experience shopping for new shoes
Mark E. Wallace
y'all might appreciate a little recount of my recent trip to the shoe store.
I'm getting back into running now after not having done it seriously since I
was in junior high and high school in the early/mid-80's. I was a reasonably
successful junior runner in Houston way back when, setting (albeit briefly)
a few Gulf Athletics Congress age group records in the 1 hour run and 30K.
Years later I'm trying to get started again as a definite Clydesdale
(240lbs) with a bit of (probably outdated) experience but too many years now
behind a desk.
Anyhow...I do know how and how not to buy shoes, but since I found myself in
the mall recently, I thought I'd see how the local "Foot Action" chain was
doing on selling shoes. The racks there have a few each of Saucony, NB,
Nike, ASICS.
Enjoy (or not),
Mark
---
Me: Hi. What running shoes in your selection would you recommend for a
larger runner like myself? (Knowing that she shouldn't be able to answer the
question without asking more questions of her own.)
(High school aged) Clerk: Oh, definitely New Balance.
Me: NB, huh? Any specific one? (Again, knowing she should be asking
questions at this point, not answering them.)
Clerk: No. Any of them. NB has awesome shoes.
Me: Well, I've heard that some shoes need to be made special for heavy
runners. Not correct?
Clerk: Hmmm...Let's see....(thinking). Well, David (presumably her friend)
wears NB, and he plays football. As big as he is, the NB's must be pretty
good. (Note: She doesn't actually mention whether or not David even RUNS).
Me: Okay. You don't know which one he wears? (Not really caring at this
point.)
Clerk: No, but it doesn't matter. They're all good.
(Now, mind you, some of these looked like racing flats. Didn't take a close
look at them, but they definitely weren't Clyde shoes).
Me: Okay. Any others aside from the NB's?
Clerk: Well, just don't get the Nikes. They always fall apart.
Me: Really?
Clerk: Yeah. Don't tell my manager I said that. I'm surprised we still carry
them.
(Not as surprised as I am that this clerk is still allowed to sell shoes.)
Me: Okay. How about the ASICS over there? (Seeing a big ASICS selection,
certainly one of which needs to be a Clyde shoe).
Clerk: Well, I don't know. I guess they're okay. We wouldn't be carrying
them otherwise. (Reference earlier comment about Nike!)
Me: Okay. Thanks for your help. I'm just getting started on purchasing
shoes, so maybe I'll come back (not!) once I've figured out what I need.
(Hasty exit)
SwStudio
Thanks for the laugh, I totally enjoyed reading that!!
In all seriousness, someone here will be able to give you some 'real'
suggestions on various shoes designed for heavy runners. There's some
good ones out there. I weigh 130lbs & run in racing flats, so don't
listen to me. ;-)
best of luck on the return to running!
--
David (in Hamilton, Ont)
"Expect nothing; live frugally on suprise."
Alice Walker
http://www.angelfire.com/nc/swstudio/home.html
-
"Mark E. Wallace" <Ma...@none.of.your.business> wrote in message
news:a15br5$1f6g$1...@galaxy.us.dell.com...
Paul Steadman
I too am a Clydesdale and recently bought shoes. I did some research on
the net including the Runner's World shoe reviews and the approved list
of shoes from the American Academy of Podiatrists for various degrees of
pronation. Then I went to a running store. Came away with a pair of
Asics. Good luck with the search and with the resumption of your
running.
Paul
Mark E. Wallace
news:xDqZ7.15437$li.4...@read1.cgocable.net...
> LOL!!!
>
> Thanks for the laugh, I totally enjoyed reading that!!
>
> In all seriousness, someone here will be able to give you some 'real'
> suggestions on various shoes designed for heavy runners.
They already have, indirectly, by virtue of the extensive Google archives of
this group. What a wealth of knowledge y'all have.
> There's some good ones out there. I weigh 130lbs & run in racing flats,
so don't listen to me. ;-)
>
Count on it. I think my right leg weighs as much as you do. <grin>
> best of luck on the return to running!
Thanks very much. Can't believe I'm actually *nervous* about getting started
again, but I do hope that I can make a good go of it. I'm finding it helpful
not to set expectations too high or start thinking about getting back to my
60-70 mile weeks that I was at back in school. At my weight, I'll be
thrilled to complete a mile without keeling over.
Mark
Mark E. Wallace
news:3C363EE3...@the-wire.com...
> Good post Mark; surprised she didn't mention the cool colours.
Ditto.
> Good luck with the search and with the resumption of your running.
Thanks, Paul. Nice having this group here for support.
I'm sure there're lots websites out there for running now. What're "the
places" to cruise these days for running-related stuff?
Mark
SwStudio
news:3c36447c$1...@newsa.ev1.net...
Hi again, Mark - I've collected a few pretty good various
links related to the subject (an ever-growing list). Just click
on the link in my sig and then click on 'links'. I have a whole
bunch, listed in various categories.
Mark E. Wallace
Mark
SwStudio <shhhh_...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:H6sZ7.15478$li.4...@read1.cgocable.net...
Bert Duplessis
If you still live in the Houston area, try Fleet Feet - there's one in the Rice
Village, and another one at 2nd Baptist Church across from the Whole Foods,
next to a nice restaurant, Escalante I think. Excellent seafood enchilada, btw.
Anyway the salespersons there really KNOW the shoes, and can give you great
advice. I have dealt with three different ones and they are all experienced
runners, and definitely not in the 'wet behind the ears' category. They always
suggest that you take new shoes for a quick spin out in the parking lot.
Considering what a good pair costs nowadays, it is not a frivolous purchase and
after all, your (running) life could depend on ending up with the right pair.
I also like to support local businesses, so would rather give them my
business, than order running shoes over the internet or by mail-order/catalog.
Lastly, Fleet Feet is also very supportive of some local running groups.
Bert
Houston
amh
stores you can be served by an olympic quilifier, a Hawaii Ironman finisher or a
guy who can recite the properties of every shoe he has in stock.
Andy
Mark E. Wallace
here as well; Run-Tex most notably.
Fleet Feet has been around for a while, no? Seems I recall them from years
ago, but I may be mistaken.
Mark
Bert Duplessis <exaf...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020104225158...@mb-ch.aol.com...
Joseph Meehan
that not only know what shoes are what, but that can also judge the way you
run to choose the correct shoes for you. How your feet land as you run
makes a difference and that is not very easy to figure out for yourself.
The current issue of "Runners Word" has a list of such stores all over
the US.
--
Dia 's Muire duit
Joseph E. Meehan
"Mark E. Wallace" <Ma...@none.of.your.business> wrote in message
news:a15br5$1f6g$1...@galaxy.us.dell.com...
Josh Steinberg
experience, now that I have 13 pairs of Brooks Radius IV in my closet...
-- Josh Steinberg, Syracuse
Hank Zimmerman
wrote:
>I thank my stars that I have 3 running stores in easy reach. In any of
>these stores you can be served by an olympic quilifier, a Hawaii
>Ironman finisher or a guy who can recite the properties of every shoe
>he has in stock.
Sounds like the city I used to sell shoes in - Louisville, KY. We had
two people on our staff that did Ironman, and I was the guy who could
list specs off the top of my head. Between the ten or so people on our
staff, we had competed in basically every distance from 100m to 100
miles. We entered a couple of races as a company entry and blew the
competition away.
Another store in town had the Olympic qualifier.
Some days I really miss selling shoes. Four years I really enjoyed.
There is nothing like motivation to run like your co-workers getting on
your case for not joining them in a closing-time six mile trail run.
--
Hank Zimmerman maintains the comp.mail.eudora.mac FAQ
It can be found at <http://www.vampy-alumni.org/eudora/faqs/>
(c) 2001 Hank Zimmerman