Peanut M&Ms and Shoes
Here's the Deal
I have eaten more Peanut M&Ms today than I care to admit. There were lots of small bags of them left over from my son's birthday party yesterday. They are yummy. Very. Yummy.
I think they are all gone now and that's a good thing.
New Shoes!
After my group run on Saturday, I was chatting with my friend, Elvi, about knees and shoes. She has very similar knee issues to mine. Elvi was sharing how much she loves her Asics GT-2140s . I mentioned that I had tried those but traded them in for a pair of Asics GEL-Kayano 15s due to ankle pain.
Elvi looked a little surprised and told me how she tried those until her knee pain got unbearable and her sports doctor told her the Kayanos are more suited for people who are heavier than she is... the Kayanos' cushioning is only effective if you have enough weight to place enough pressure on the cushion (or something like that). I'm a little heavier than Elvi... she practically disappears if you turn her sideways... and I don't know if all that is true but it got me thinking.
My knee stuff started at about the same time that I switched to the Kayanos. I remember thinking how much better my ankles felt, but that my knees were starting to hurt. I even went to Road Runner Sports and purchased some Superfeet in hopes that would help the knee pain. It didn't help much.
Prior to talking to Elvi, there was maybe a second or two where I considered the possibility that the Kayanos were not the best for me. I didn't entertain that thought for long, though, because the Kayanos are so comfortable, have awesome reviews, cost lots of money, look pretty, and have really cool angled laces.
After talking to Elvi about her experience, I made a quick decision to swing by Road Runner Sports on my way home from our run to see if my 90-day return period had expired on my Kayanos. My receipt was at home and it would have been way out of my way to go home and then back down to Road Runner Sports.
Road Runner Sports Rocks!
I took my sweaty, smelly self to the guy at the counter and asked if he could check to see if my 90 days were up. Turns out I was 5 days past my 90-day return period. Arghhhh!
This is one reason why I love RRS so much: The guy at the counter told me I could go ahead and exchange my Kayanos anyway. Apparently, they allow you a one-time-only to exchange past your 90 days. Did I mention that I love RRS?
I didn't even have the original inserts that came with the Kayanos. No problem. My Kayanos were brownish from trail running. No problem. I had just run/walked 14 miles in them and they were sweaty. No problem.
Mizunos
After explaining my situation to a cute shoe guy, he had me try on a pair of Saucony Hurricanes and a pair of Brooks. I liked the Hurricanes, but they reminded me too much of the Kayanos. The Brooks felt great, but the orange-coral accent color was not very appealing to me. Mr. Cute Shoe Guy told me that since I liked the Brooks, he would have me try some Mizunos.
A little more history... I tried some Mizunos on at the Carlsbad 5000 Expo. I loved how light and flexible they are. When I tried them on at RRS, they were as I remembered them. I liked them. A lot. I left Road Runner Sports with a fresh pair of Mizunos Wave Nirvana 5 that day. So long, Asics... I'm done with you.
These are the Wave Nirvana 5s
I don't love my Mizunos yet... I still have to run in them. Do I think my knee pain is a thing of the past? I'm doubtful. Only time will tell if my new shoes will be better for me than my Kayanos.
More Shoes
I mentioned that I won the $100 gift certificate from Online Shoes... well, I ordered some shoes for trail running. I decided on Saucony Grid-Excursion TR3. It was a little weird buying shoes without trying them on first. I hope they work out!
These are the Saucony Grid Excursion TR3s
Why is it so complicated to buy running shoes? Maybe we should all just run barefoot.
I have eaten more Peanut M&Ms today than I care to admit. There were lots of small bags of them left over from my son's birthday party yesterday. They are yummy. Very. Yummy.
I think they are all gone now and that's a good thing.
New Shoes!
After my group run on Saturday, I was chatting with my friend, Elvi, about knees and shoes. She has very similar knee issues to mine. Elvi was sharing how much she loves her Asics GT-2140s . I mentioned that I had tried those but traded them in for a pair of Asics GEL-Kayano 15s due to ankle pain.
Elvi looked a little surprised and told me how she tried those until her knee pain got unbearable and her sports doctor told her the Kayanos are more suited for people who are heavier than she is... the Kayanos' cushioning is only effective if you have enough weight to place enough pressure on the cushion (or something like that). I'm a little heavier than Elvi... she practically disappears if you turn her sideways... and I don't know if all that is true but it got me thinking.
My knee stuff started at about the same time that I switched to the Kayanos. I remember thinking how much better my ankles felt, but that my knees were starting to hurt. I even went to Road Runner Sports and purchased some Superfeet in hopes that would help the knee pain. It didn't help much.
Prior to talking to Elvi, there was maybe a second or two where I considered the possibility that the Kayanos were not the best for me. I didn't entertain that thought for long, though, because the Kayanos are so comfortable, have awesome reviews, cost lots of money, look pretty, and have really cool angled laces.
After talking to Elvi about her experience, I made a quick decision to swing by Road Runner Sports on my way home from our run to see if my 90-day return period had expired on my Kayanos. My receipt was at home and it would have been way out of my way to go home and then back down to Road Runner Sports.
Road Runner Sports Rocks!
I took my sweaty, smelly self to the guy at the counter and asked if he could check to see if my 90 days were up. Turns out I was 5 days past my 90-day return period. Arghhhh!
This is one reason why I love RRS so much: The guy at the counter told me I could go ahead and exchange my Kayanos anyway. Apparently, they allow you a one-time-only to exchange past your 90 days. Did I mention that I love RRS?
I didn't even have the original inserts that came with the Kayanos. No problem. My Kayanos were brownish from trail running. No problem. I had just run/walked 14 miles in them and they were sweaty. No problem.
Mizunos
After explaining my situation to a cute shoe guy, he had me try on a pair of Saucony Hurricanes and a pair of Brooks. I liked the Hurricanes, but they reminded me too much of the Kayanos. The Brooks felt great, but the orange-coral accent color was not very appealing to me. Mr. Cute Shoe Guy told me that since I liked the Brooks, he would have me try some Mizunos.
A little more history... I tried some Mizunos on at the Carlsbad 5000 Expo. I loved how light and flexible they are. When I tried them on at RRS, they were as I remembered them. I liked them. A lot. I left Road Runner Sports with a fresh pair of Mizunos Wave Nirvana 5 that day. So long, Asics... I'm done with you.
These are the Wave Nirvana 5s I don't love my Mizunos yet... I still have to run in them. Do I think my knee pain is a thing of the past? I'm doubtful. Only time will tell if my new shoes will be better for me than my Kayanos.
More Shoes
I mentioned that I won the $100 gift certificate from Online Shoes... well, I ordered some shoes for trail running. I decided on Saucony Grid-Excursion TR3. It was a little weird buying shoes without trying them on first. I hope they work out!
These are the Saucony Grid Excursion TR3sWhy is it so complicated to buy running shoes? Maybe we should all just run barefoot.
Comments
~Kelly
http://redsoxcap.blogspot.com
At the moment I also run with the Mizuno. I am sure that you will enjoy them.
That is so AWESOME that "Cute shoe guy" could help you out. Amazing that you could trade in a stinky dirty pair of shoes for a fresh one no questions asked.
M&M's YUM!! Maybe after my run I will endulge.
Can't wait to hear how both pairs of your new shoes work out.
I saw your facebook, will have a post this afternoon about a cute Mother's Day idea..
As for the M&M's-- you deserve it! They are very addictive!
I've run in the Kayanos...fine shoes until I increased my mileage training for the marathon last year...then I moved to the Hurricanes...then to New Balance...now I'm back at the Hurricanes. I'm not sure I'm happy with them. They are a little soft, but since I'm not running the marathon this year, I'll probably stick with them.
I love that RR takes back shoes (so does Movin' Shoes BTW)...it does make me wonder about the markup on my $130 shoes that allows shoe sellers to take them back so easily :-?
(oh, and the peanut M&Ms? THE. BEST! I try to keep them out of the house because if they're around, I have almost no self control whatsoever.)
Here's to happy feet!
Jessica
Good luck with the shoes - I finally found the pair that let me run pain-free (asics2130), just in time for them to put them to pasture :-(
And now, of course, I'm craving peanut m&ms LOL.
The Wave Nirvana is more like the GT 2140 in its support - it is a Stability shoe. Do you pronate and/or drop your ankles when running? That is the main reason for the use of Stability shoes. Have you talked to your PT about orthotics?
As far as pool running - I know several people who have done/are doing due to injury. The best place to go is to my friend Surf's blog at http://www.fitlifesf.com/. She is actively pool running to rehab for a hip injury.