These bad boys right here were my favorite shoes. It was 2019, I think, that I got into running hardcore. My definition of hardcore was running 5 and 10k races monthly and training for a half-marathon that Covid ultimately cancelled. I was not an ultra-marathon runner or even tempted to train for a full marathon. Those events often have a time minimum for completing them and I was not the fastest runner. I could run continuously for more than an hour, but not at any impressive pace.
I initially trained and ran a 5k several years before 2019. I had a great pair of hot pink New Balance tennis shoes. But when I got serious into running again, I decided to go to a local running store, Fleet Feet, and have my feet professionally measured and mapped. That was pretty cool!
Just by standing in a square space and then walking a few feet, my feet were measured and all kinds of other information was gathered about my arch, which direction I pronate when I walk, everything! As it turns out, I have been wearing the wrong size of shoe my whole adult life! I’ve been buying them a size too big!
After that, the employee brought out several pairs of running shoes and insoles for me to try. These Hoka Arahi One One shoes were hands down the winner. Let me tell ya’, they were amazing! One of the guys in the local running club I was in for a short period called them moon shoes. I get it. With the chunky heels, they do look a little funny. But those chunky heels made it so that I never felt the ground when I ran. The cushion on these things was incredible! Combined with the proper insert? My goodness that was some good running in those shoes.
I read somewhere that running shoes are only good for a certain number of miles. I don’t know if these ever got to the maximum number, but they lasted for a really long time. I don’t have them anymore because I stopped running and when I did get back into it last year, I bought a new pair…of Brooks. Didn’t get another pair of Hoka’s. But when I’m in the market for another new pair, I’m going back to that little store and getting them again. Or not. If any of you are runners, what kind of shoes do you swear by?
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