When I was 14 years old, I had an embarrassing shoe experience. It was the only time in what was probably my entire life, that I felt picked on. I didn’t get bullied, I was pretty much friends with everyone, or completely neutral. Hell, I didn't even go to school half of the time.
Her name was Vanessa, and she was at least one grade ahead of me, maybe two. She always had braids down to about the middle of her back. I saw her once, years later at the public library and she still had those same braids (and she still tried to intimidate me) . It was so traumatizing that I remember minute details. It was gym glass, and we were all seated on the floor, backs up against the bleachers. I had just gotten new sneakers, and I was pretty proud of them.
For reasons unknown to me, Vanessa decided it was a good time to be the shoe inspector, and she went down the row, student by student, checking out their digs. “Bobo” she’d say or “You cool” depending on what they had on. And then she got to me, seated, legs stretched out in front. Careless. Her eyes widened in mock horror as she looked at my sneakers, and then she proclaimed “Super bobo!” and everyone erupted into laughter.
That was the last day I ever wore those shoes. Ever. I think I may have gone home, doused them in something flammable and easily accessible to a teenager, and then lit them on fire. Or at least they went straight into the garbage.
You can imagine my dismay then, when I go to purchase new running shoes, and they bring out not one but TWO pairs of Asics. Two! My beloved Saucony model that I’d been wearing for nigh on three years is discontinued, and unfortunately the new model they have out was not comfortable at all.
I have buyer’s remorse, big time, but that’s pretty much par for the course. I bought the second pair I tried on, and I even ran a little on the treadmill before purchase to make sure they were suitable. The backs felt like they were sliding with every step, so the sales girl showed me something called a runner’s tie? It’s a weird way to tie the laces but it helped them not feel like they were going to come off my feet. However, the place where the laces tie, at that bend on the top of your foot? I’m having a hard time finding a happy medium , because so far it’s too tight or too loose. My buyer’s remorse will fade in direct proportion to how fast I can solve that problem.
In addition to my shoes, the sales girl pitched me and convinced me to buy an insert that is supposed to help my posture while I'm running. I'm hoping it will alleviate some of the back pain I often have after my Saturday morning trail runs.
I did knock out 6 miles in the new digs though after purchase. I only started to have slight pain in the ball of my right foot on the last half mile, but I had zero pain in my toes, which was starting to become a real issue in my old shoes, so all in all...
Two more runs to break them in before their first race. They are much prettier than the old ones, too
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