Running Stores: Am I the princess and the pea???

Buying running shoes seems like it would be a simple purchase, but Victoria and I found out there is much, much more to it than that! Thanks to our sales associate, Adam from Boulder Running Company in Colorado Springs we came away feeling happy about our purchases and excited for our next run!

On our drive up to Colorado Springs we discussed our running woes and about all we hoped to find in our adventure to Boulder Running Company. Going in I was a little sceptical about what they could do for me. We were excited to find out if this shoe store would live up to their good reviews. Would this be an experience that would change my running experience for the better or would it be an expensive trip with no real benefit. Driving 45 minutes away to buy running shoes is definitely a gamble.

Is having a running store help you pick your shoes necessary or can you pick your own running shoes at a department store alone or even online for $35?
The answer to both questions could be yes, however we found that having an associate help us, having ample shoes to try on and being video taped while running on a treadmill was definitely an amazing experience.

This is what is neat about the Running Company experience. We could actually run on the treadmill while wearing the shoes that we were thinking about purchasing. If I am going to spend about $100 on shoes, I want to be positive of my purchase!

To top running on the treadmill our steps were recorded. How cool is that!?


(Just to prove how engrossed in this experience I was in this whole experience, I didn't notice that our sales person was wearing a shirt with the American Family Insurance logo on it until I was looking at these photos on my computer at home!!!).

The next two photos are of my left ankle.



















Now, giving these photos the leniency of motion, can you see the difference in how my ankle looks in these two photos? The alignment from my heal and up my calf is slightly curved when I am wearing the Nikes. When I am wearing the Asics my ankle looks much better. (My other ankle had excellent form I am proud to say. At least during this recording). I am typically a Nike fan all the way but I had to consider the facts!

One of the more difficult decisions that most girls such as Victoria and I face is:
~ Do you choose the shoe that looks prettier or do you choose the shoe that is functionally better for how you run? We need to pick shoes that will help prevent the typical pains that runners come accross. (The factors considered when you are choosing Steve Madden shoes compaired to running shoes are quite different...)

After trying on a dozen shoes each Victoria and I made our selections.

Although Victoria was looking for shoes with minimal support meaning something close to the barefoot shoes, but with slightly more structure, she ended up going with an Asic shoe with more support.

During the initial phase of trying on shoes I actually preferred the pair of Nikes I tried (I am wearing in the top photo of my left ankle and foot) but after running on the treadmill and seeing how my ankle differed in both shoes I went with the Asics (seen in the bottom photo). They have a slightly asymmetrical lacing which changes the lines of support for feet and ankles...and well, hopefully my knees and IT band too!

Perhaps going to a running company to purchase shoes is an experience similar to the story of The Princess and the Pea, but this princess is sold. I prefer to have help and a video camera when choosing new running shoes! I wonder if the next time I go shopping for heels I can bring along my video camera and TV. Hmmm...

I am excited to go for a run tomorrow morning in my new white and pink Asic running shoes!!!