Yuppers on the shoe discussions.
If you are doing regular walking/small distance charity events, regular walking shoes like New Balance are fine. But if you are getting into seriously regularly doing running, lots of walking, or race walking, then yes, one should invest in properly fitted running shoes.
As a coach we even tell our half and full marathon walkers to side to running shoes because they are built with more support and cushioning for the long distance events. The discount stores/mall chains just don't know how to properly pick the right shoe for someone, and it might even be a trial and error process at the local running store to find the right shoe. Price and looks should not be the two top reasons you get a running shoe. Better to spend the money now on a better shoe than at the podiatrist's office. The staff at my local running store are runners, and actual half and full marathon winners. They know what they are talking about, and if the shoe you got turns out to not be right, they take them back up to 30 days for credit and then re-size you. Now once I find the pair I like, I may order extras online for cheaper, and often to get Southwest rewards points through their mall.
And yes our feet change sizes for several reasons. When I started running and race walking years ago I was size 8.5. I am now a size 10. So every year or every other year you might even find that you need to be re-sized and re-checked for a change in your gait. Most running shoes will last 300-500 miles (lots of factors in this, including the surface you train on, your weight, etc). I tend to rotate pairs, especially if I am doing two races in one weekend. And my race shoes are for racing/training only, they're not the around-the-house shoes or work shoes. Once they are retired from racing, they become yardwork shoes, or they get recycled at any Nike store or outlet (they'll take any brand of exercise shoes and recycle them).
Yesterday was an exercise rest day. Today was 9 fluffy bunny miles (the term many of us use when we're putting in low/no extra effort) to get acclimated to the heat and humidity here. I've barely raced this year and I want to pick up some more really good local events.
Racing is a very addictive, and can be a very expensive hobby, but if you manage it right, you can do a lot of events for very cheap. There are two local race directors that will give you a free entry for their events if you volunteer at another one. I am looking to do that. I've got two freebies for next year so far.
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