Mama's got a new pair of shoes!

So, after many blisters (and a bout of losing toenails a year ago in the Avon Walk) I decided it was time to go to the professionals and seek out some guidance for my sneakers. I stopped by Road Runner in Columbia to see if they could help me figure out what to fit my awkward feet. After some interesting analysis, it was determined that I have a tendency to pronate as I run. So, the sales associate (who was very nice, btw) selected these for me:


Aren't they purty? The gray area you see in the instep is extra stability to keep my foot from leaning in as I run.

Let me just say that I don't run. I don't particularly like it. Never have. I find running to be a pain (literally). I bought these running shoes so that I would feel more comfortable if I occasionally trotted during my walks. Well, to my surprise, I popped these suckers on my feet for my walk on the treadmill the other day, and found myself breaking into a run more often than I ever have. These shoes are the most comfortable thing I have ever put on my feet!

I now understand why people run. It's adrenaline-pumping. It's invigorating. And with these shoes, it's painless! I never thought I would find a day where I thought running wasn't the most horrible thing humankind ever decided to do. But, with these shoes that day has come. I'm not looking to run a marathon or anything. In fact, my short stints with running never last more than a few minutes and at 5 mph or so. Hopefully I will be able to extend my time running and increase my speed, but for this non-runner, it's a start!