Shoes. Last week on our 15 mile training walk, my feet were KILLING me. It is so annoying. It's the tops of my feet. So, each light or pit stop I was adjusting, adjusting, adjusting my laces trying to get the aching to stop. If you remember, when I signed up for the walk, I went down to Super Jock and Jill and got fitted for new shoes. They go through this process of watching you walk, having you walk outside, etc. It feels like a very specialized, professional process. But my feet hurt. So what's up with that?
When Terry signed up for the walk, he went to Road Runner Sports in Seattle, just a block away from Jock and Jill. He came back and told me about their process and it made Jock and Jill's sound amateur. So last Monday, me and my aching feet went to Road Runner. I wore my shoes fitted by Jock and Jill so they could see what I already had. They greet you and ask if it's your first time in and when you say yes, they guide you toward their fitting specialist. First, I stood on an electronic pad that creates thermal imaging of your foot. It shoes where your pressure points are and how much weight you bear on different parts of the foot. Immediately, they could tell that I have a high arch and that I bear more weight on my left heel than my right heel. Next, they have you walk on a treadmill. What I didn't know is that there is a camera at foot level behind you when you walk. After a couple of minutes, I stopped and they showed me the video in slow motion. It indicates how your foot pronates or not when you walk. My foot was pretty straight with my achilles and they said I needed a neutral shoe. One that just holds my foot straight. Next, they have you stand on this pillow-type contraption. They heat a specialized insole and mold it to your foot for a customized insert. Wow. How cool is that?
Then, they send you over to the shoes with your new insert, instruct the shoe person what type of shoe you need (neutral) and then the shopping begins. He brought me several different shoes, which I tried and walked in and finally I decided on the New Balance.
They seemed to hold my foot snuggly and were comfortable. But comfortable is so relative when you are trying on shoes. The real test is a 15 mile walk! I have yet to try the shoes, it's been a crazy week. I plan to do some short 3-4 mile walks each day this week until Wednesday to get my feet used to the insert. If it takes away my upper foot pain, it will be a beautiful thing. But the kicker is, that they also told me the shoe I have been wearing to train in is the wrong type of shoe for my foot. Great! I have 9 weeks to go and I need to break in my new shoes. I am hesitant to buy another pair of shoes until I see if these really work and take away my foot pain. Money, money, money! But for now, I am excited about the possibility of walking without pain.
Wish me luck!
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