The Other
Pain From Exercise
Are
You A Fat Triathlete?
How to Shoe
a Clydesdale
Runners Top Ten
Sent to Bull Pen for First Tri
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How
to Shoe a Clydesdale |
| Being a Clydesdale has a few negative aspects to it. The
main problem is keeping leg problems away. I've been mostly walking to get
into shape but already my extra weight has caused a few pains and I knew from
experience that it would only get worse. I guess my old tried and true method of going to the discount store and buying the first pair of shoes that I saw on sale wasn't going to work this time. Not that I didn't try. When I started walking I bought a $12 pair and already I was limping noticeably. No arch support shouldn't make a difference, should it? I upgraded myself to the mall this time and that was a complete adventure in itself. Walking into a national chain shoe store with hip hop music blaring was not my idea of a good time. I asked the clerk over the constant thump of the bass if he could recommend something for a big guy to run in. "Everything we have is on the wall," he said without looking up. Have you ever looked at a wall in the shoe store? There are hundreds of styles and brands with no perceivable difference to this novice except for my keen price tag perception. Is it a good thing to have shocks under your heel? Can I really benefit from a shoe that requires an air pump and if so can I use it to air up a my bike tire too? Are shoes on the top shelf only for basketball players that can reach them? Where is the best place to aim when throwing a shoe at the boom box that is interfering with my heart rate? I had no good answers that would let me leave without being escorted by the bored mall security guy so I just left on my own. It wasn't worth the effort. My next 6 mile walk convinced me to try again. This time I perused the local phone book looking for an expert rather than an Al Bundy clone. A quick check of the Yellow Pages and I found that Shoes-Retail and Shooting Ranges are listed side by side. It didn't surprise me. I picked one that specialized in running and, since it isn't that far away, 20 minutes later I walked through the door before cautiously pulling out my ear plugs. Quiet music played in the background and although there was the familiar wall of walking horror at least I can hear myself think. Suddenly, something totally unexpected happened. "Can I help you?" asked a salesperson. I stood in shock long enough that he had to ask again. "Do you have a running shoe for big guys?" It's the same question I always ask and I admit I was already moving toward the wall of doom. "Walk down this line and I'll see if we have what you need." He said cheerfully. Usually when someone tells you to walk down a line it's a bad thing. This time it wasn't. He watched my stride for a few moments as I walked across the store. "H'mmm" he mused quietly, "Let's get your size." "No need," I chipped in, "I'm a 10 1/2." He looked at my foot for a second, "Let's measure just to be sure." He was right. I should have been wearing a size 11. Oh well, you know what they say about guys with big feet... they wear big shoes. I can't tell you how surprised I was when Gabriel (that's my sales guy) came back with a huge armload of shoe boxes. I must have tried on at least a dozen different brands and all of them were much easier on my feet and legs. I had a tough time choosing but I finally settled on a pair of Mizunos that immediately relieved the pain in my arch. Cushioned sole, wide at the front, narrow at the back, the right length and... ON SALE! I can die a happy man. Thanks to Gabriel Rodriguez, manager of On The Run for helping me shoe a Clydesdale.... |
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