I bought running shoes last night!
WooT!
As I mentioned the other day, all of my running, working, and a large portion of my casual day to day stuff had been in a pair of Nike Reax. I didn’t buy them with the intention of working out at the time, I bought them because they looked cool, but they worked for me. I was used to running in them, and I didn’t have in pain in them or anything, but the tread on the soles was almost completely worn away, so I knew their days were numbered.
So I went shoe shopping. Instead of just going to Kohls and picking up whatever looked nice, I went to Fleet Feet Baltimore in the quest to find the right shoe for me.
I walked into the store holding my Reax (their website recommends bringing in your old shoes), told the nice lady at the counter that I wanted to be fit for running shoes, then she looked down at what I was holding and said “You’ve been running in THOSE?!”
Crap.
Anywho, she had me sit down and take off my shoes and socks, and could pretty much tell from the getgo that I overpronate (like crazy, apparently). This was because she saw the huge callouses on the side of my big toes (which she even had her co-worker come over to look at, ugh). She then had me run back and forth a bit in the main aisle of the store, then I ran on a treadmill for 30 seconds while she videotaped my foot movement. After reading Sue’s post on the subject the other day, I kind of had a hint of what to expect, but it still blew my mind that there was so much involved.
After all of that, I given 2 pairs of New Balances (don’t know what kind though), and a pair of Brooks Beasts. The first pair of New Balances and the Brooks Beast fit beautifully (the second NB’s were very tight, even the wider ones), but in the end I with the Brooks, in a size “12 2E”.
The shoes, and a pair of Balega Hidden Comfort Socks, set me back $148. It was a little more than I was hoping to spend, admittedly, and I probably could have gotten them cheaper online, but I was excited, and I wanted them NOW! so I bought them anyway.
I also found out the Fleet Feet hosts free outdoor runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4pm and 6:30pm. I might be looking into that as a way to increase my outdoor running experience. They also have marathon and half-marathon training classes starting soon that peaked my interest.
My “running supply purchasing” high then took me to Target, where I bought a couple of Champion C9 T-shirts and Champion C9 Boxer Briefs (which I couldn’t find a link for, probably because there were on clearance).
AND THEN…
I got home to find two more bits of awesome: Terminator Salvation had come in from Netflix, AND, my Baltimore Marathon Training Shirt had finally come in!
The picture quality sucks, so I apologize, but its basically an Under Armour shirt that says “Baltimore Running Festival” and “IN TRAINING.”
Speaking of the Baltimore Marathon, when I told the lady at that store that I had signed up for it, she said I signed up for one of the tougher marathons (very hilly, apparently) and that I probably should have signed up for the Marine Corps. Marathon.
Crap #2. Still though, I’m up for the challenge.
So I didn’t do any running in the new shoes last night, but before work this morning I armed myself w/ my shoes, a C9 shirt and my fancy new boxer briefs, and I ran two miles on the treadmill. The shoes felt very nice, but it was definitely different. I was also feeling the run a bit in my calves, earlier than I usually do anyway, but I’m supposing it due to not being used to the shoes or the support they provide. It was also nice to not have my shirt feeling all soggy and gross post workout.
And the fact that my boxer briefs weren’t riding up all over the place and causing chafing? BEAUTIFUL!
Sorry if that last part was TMI 
Happy Wednesday, everyone!
“…but before work this morning I armed myself w/ my shoes, a C9 shirt and my fancy new boxer briefs, and I ran two miles on the treadmill.”
Please tell me you had more than shirt, boxerbriefs, and shoes on!!!
Maaaaaaaybe I did…but Maaaaaaaybe I didn’t. Hehehehehe
One of my to-dos after I’ve lost weight is to go to a running store and have my stride analyzed. Be sure to keep us updated on the shoes!
It’s definitely something worth doing
Congrats on your new purchases! I’m glad you’re liking them so far. So the shoe store does running classes? Interesting. Wonder if they could teach me how to breathe right so I could jog longer? hehe.
Good luck on your future runs!
It sure does, I think alot of running/shoe stores do classes to, so I’m sure you could find one, especially since you are going to be a marathoner soon enough
The day I run a marathon is a true sign of the end of days!! lol
Especially when running .25 last night left me panting. Not a pretty picture.
It’s interesting all that goes into helping you find a good pair of running shoes. I’d be surprised if we have anything like that here in Anchorage. We have a Foot Locker and a Sports Authority, and that’s about it for places to buy running shoes. As soon as things start warming up a bit around here, I guess I’ll be finding out!
I didn’t know this place existed until a few hours before I was going to go shopping, I thought I was going to have to go down into the city. Hopefully there is a place up near you, b/c its definitely worth checking out.
He, he.. That’s is exactly all I run in…a t-shirt, sport bra, boxer brief (yes, some of us ladies love to wear men’s boxer briefs) and my running shoes. The boxer briefs are amazing to run in. That was going to be my secret for the perfect 10 update but, now that that is out of the bag, I will have to think of something else! LOL
I bought some new running shoes too yesterday. Not sure how I feel about them yet for running.
SCANDALOUS! Hehehehehe.
I hope the new shoes work out okay for ya, I saw the pic on your page and they look pretty spiffy
The lady at the shoe store sounds like a bit of a downer!
Good luck with your marathon training, it’s an awesome experience.
Hiyas! I thought the same thing when she said that…so much for encouragement! Sheesh!
I can’t wait to experience it for myself
Lol, well whatever works right?
Want some great running shoes? Check on this:
Reebok Premier Verona KFS Cushion Running Shoes for Men
They’re the best running shoes I’ve owned; very light weight, molds to your foot; flexible; breathable. Just very nice shoes.
JayLoss´s last blog ..Thinking it’s Water Weight
Ohhh, thats cool. I’ll have to check them out for the next go round. I don’t want to have to PAY for new shoes, but I hope I do enough running to warrant having to replace them soon enough
Nothing like a bit of new gear to get you pumped eh!
Amen! As long as I don’t get too carried away, gotta do what the paycheck allows.
Nothing worse that having your nuts pinched while you run. Glad to hear you got new drawers.
Ryan Sullivan´s last blog ..The Nitty Gritty of My Weight Loss Regimen
Haha, why thank you
Smart man — good shoes are the best thing you can do. As long as these work out for you, you can most likely find these online a little bit cheaper. I saved about $20 last night on my new shoes, plus $8 toward a future purchase.
Yeah, I am most definitely going to go the online route next time and try to save some bank, especially now that I know what to look for
Um, okay, 1. Why no pics of you in the new boxer briefs, and B. You are in Baltimore? I, uh, am in Baltimore semi-frequently. Do I smell a meetup cooking?
MrsFatass´s last blog ..a fatass by any other name
1. I don’t think you can handle this jelly (roll), and 2. Yes, you do smell a meetup coming! How often is semi-frequently?
lol’ing at Ryan’s comment above!
Love your awesome sauce, Steve. Congrats on the new shoes! I recently bought some new Nikes but would LOVE to someday be fitted in a real running shoe store. Wicked awesome that you did that for yourself!
josie´s last blog ..Rewards!
Yay for new shoes, and yay for no chafing
TMI is my specialty as you’ve probably seen on my blog so I think you’re within safe reading limits 
Talking of new purchases… Hmmm I need new yoga pants… *starts looking online for a place to spend her hard earned cash*
Petchy´s last blog ..CARB CATASTROPHY WEEK
WooHoo purchases! I have alot more stuff I wanna buy now, but I’m trying to be conservative
Steve´s last blog ..Awesomesauce
You should definitely do it, especially if you’re going to become a mad crazy runner
I hate exposing my feet. Not a pretty sight! Worst part is summer when I sun myself with sandals on. I try to spare people the cracked dry destruction.
David´s last blog ..Day off lunch
My feet and cracked, dry, calloused, etc..etc…its not pretty AT ALL.