Kinvara (which were nice but still a bit too much padding going on and in some odd spots)
Then came the most minimal shoe they had. He pulls out the Terra Plana Vivo Barefoot, telling me how it's similar to the funky shoes with the toes (sorry, I've got super tiny toes and those things make me giggle) I'm thinking there looks to be nothing to them, how could I possibly think of running in them....
I have to admit, putting these bad boys on, my feet seemed to say, "Thank YOU" Really, now here's the deal. I recognize that you have to do things, like invest in good shoes if you're going to be running a lot and if you care about your feet. I've spent the past several months rediscovering my bodymind, my posture, learning about my bones and muscles and all the possible roots of the aches and pains that I carry with me (some newer than others, some as old as me) These shoes just felt good. I didn't miss the stabilizers and the cushions as I walked around the store and even hopped on the treadmill in my jeans (with very sore legs from bootcamp that morning) I just felt the forward momentum and I knew I was sunk. I'm a convert... can't help it. It's my thing, now you're gonna have to hear me talking about my new shoes and running style as well as my new way of eating as will everyone else around me who'll listen :P
Anywhoo.... I decide to check out their website (mind you, I bit a significant bullet as these shoes were not cheap) to see what else I should know about my new shoes and the company who makes them. And wholey cow... they are quite the green company with an abundance of footwear options (to include some cute vegan heels that look quite comfortable) They are an ethical shoe company based in the UK committed to "a combination of traditional shoemaking techniques and 21st-century technologies to celebrate style, health and environmental responsibility."
Well, with my new shoes in hand, I'm taking Saturday to rest (finally, I hurt everywhere) before sprint workout tomorrow. Will probably post a food blog for the BBQ I'm going to this afternoon. I've got some ideas and tricks up my sleeve for what to throw on the grill :P
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