If The Shoe Fits

There is nothing worse than starting a new fitness goal and realizing you don't have the right equipment.  I'm not one to doll myself up before I work out, but I do enjoy looking the part.  When I was prepping for my figure competition last year I would arrive at the gym in the most oversized clothes you could imagine.  I was a size large when I started training, so everything fit well, then, I started to lose the weight, by midway I was a size small and was wearing my brother's large shirt and what I dubbed my 'fat pants.' my mentality and strategy back then was to wow the crowd that came from the gym when I was up on stage, and man did I ever! no one knew what was hidden beneath all that fabric.  Once the show was done, I did enjoy working out in more fitting clothing; I am a firm believer of if you look the part you'll get the part.
For Christmas this year Mr. X and myself made a trip to the Lululemon outlet store in Burnaby to find some pants for my new adventure.  May I just say...there is nothing better in this world then an amazing pair of lululemon running pants, holy shit.  My ass...it was up, and tight, and formed...and I didn't even DO anything!  I'm thinking of speaking to a surgeon to see if there's a way to have those permenantly fused to my lower half. I picked up a pair of Run Empower Crop pants regular price $86, we paid $69+tax, not bad.  So I had the pants, I just needed a jacket, cue wonderful sister in law; she got me a Nike Thermal Dri Fit running jacket in a gorgeous eggplant colour.  I am now the proud owner of a beautiful running ensemble: 



Cute, butt-lifting pants and waist hugging jackets aside, the most important part of any runner's collection are the shoes (are we surprised?).  With all the brands and types, colours, how do you know which ones to buy?  A trip into any sporting goods store is enough to drive you to pull your hair out, but fear not! help has arrived.  As I mentioned in my first post, I joined a running group at work which is lead by a gentleman who trains triathletes, he was nice enough to start the group free of charge and in conjunction wth that we get emails twice a week with some great tips.  We recieved one on Tuesday afternoon and it was all about shoes, albeit pretty simple, but it gets the job done:

Here are the basics for a shoe that is right for your style of run; remember that it is a combination of fit and function. First identify your foot strike style, identify the shoes and brands that address your foot strike, then try on several for the one that feels best on your foot. All running stores should have a person on staff that can help you with this. Should you still have issues like sore knees etc., check in with your local physiotherapist to have the problem assessed.

I went to my local Sportchek and purchased a pair of Asics Gel Kinsei 3 Running Shoes in Marquee and outfitted them with a set of Superfeet Insoles as I found my feet overpronated.  It made a world of difference, my knees no longer feel like they're taking a beating and they're not covered in bruises after a run, on the treadmill or on the road.

Another question that comes up with new and seasoned runners alike is when do I replace my running shoe?  I found this site that provides great information on the topic. 

I own a lot of shoes, most of them being different styles (and shades) of black pumps; one thing I am certain about however, is a good solid shoe.  My motto is: If the shoe fits, wear it.