Shoes.
As you may have guessed, shoes are very important to me. We got the cycling shoes, we got the working on bikes shoes, we got the fabulous shoes. But most of all, we have the running shoes. I've been known to dabble in barefoot or Nike Frees, but for trainers my heart is true to the Mizuno Wave Alchemy. I'm no wandering honey; at last count I'm on at least my 10th pair of these suckers and I estimate I've done at least 4,000 miles on them dating back to my sophomore year in high school, when they were recommended by the good folks at Transports to correct my chronic shin splints (which have never relapsed).
Which brings me to now. I'm 350+ miles into my current MVA6's and went to the local running store to get another pair. To my dismay, I found that model 6 has been replaced with model 7 (this monstrosity) which, in addition to being wider, boxier, and heavier than older models, totally sucks donkey balls. I'm so used to this shoe I hardly ever even try it on anymore. But when I put it on at the store (the dude insisted, I guess because he knew it was so different) my feeties were like WTF mate?
So, they proceeded to recommend the Inspire which didn't fit my feet at all -- I have narrow feet which Mizuno have always fit great, but now the toebox was so large I felt like I was flopping around in clown shoes. My confidence was not boosted by the sales clerk who insisted I should be wearing a half size larger than fit me. What the hell? Do I look retarded? Where's Transports when I need them? I'd even settle for the guys at Run with Us. And this store is supposed to be the best in San Diego.
Anyways, I tried on Sauconys (my Saucony flats fit great, so I had hope) and Asics (I know a bunch of folks who love 'em) but neither felt right. The Asics were really stiff and the arch was in the wrong place, and the Sauconys just didn't fit either. Am I being too picky? Or should I hold out?
The current plan is to go see the folks at Transports this weekend if I have time, buy up any of the MWA6 that they have in my size, and try out some other shoes. Then, I will go online and buy MORE MWA6 to stock up (think: bomb shelter style). The goal is to get enough of them to last me the school year, but also try out another shoe so when I have to make the switch, I'll be ready.
Wow, this sounds really psychotic and paranoid. But seriously, running shoes are like air. I need them to live.
I can't believe I remembered to stop my watch. Should've run faster.
Jul 19, 2007
I'm going to get what I want.
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5 comments:
You could also try looking online. Sometimes there are pretty good deals just waiting for you out there, especially if the 7's have just come out.
I wore the sixes for a while. They were alright. But I sort of never want to wear Kayano XII's or the Alchemy 6's again because those were the two pairs of shoes I was rotating before I got injured.
Here are some links. I don't know what good prices are, but these are "sale."
http://runnershigh.com/shop/wavealchemy6.asp
Finish Line has them for 69 dollars and you save 15% by clicking on the little ad on letsrun.com. I think you should also get free shipping.
Wow! That's way better than I found them on Eastbay (even with the coupon I got from googling...)
Thanks!
no no no, not picky... the right running shoe is totally essential. you've got the right idea with stocking up. the only model of shoe that i've bought more than 1 of is the Saucony Triumph series... which I've stuck with through 2 remodelings, but the latest version the 4's are HORRENDOUS. I partially wonder if they caused some of my foot problems, cuz they are so, so different from the 1's the 2's and the 3's. The 3's are by far the best... but they are getting harder and harder to find.
trying to find the next shoe is really hard... i'm hoping to debut the gel nimbus series when I'm back on my feet again... but they don't quite accomodate the extra cushioning insoles that i need, as well as the triumphs. *sigh*
Being a fan of Mizuno's, I can understand why its hard to leave them. However, you might consider Nike Air Pegasus. I know its Nike and the shoes are like, literally made out of 6 year old chinese boys, but I know they fit and feel a lot like the Mizunos. They are pricey, but all things considered, they probably get the same mileage as mizunos, which typically are a lower mileage shoe. It can be good to try new shoes, but going into high mileage with new shoes is iffy in my opinion. Anyways yeah online might help with them too. Or you could get like 5 pairs for dirt cheap and then never have to worry about it for a good 2 years.
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