When I crashed my bike a few weeks back, I managed to tear a hole in my running shoes. Somehow, the crash ripped a small hole in the mesh on the inside of my right shoe, but it didn’t hinder my ability to run in them. Well, if you saw my pace, you would think differently, but it really had nothing to do with the shoe. I swear.
Then, last Friday I felt that familiar knee pain that usually occurs when a shoe has seen its last mile. It’s been nearly 6 months since I bought my last pair, therefore, the timing seemed about right and honestly, I was pleased with the coincidence.
As much as I loved my Brooks Infiniti, I believe my weird toe pain may have been caused by a narrow toe box. Therefore, Lee at The Running Center fitted me for a new shoe: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 9. I loved the width of the shoe and when I tested them on the treadmill, the shoes seemed fine despite having less cushion than the Infiniti.
Saturday morning, I couldn’t wait to test out my new shoes. I went for a short 3 mile run, but as I drew closer to 3 mile mark, I felt a sharp pain in my heel. I immediately stopped running and walked home. Obviously the wrong shoes for me, I boxed up the bad boys and took them back to store.
Once I returned to The Running Center, I explained to staff that I loved the width of the Brooks Adrenaline, but I needed something with more cushion. Then, entered a new option: Saucony Pro Grid Omni 8. This shoe has lovely cushion for the pushin’, but I especially loved the stretchy mesh side panel. However, my big toe hit the front of the shoe, which meant I had to go up a half size. With the next size up, I felt the shoe slipping on my heel, so my new BFF at The Running Center taught me this nifty lacing trick, which incidentally also happens to be the way my running partner, Tiffany, laces her shoes.

So, in my short running career (almost three years now), I have grown a half size bigger and I’ve tested and tried 7 different styles of shoes: Asics 2130, Asics Nimbus, Asics Kensei, Asics Kanyano, Brooks Infiniti, Brooks Adrenaline and Saucony Omni. My DH believes I’m evolving as a runner and my needs are changing. Um…yeah…sure, we’ll go with that.
This morning, I ran with my new shoes. No weird toe pain. No knee pain. I only felt my happy heel hitting a nice, comfy cushion. Too bad my BFF Sharon Mann tortured me the day before with a kickboxing and several reps of squats. My feet and knees felt great but my quads were killing me!
3 Miles
Time 31:17
Pace 10:25