Shoes....What are these things you speak of?

December 30, 2013 - Jan 5, 2014

Total Mileage - 6.5

We all have to start over sometime.  Mine has just happened to be after a 2 month break due to some bad heel spurs and hairline fractures in my shin. Its humbling (and frustrating) to have to start back at the beginning and realize that the 6.5 miles that I ran this week used to be what I ran in a day.  Hopefully my body will cooperate and I'll be able to get back there again in the future.  I know better than to say soon, because I have a feeling that this is going to be a long rebuilding process.  

I have also made a dramatic shift and, for the first time in a very long time, will be running in shoes.  Which I'll be the first to admit feels like a minor loss in identity.  I also understand that to keep the heel spurs at bay, I needed to make a change.  I'll still incorporate the vibrams into speed work or short runs, but now I'll be donning some serious footwear.

Research is Key

After nearly two months of research I settled on the Hoka One One - Bondi 2.  I had seen a few pairs of them on the road and while I was not overly thrilled with the idea of going back to shoes, these seemed like the cross between minimal and new running tech that I was looking for.  After reading a blog on freakrunner I was sold.  He cut a pair of Hoka's in half to show that they are actually much more minimal in design then they get credit for.  Now I just had to find a pair.

REI - online only

Fleet Feet Roseville - out of stock

Fleet Feet Sacramento - out of stock

Roadrunner Sports Concord - online only (unless I was willing to drive to Campbell - nope)

Fleet Feet Concord - Pairs for Days!

This was my first time in Fleet Feet Concord, and I will definitely be going back.  Its a super small store, but the customer service was fantastic.  Ask for _____, he was a great help.  

Hoka One One - Bondi 2

Compared to Vibrams, these are what I think running on marshmallows would be like.  Even though they look bulky, they are relatively light (coming in under 10 oz.).  My first run was only a mile, but it took the whole run to get used to having something substantial on my feet.  There is a large amount of forefoot padding (I am trying my hardest to keep from heel striking) which is not usually seen in other shoes.  By the end of the week I was working on 2 mile tempo runs.  The pace was considerably slower, and my lungs felt like they were on fire, but that will pass.  My right shin has some pain (thankfully lower then where the fractures were, but I'll be keeping a close eye on it).  I know it's only 6.5 miles total, but so far I'm impressed.

Here's to pounding the pavement once again!