it's a shoe thing

Those who know me and see me in the gym are aware of the fact that I own a few pairs of shoes. Which, at first glance, seems to be so that I can match their colors to my tops, or shorts, or the hair color of the week. Not so!!! Really!

Let me tell you a little story of how I came to be the owner of so many shoes. Sneakers, that is.

I like to run and train hard, which puts extra stress on my feetz and joints that have been so neglected and abused during my short military career. So, in order to keep going, I need a little extra help. This is what I found so far, searching for the right kind of running shoe.

Adidas, my all time favorite, is durable and well made with superior cushioning and a true fit.

Asics, light and fitting like a sock, tends to wear out faster and "expand" through wear. 3 months tops - cushioning problems that might induce new, or reinactivate old injuries. Great for races, not for training. The snug fit is phenomenal!

New Balance has a patented shoe lace design that I absolutely adore, it's their little twisty laces that will never slip or come undone! What a genius! Great fit and well made but lacks cushioning and if it doesn't, it may get a little heavier than, say, Adidas. Another plus, they are available in a narrow fit too, not just wide, to accommodate us mutants.

Brooks are clunky, Sauconies are, eh, I don't know. Haven't really run in them, they don't seem to have the right toe boxes for a good fit. Some seasoned runners swear by them...

Nike, well, I resent the fact that they manufacture shoes with big name athletes' endorsements that will cost the kids $130, and are horridly ugly! Never mind non-functional. Their running shoes are not well designed, they just look good. I've had clients suffering shin splints and stress fractures I(I believe) due to their Nike's poor cushioning. It's like they've become the cool shoes, not the good shoes. And what's with the little pillars in the heels? Square hamburger patty?
Dismissed.

Fila and Puma are trying to break into the market, but for now I think they are also focusing on good looking and/or racing shoes that are light, colorful and not all that well cushioned. I would be very sceptical to train in them.

Let's see, who else? Oh! My favorite, the NTB shoes that let you walk (for $250) as if you would if you were barefoot. Am I the only one who sees this??

One last thing about shoes. OK, two last things.
One is, I've read about this sneaker shoe business and how, in some people's opinion, it is almost better to run in light weight and plain cushioned shoes and to train the body and allow it to perform in its natural habitat. All of the joints and muscles are, after all, designed to work together and rebound, distribute energy, and propel the body forward (without carrying extra weight) in a very efficient and magnificent manor. This source also argued that a lot of the problems that create overuse injuries come from the very source of artificial cushioning and compensation for what we already have, naturally. Interesting. I do too remember training barefoot running sprints across the socker field, even running on clay track. Than again, the military issued boots - that we had in basic training when we ran everywhere and marched 18798675 miles with extra weight - had caused severe overuse injuries that were never given the chance to heal and created serious set backs.

So where's the golden median? I think a neutral shoe with some cushioning should suffice for most, and if someone has issues with body mechanics than that should be corrected or at least addressed by retraining to walk, jog and run in proper form. As much as the degree of handicap allows, of course. It can also be argued that today's technologically adaptable shoe design allows those with such handicap to participate and practice in sports that they would not be able to without compensating with special gear. Look at Oscar Pistorius the double amputee smoking down the 400m track! Ok, those are not the shoes, they are actually the limbs. But you get my point, right?

So this is the reason for my shoes galore, I am still in the process of identifying my degree of handicap and looking for the perfect fit (in the right color).

Thing two. If there was someone smart out there who wants to make some bucks designing and selling running shoes to special order here is what I would like:

An Asics Nimbus upper over an Adidas Cushion 6 bottom with a New Balance lace in Puma colors. That's not too hard, is it?