new running shoes + garmin gps watch!

a couple of weeks ago, i went to try sports in southpark to get fitted for a new pair of running shoes. because of way too many years of cheerleading/flipping over/lots of impact on my body, my feet are almost flat. so i knew that when i got my new pair of running shoes, i needed to get the right ones.

the whole process was pretty neat. the first thing the guy helping me did was measure both my feet. then he brought me out a pair of  shoes to wear while i ran on the treadmill. i hopped on the treadmill and he explained that he would be video taping me while i run - i could also see what he was seeing on the computer on a big flat screen in front of the treadmill. i ran for about 1 minute at a 10 minute mile pace. once he had what he needed, he asked me to join him at the computer.

much to my surprise, the software they use for this, dartfish, is a software that i am very familiar with! my dad's company uses it & we know the dartfish crew very well. it was super cool to see it used for something other than cheerleading. the next thing he did was pause the screen mid stroke on my right foot. he then measured the angel from my foot to my angle, and from my ankle to my knee. he did this for both feet to figure out whether or not i'm a pronator or a supinator. no surprise to me, i'm a pronator, and my left foot pronates quite a bit more drastically than the right. this quote from runner's world explains pronation pretty perfectly:

  "If you have a normal arch, you're likely a normal pronator, meaning you'll do best in a stability shoe that offers moderate pronation control. Runners with flat feet normally overpronate, so they do well in a motion-control shoe that controls pronation. High-arched runners typically underpronate, so they do best in a neutral-cushioned shoe that encourages a more natural foot motion."

next up, he brought out 3 pairs of shoes that are made to stabilize your foot while you run. i put on one shoe on each foot from two different pairs and ran around the track at the store. i decided which one i liked better out of the two, and then put on one shoe from the 3rd pair and ran around the track. then after deciding which one of those i liked better, i put on both of the favorite & ran around the store again. when all was said & done, i ended up with these beautiful shoes.

 

{newton: motion}

 

because they are essentially changing the way i run, they are taking some getting used to. i ran my first longer run with them last night, and some strange parts of my calves are screaming today. like the, thought i wasn't going to be able to walk all day, kind of sore. but i know this is a good change & will help me run faster & better in the end.

 

and while i was at it, i went ahead and purchased myself a garmin forerunner 10. i have been eyeing this for a few months now and they had 1 green one left in the store, so i took that as a sign and got it. this is also taking some getting used to, but i am really glad i no longer have to run with my phone in my hand to keep up with my pace.

next up on my list will be wireless headphones. those pesky headphone cords are really annoying!

happy running!