Shoes do make a difference...

Yesterday I decided to go look at Zoot Ultra TT 2.0 runners. I've been looking at my long transition times and figured I might be able to shave them down a minute or so if I didn't have to wear socks, and the Zoots are designed to be worn sock less.

I went to Running Free, the largest running store in Canada, and they were really knowledgeable and helpful. I lucked out and one of the partners who was the shoe buyer just happened to be walking by and decided to help me learn more about the Zoots.

He had me put them on and do a run through the store as he watched me. They were the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. He noticed that I pronate slightly on the right and don't have any pronation whatsoever on the left. I told him I've been wearing Asics 2140's and I've been wearing that model and it's predecessors for the past 15 years. He asked me if I was having any problems with my left leg because the 2140's would cause my perfectly aligned left foot over pronate.

I then told him that my left foot has been bothering me all year and the side of my leg became really sore after Sunday's long run. He said that makes sense because it would have me running more on the side of my foot. 

He recommended Asics DS Trainers which has a lower profile and less pronation correction built in, and then suggested that over time I could probably go to a neutral shoe, especially with the faster speeds I run. The shoes ended up costing me $180 with tax. Shoes in Canada are way more expensive than the same models in the U.S.

When I got home I went on the web and discovered that I could buy the same shoes from a U.S. website, after exchange and delivery, for $105 and the Zoots for $127, the Zoots in Canada cost $202. Because the guy at Running Free was so helpful, and in the long run probably saved me from ongoing injury, I decided to pay the premium and not take them back. Plus I really wanted to try them out and I had a feeling that using the old shoes on last nights run could be "the straw that broke the camels back" and cause a major injury.

It's important to note that although I'm not going to buy my next pair from Running Free, unless they are competitive with the U.S., I still buy a lot of stuff from them. They are a great store. Yesterday I also spent a lot on shirts, shorts and a triathlon transition mat with them.

The shoes felt much better and I found myself running differently. I was actually heel striking to the inside and more under my hips, rather than the outside and in front of my hips. I could tell I was using new muscles and I'm sure it will take some time until those muscles and tendons strengthen, but initial indications are positive. I'd love to get the Zoots, but financially I can't justify them, especially after spending $180 on training shoes and $120 on other stuff.

Buying the new shoes was a necessity, the old ones already had 446.3 miles on them and needed to be changed regardless. When I got home I looked at the bottoms of my old shoes and discovered that John at the store was perfectly right, I was over pronating on the left foot. I could see that the left was excessively worn down on the outer heel. The marker was even worn off on the left shoe but not on the right one. 

This taught me an important lesson in that I need to take more of a personal interest in the shoes I'm wearing. Had I even looked at them before I would have seen there was an irregular wear problem and that I was over pronating on the left. In any event, I'm glad he caught it and for future I'm going to keep a close eye on my shoes wear patterns. My next pair of shoes are going to be a neutral fit and I'd really like to get a pair of Zoots one day.

After work I did my bike speed work session in 33 C heat. I loved it. I did two king hills and going down one of the hills I hit 80.3 kph and practiced my descending techniques in order to prevent speed wobbles. By the time I got home I was full of salt, I couldn't stop rubbing my eyes and my cycling shorts had salt all over them. My legs are back to normal and I went as hard as I could and felt wonderfully spent afterwards.

Bike Speed Work - 1:14:33 / 37.55 km / 30.2 kph