Find Your Size
I have been buying running shoes for nearly 20 years now. I started in Nike cuz nike=running right? Until I had some issues and was referred by a podiatrist to a running store where I could get “fitted" and try multiple brands of shoes. I should take a moment to give a shout out to the running store in Walnut Creek, CA. They were very patient and generous with me as I tried probably five different shoes before landing on a brand and size. And by try I mean I ran on them for a minimum of like 12 or so miles and then would decide, “Nah. don’t think so” and bring them back for the next contender.
In case there are any running shoe nerds out there who care about my choice: I landed for years on Brooks adrenaline and then my son talked me into trying Altras which lasted for a few years and now here I am a converted HOKA lover. There are quite a few of us out there. Anyway, back to my story.
I have a wide foot which, in the past, has translated to my buying a size 7 running shoe rather than a 6.5 shoe size which I wear in regular shoes. Until recently when I decided to try the wide size of running shoe..and guess what? Running in a wide shoe with a wide foot was, well…perfect! I started with the above Speedgoat in a 6.5 wide. It was awesome! And…six months later when I went to buy my next pair I inadvertently ordered a 7W. When I got them in the mail I thought, “Oh no! How did I do that?” Rather than return them, I tried them on and they felt okay. I decided to keep them and ran on them again. and again.
Guess what happened? I started having ankle problems and then heel pain and next a condition called, Metatarsalgia. That is a fancy name for pain under the ball of your foot caused by inflammation. Now…here’s the thing…as I write this you are possibly thinking, “How could you keep running in those shoes?” But I will let you in on a little secret: runners have a lot of pains here and there that have to be investigated or sometimes just endured.
It took me awhile to realize that all of the above symptoms happened once I got the new shoes. And one of the clues that helped in my investigation was the realization that all of my symptoms were in my left foot. My left foot is smaller than my right foot so going up half of a size was more significant for my smaller foot. Also, I like running so so much that I sweep symptoms under the carpet sometimes cuz I just wanna keep running. I KNOW this sounds crazy to most of you…or those of you who aren’t running addicts like myself. Oh my!! So many analogies here.
Here are my three life lesson learned from a running shoe.
Find what fits you best. {Wide foot=Wide shoe}
Don’t make yourself settle. {Ordered the wrong shoe? Return it. Get what you know works.}
Don’t run {or live} with something that is causing undue pain or discomfort, take care of yourself.
Also, sometimes we let fears keep us from thinking clearly. In my situation my fear based thoughts were, “Oh no, I am getting older. Maybe I am going to have to stop running like so many people have told me.” And what did I do from that fear? Minimize the pain, tolerate it. Keep running. I did cut down on my miles in an attempt to minimize the symptoms. But…avoiding facing something never is a viable solution.
I probably should address the other elephant in my story. Is my love of running 100% healthy if I am so terrified of losing it? I think a healthy version of myself would think, “Well, if I can’t run healthy then I will find some other way to stay in shape and get my regular adrenaline shot.” Sure, it would be a sad realization but not debilitating for certain.
That’s what happens with addictions, to be clear, we think we REALLY REALLY need them even if they are not a healthy choice for us.
I remember a saying from a long ago weight watchers’ meeting: “If hunger is not the problem, food is not the solution.” And I wonder…is that true? I would like to offer food is not the ONLY solution or maybe even the BEST solution. In my experience, food can actually solve a myriad of problems. {Another post, another week}.
One way to self confront is to look at those things we think we NEED. Are we in a healthy relationship with said habit or food or show binging or you fill in the blank. One time I decided to go without dark chocolate for six weeks just to see if I could and to find out if I was sabotaging my fitness goals with chocolate on the daily. Guess what? Turns out I could go without dark chocolate for six weeks. Turns out it made no difference to my fitness goals so….guess what?!! I continue to be a connoisseur of fine dark chocolate. Reach out to me and I can share my favorites;) {>72% cacao baby}
Find your size, my friends. Whether that be the right shoe, the right group of friends, the right hobby or pursuit.
Figure out what works best for you. Listen to that voice in your head…it will NOT lead you astray. Annnd always, always listen to your body. Symptoms are the way our body has a voice. Sometimes we go so long without listening to our own voice {or body} that we shut it down.
Helping women find their voice is what I do as a life coach. And…I can walk you through finding a good pair of running shoes as well:)
xoKathleen
