This is actually as important as tying your shoe laces
before a run. Oh, you never untie your shoe laces? No judgement here, really! Still,
I’m going to need you to take a second and imagine
you do. We’ll discuss your shoelace soul conversion later…
- They know how to keep you on track
Your (tied) shoelaces are designed to help your foot stay the true
course. The upright path. The continued general direction of forward. No matter
your speed or ability level. All important things to walking and running. In a
dodgy world filled with obstacles it is easy to find yourself observing less functional
routes, but those shoe laces work hard to keep you in line. Tie them (the right way) and
you have successfully started to prep for most physical activities. Great step, important step.
Funny enough, that little local store is designed to do the same thing. We all
know that starting to run, continuing to run, and just the general thought of doing
that activity can be difficult, frustrating, and confusing. The best way to get
through all that? The extensive resources that the store has. The store will
usually be beyond qualified to help you; everyone there has had a “first race”,
tried to get through an injury, and picked a shoe based on how cool it looked
once. It means they can help guide you through whatever level you are at. You
can use the internet to find yours, but physically GO THERE. Talk to them. Do
not be scared if the title only has "running" in it- walkers, runner, and practically anyone in
athletic shoes should be talking to them.
2. They can show you you’re not alone
Imagining that you are the only individual to start running
that has that pain, nerves before the first race, or pooping problems (ect.) is
like thinking your left foot and right foot couldn’t possibly be going through
similar experiences when you take them out for a run. Yes, everyone is
different BUT there are so many different people running that the employees of
the local running store has seen or heard about almost all of it. Go in and ask
any question. Show them any problem. They’ve actually probably had it too.
3. They can adapt to what you need
Did you know that tying your shoe, even slightly different,
can make a huge change in how the shoe fits, feels, and even performs? You can
get a close to perfect fit, protect toenails from bruising, and take care of
tingling toes and feet just by playing with your
laces. Local stores can adapt similarly. You don’t have the same goals as
the customer next to you in the store- they know that. If the store is really
good, they’ll ask you about your goals because knowing these can change everything. They’ll
need the who, what, when, why, and how of what you are planning to do so they
can help you equip correctly. When you don’t know all those “W’s” they can help
fill in too. This goes for the physical items at the store and the intangibles;
training help, motivation, and just darn good customer service. You might only
need motivation- meet some of the employees or the social run regulars to get
as big a dose as you need. Not sure why you can’t get a PR or feel even semi-comfortable on runs? Take one of the training classes and watch your running
goals and confidence grow bigger every day you train. The resources they have
are almost endless and they can adapt most basic knowledge to fit what you
need. Most locations have insoles that fit in everything from dress shoes, kids
shoes, cleats, and even random things like ice skates. Those insoles can make a
world of difference for growing kids, poor support footwear (basically everything not a running shoe), and those who need
a little extra. Running stores actually see athletes and active people from a
wide range of athletic endeavors. They also know area running trails, routes, races, and training groups.
4. They do not judge
I’m telling you- the good ones truly don’t. They want to
help or be a part of why you run. They are passionate, caring, and determined
to show you why they do what they do. Sometimes they'll talk to you about how they started. Other days, they will show you
how to tie your laces as many times as you need. (Realize re-learning to tie
shoes is one of the first things they have to learn when starting a job there-
the first day is humbling no matter your running experience level). You can
have almost as frank a conversation as you’d like on almost any running/walking
related topic. Men- know that the ladies working there are aware of the
difficulties you go through and usually have a male staff member to help if you'd like.
Ladies- know that the men working there want to help and usually have other
female staff members who can help with any bra
questions or measurements
and other questions. Just try asking. The support is there. Most importantly,
the employees understand why your running friend said you just “have to try Asics! They are the best” and why you came in the
store to try them. They’ll take all of that into account and still guide you to
the best shoe for you, even if at first you don’t believe that your best
running pal could accidentally steer you wrong. (We all want the same thing; to
help you find a shoe that feels good- the best running friends will understand that
even if they are a die-hard brand fan that your feet might require something
different… Even if you are doing the same training and have matching outfits).
Could I list more than four? (Ex: they have crazy and fun mascots) Yes, to an exponential degree, but others have done that for me.
If your first instinct is to run far away from a local running store- know you’ll
need their knowledge, resources, and gear to get you that far! Give them
another shot. Not every run is the same and neither is each running store. Take
the time to explore the ones in your area and find the right fit for you. Sure
each store would love to be your “go-to” location, but the beauty of all of
this is that each store wants to support a diverse running community. The top notch stores know the questions to ask but also understand that you know yourself best. Try to be
kind to each of the stores/groups in your area even if you have a favorite: the others may not fit your idea of the
perfect local running store but someone on the same roads you run on depends on
them to be active.
My Favorite Store: iRun Texas
State & Zip Searchable Stores: Running Store Finder
