If the shoe fits

6:29pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

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I read this morning that we humans will walk about 100,000 miles, or four times around the earth, during our lives. Best we don't do it in uncomfortable shoes, I suppose.
I bought a new pair of running shoes the other day, and when I say a new pair I really mean my first ever pair of proper, purpose-built, gel-cushion, space-age, running shoes.

The assistant asked me what type of footwear I usually run in, but I think I blushed, mumbled something about "awful, not even for running" and chose not to tell her. This was a young woman who was built like a runner, looked like a runner and talked about running-related things that were a bit over my head.
Next question: Do you pronate? I gave her a sheepish smile and shrugged my shoulders.
She chose a pair for me to try.
Next question: Are you comfortable on a treadmill? Yes, I lied. I've never been on one in my life. To me, running is about fresh air and frolicking in the park and being at one with nature (or something). Surprisingly, I didn't fall on my knees, and she was able to take a short video of me running. Something to do with the pronation thingy.
Turns out I'm okay, no pronation here. On a scale of normal to weird, I have normal feet (even if they are a tad flat) with a normal running pattern.
So I bought the shoes and have used them a few times with astonishing results I can now run for 20 minutes solid, so there is light at the end of that 5km Race for Life tunnel.
All I need now is a pedometer, so I can work on that 100,000 miles.