New Running Shoes Makes My Wallet Cry.

Today I drove all the way down to the Salt Lake Running Company in Draper to purchase me some real, actual running shoes (I’ve been running in my baby blue Sketchers all this time).  Did you know that real, actual running shoes cost a pretty penny? Well, they do. They are not cheap at all. I don’t think I have EVER bought shoes that expensive. With the new shoes called Saucony, four pairs of running socks and a running knee brace, I walked out of there with a bill totaling . . . drum roll please . . . $209.46. That’s a whole lot of pennies for a sport I despise.

I liked this store. It’s all about running and I found the staff to be quite knowledgeable. They actually have you run on a treadmill and they video tape how you run to determine the type of shoe and support that would work best. You would not find this type of service at Big 5 or Sports Authority. I’ve seen some of the guys at Big 5, and I don’t think they know what running is. The staff at the Salt Lake Running Company know what they are doing because they are runners. They told me and I believed them.

When I walked in there, I didn’t care how much I had to spend. I never even looked at a price tag. I just told them price did not matter, if they could help me better survive this race and provide me with shoes that will propel me forward on this journey then price is not an issue.

There is no such thing as shoes that will propel people forward.  They do not exist. Dang it! I was hoping for motors or springs or hovercraft type suspension, something, anything to make this easier.

So, I tested out the new shoes. I parked the van in front of the Junior High 45 minutes before the bell was to ring. I slipped off my crappy shoes (the sales lady at the running store was amazed I had been running in such shoes. I never knew they were so bad. That shows you how much I knew about running). I put on a new pair of running socks and went for a walk/run for 1.7 miles.

Well, guess what. The running brace pinches, which I would not have expected for a $30 dollar knee brace. My $10 knee brace from Wallymart works better AND my new shoes rub the heel on my right foot. There is blister potential there.  So, tomorrow, I will drive to Draper once more and try again. The good news though, driving to Draper keeps me from actually running . . . CHA-CHING!