My Search for Cinderella's Running Sneaker.

Today was an interesting day in its simplicity. I've been trying to tie up lots of loose ends before I leave for FR on Thursday and one of those loose ends included deciding what to do about my running sneakers.

Now hold on a minute, I know it sounds like it may be a dull post but this post will be surprisingly informative! I promise!

Your feet are important, especially when you're about to undertake a fitness odyssey of epic proportions like me. ;) The odyssey is of epic proportions, not the future me, myself and I. :P My small little feet need to hold up a pretty big frame, so they need to be comfy.

If you get a blister, not only could it ruin your day but it even has the potential to kill you! I shiz you not! Just google blisters and septicemia. (for those that are too lazy to do that, just don't get into a pool or a hot tub if you do get a blister)

Anyhoo. No one wants blisters. They hurt, they're gross and they just plain suck. Prevention is key!

Soooo... back to my sneakers. I purchased 3 pairs of Brooks Adrenaline GTS10 sneakers in varying sizes and widths in the hope of finding my perfect fit.

 

Pretty, huh?

Prior to this I had even gone to a specialized running store and tried on about 10 other pairs of sneakers before narrowing them down to the Adrenalines. But more on that in a future blog posting. 

I spent the day walking around in my various sneakers feeling like Goldilocks because:

1. One pair was too small
2. One pair was too big
3. One pair was... ah crap.

None of them fit just right. :(


I had to decide between sneakers that were too tight by my toes and just right in the heels or sneakers that gave my toes plenty of wiggle room but were sliding up and down in the back. It seemed like I'd either have to embrace having toe blisters or heel blisters. :P

I decided I wasn't going to accept EITHER. I decided to use my brain and get SMART instead!

Here's some tootsie fabulous facts that'll have you Jeopardy-ready:


Feet can actually be different sizes throughout the course of the day with the late afternoon being when they're at their largest. This is prime shoe shopping time. Bet you didn't know that, huh?!

Feet can also swell during exercise, which is why many runners recommend sizing a half size up when you purchase sneakers. Also, sneakers need a bit of time to break in and they can only get broken in with some wear and tear on your part.

Your toes should not squish together, otherwise that will cause blisters. Heels should not freely slide up and down because that can ALSO cause blisters. When wearing le parfait sneakers, you should not be able to stick your thumb between your heel and the back of the shoe. Sneakers should have about 1/4" to a full 1/2" of wiggle room up front otherwise you can get the dreaded BLACK TOE. It's ugly and self-explanatory.

Sneaker shopping is almost akin to car shopping in its complexity, right?

So how did I solve my dilemma you ask? I got some advice from a running sneaker expert! His advice? Go bigger or go home! (I've always wanted to say that) He also recommended that I double up on my socks so that the heels wouldn't slide around as much.

Skeptical, I gave it a try... and by golly, Mr. Shoe Expert was right on the money. With two pairs of socks, the larger sneakers fit just right!

Also, with two pairs of socks, there's even less chance of blisters because the socks will reduce friction on your feet.

Here's just a few more pointers for YOUR future sneaker shopping odyssey in numerical format because I'm getting tired:

1. Use socks made of synthetic materials. Cotton retains moisture which keep your feet moist. Moist feet equals skin that is more delicate and prone to tearing. Fancy-schmancy socks that use synthetic materials like cool max really do keep your feet dryer and hence less blister prone.

2. Want to up your blister protection but want thinner socks? There are lots of socks available on the market that are double layered and made with thinner, synthetic materials. Just check at your local running shop. Roadrunner Sports has a great selection with lots of different brands available! (RS, feel free to send me some gratis. ::wink wink:: Hey! I freely admit to having absolutely no shame!)

3. Antiperspirant Spray. Spray your feet to keep them from sweating or even use baby powder or corn starch to keep moisture away. Dry feet are comfy, happy feet. Less smelly too. lol.

4. Lube it up! Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly and products like bodyglide are also great in blister prevention. Just lube up areas that feel hot or are blister prone and it'll help keep you friction-free.

Ain't no blisters going to be getting through to my tootsies!

(And as a side note, watch for a future blog where I deal with blisters that I'm going to get. Mwah ha ha! Prevention is great but sometimes things still slide on through, I'm sure.)

Ideally, you should take the time to really work in a sneaker before you make a decision. Don't be like me and wait until the last minute. Once you get the sneaker, be wise and take heed of all the knowledge that I've garnered in prepping for my trip. 

So as a parting note in this sneaker-tastic blog post, I leave you with the very sage advice from Captain Dan of Forrest Gump fame:

"There is one item of G.I. gear that can be the difference between a live grunt and a dead grunt. Socks... Try and keep your feet dry."