Kiersten’s Blog

I have needed new running shoes for quite some time.  On Tuesday, I was finally able to hit up the running store in San Diego.  I have been wanting to check it out for months.  I went in and they assessed my feet.  I stood on some sort of computerized thing that tells how you distribute your weight between your feet.  It tells information about your arches and other things.  I already knew that I had high arches, but I didn’t realize how freakishly high they really are.  After that assessment, I jogged on the treadmill, barefoot, while their little camera recorded me.  We watched the playback, and I could see exactly how I run.  This information would help in choosing the best pair of shoes for me.  I tried on a number of pairs and finally settled on some that I really liked.  The problem was the $90 price tag.  I opted to walk next door to the clearance store to see if they had anything comparable for a lesser price.  I was excited to find a similar pair for only $30.  I was pretty excited about it and I think they’ll turn out to be great shoes for me, although I wonder if I should have bought a half a size bigger.  I’ll just be sure to keep my toenails short.  I’m excited to get running again and hopefully not have a sore ankle anymore.

In my search for running shoes, I took my kids along.  London wanted her feet measured and tested as well.  She did throw a fit when she was told that she couldn’t try the treadmill because she was too young.  I told her I would bring her back when she’s 8.  She was pretty excited, though, to get her feet measured.  Then she really wanted a pair of running shoes of her own.  The store we went to doesn’t carry running shoes in a small enough size for her.  She was quite disappointed.  I told her we would keep looking, knowing that we probably wouldn’t find anything any time soon.  She knows that the 10K that I ran last month had a mother-daughter option and she decided that she should really run a race.  I told her that she would have to stop complaining about her knees hurting if she really wanted to run a race.  Today, after looking through her shoe drawer, she came out wearing a pair of shoes that I forgot she had.  They were given to us a couple of years ago and I forgot all about them.  Now, her feet are the right size for them and they happen to be . . . running shoes.  She came in my room wearing them and said, “Mom, are these running shoes?”  Of course, we had to go running.  Running with a 4-year-old isn’t the best way to get one’s heart rate up, but it is exciting.  She ran about a half a block (since she doesn’t know how to pace herself) and then started noticing flowers and other things.  Eventually, I got her to run most of the way around the block.  I can only imagine that she’ll be bugging me to take her running every day now.  I suppose it could be worse.  At least she’s getting exercise!  We’ll see if she’s ready for a 5K next year.