Long-rambling-post warning!
And … shoe-bling alert!!!! I bought a new pair of shoes for walking and everyday casual. And I just have been out for some walking today. I love them.
So have you ever had a shoe epiphany? Well I have had one, but it was a very long, slow one that lasted over the last 6 years!
Ca 6 years ago, I was not running, not rowing, really struggled with my energy levels (due to also being under-medicated for my hypothyroid condition), and thought that the two pairs of running shoes of my husband owned, sitting in our shoe cupboard, were overkill and a waste of space. Who needs two pairs for running anyway? Right?
I had one pair of hardened-leather tennis shoes, hidden away deep in a cupboard!
That was me ca 6 years ago.
So how about now? Well! I have to admit it’s me, who takes up most of the space in the shoe rack. We bought a new high capacity one, recently. I have to admit, I take up most of the space now! And it’s not due to any fancy formal-wear, high-heel shoes! Rather a lively diversity of active-living-shoes.
So what happened through the last 5 years?
Ca 5 years ago I started on my Couch25k journey, increasing my active walking, as I went along. Within half a year, I threw my ancient, sole-loosened, cracked tennis shoes away. Well actually I couldn’t let go of my old C25k graduating shoes until I took enough pictures to remember them by! See picture on this post from 4 years ago! healthunlocked.com/bridgeto... )
But having let go of the old, and experiencing my first gait analysis, I became a proud owner of a new pair of New Balance Hierro all terrain running/walking shoes. Walking on clouds!
My tally was back at a respectable 1 pair.
However, my increased pressure of being on my feet caused Norton’s Neuroma to flair up, so halfway through the lifespan of my New Balance Hierros (ca 8mm drop), I switched to 0-drop, wide-toe box Altra Lone Peak 5s from a sale. I used these mostly for running.
Tally: 2 pairs. But ok, so I had the same number of running shoes as hubby!
In my move towards ensuring I’d never have an issue with Morton’s Neuroma again, I made a plan to slowly switch out all my shoes to wide-toebox, 0-drop shoes. For everyday walks and casual work attire, I got myself the high ankle versions of the 0-drop Altra Lone Peaks, great for hiking, but also urban walks!
So that made 3 pairs of active shoes. I was a happy satisfied shoe owner for at least 2 years.
Ok, admittedly during those two years got sucked into an Aldi’s running special, which had a 10-er deal on some fairly ugly no-brand running trail shoes, but they were so comfortable, and felt like low-drops. And they have been used quite considerable, especially when my Altras started to develop a hole in its toe box. I eventually fixed that hole, but in between the Aldi shoes were great, and I still use them when my other running shoes are wet.
So that made 4 pairs. Was my shoe habit getting out of control?
Of course, having nipped Morton’s Neuroma in the butt, I recently then started to develop reoccurring calf strains. The strain on my calves was relieved when donning higher drop shoes, specifically when walking. So my physio suggested for me to get heel wedges to put into my 0-drop shoes! Sigh.
My Altra boots got some heel wedges, but it made them feel wobbly, and I was fearing that that wobble put a strain somewhere else in my posterior chain, so I decided to look out for another pair of shoes, with ca 9mm drop, for walking, hiking and casual everyday wear.
And that’s where we are today! My 5th pair of a walking/running shoe! Three pairs of shoes are now dedicated for running, two for walking, hiking and everyday casual.
So today was my first day in my New Balance Hierro Mid Cut hiker boots!
They are light, have nice padding, ankle height for everyday terrain, but flexible enough to just do a joggle in, if I feel like that on a walk.
Oh, and we added a modular extension to increase our shoe rack!
Very happy with all my shoes! How did I ever live without at least 3 pairs!
My epiphany? Over the last 5 years of running and active walking, I realised that just as my body changed, adapts to different strains and stresses, gets stronger first here than other parts of your body catch up, I realised that my footwear benefits from being able to adjust to those shifts. So 5 pairs is surely not a luxury, but a supportive necessity, right?
Happy shoe day, everyone!
