Running Shoes

I started running cross-country in high school. My first pair of shoes: Nike Pegasus. Result: bad pain in my ankles, knees, shins and hips.

Next pair of shoes: Saucony. Same result. Not good when training for a marathon at age 16.

I decided to leave running to the land sharks and stay in the pool. Running sucks!

In 1990, I ended up at a dinky college in Idaho and thought doing a triathlon might be fun. I bought a pair of Asics. Same result as before. Running again sucked. Stick to mountain biking and swimming; later rock climbing.

As it would happen, I chose a job that required a timed run and a physical fitness standard. Running sucks. I got another pair of Saucony shoes and had the same result I always had when running.

Don't get me wrong, I don't suck at running. I'm built for it and usually finish in the top 3 when qualifying for our tac team runs. But for years, I had this ankle, shin, hip, back problem that wouldn't go away. I stayed in the pool for all cardio and only ran when I had to.

In 2005, I was at training for work and there happened to be a trade show at the training center. There was a sizable line to video and measure stride. I got in it because someone told me it was the best way to get your feet in the appropriate shoes.

So I stood in the line and finally got up to the tread mill. The guy had me roll up my pant legs and take off my shoes. He video taped my running stride on the tread mill for a couple minutes. Then, he showed me the tape and talked about my feet.

Apparently, we are not the same when it comes to feet and that can have an impact on your run. The reason why running sucked for me, he explained, was I was wearing shoes that were totally wrong for my foot. He suggested I wear a trail running shoe made by Pearl Izumi. Which I purchased.

I started running again on trails in Alaska, then in the Southern Rockies. These shoes made a huge difference. I was running huge distances on trail. Up and down mountains with no problem.

Recently, I needed to retire my last pair of running shoes. Someone suggested I try Vibram fivefinger. Since I am now only running outside about once a week (my daily runs consist of interval and crosstraining in a matroom) I studied up on them, about increased balance, agility and foot strength, and decided to buy a pair. I was completely unprepared for the result.

I bought them the weekend before we went to Cancun for vacation. While in Cancun, I wore them when I ran, when I did my strength training and crossfit exercises; when I went hiking around the ruins.

When I returned from vacation, putting on regular shoes, the shoes I normally wore to work; not at all comfortable. I wore the fivefingers into the matroom at work much to the dismay of my coworkers who complained about them being a distraction and unprofessional. So the next day I wore my more appropriate shoes and found that familiar ache in the lower back return by the end of the two hour session.

Vibram fivefinger shoes. Result: reduced lower back pain; improved overall leg strength and flexibility; improved balance and agility; better body awareness; improved foot strength and a more natural feel when running.