Shoes how I love thee
Running, walking, playing ball
Time to say goodbye
Just like saying goodbye to clay will be difficult, saying goodbye to your favorite tennis shoes can be hard. Both things have brought us joy, however all good things must come to an end.
Your favorite running shoes have gotten you through a lot and saying goodbye can be a difficult decision to make. From dropping time on your 5k to that impromptu basketball game, they have never failed you. However, it may be time to retire those trusty sneakers.
Before deciding whether the time has come, here is a brief history of the now very technical running shoe.
- Making its appearance in 1865, the rough draft, so to speak, of the running shoe “looked like someone had hammered nails through a pair of Oxfords.” Developed in Northampton, England, these shoes were likely used for cross country running.
- Fast forward to 1917 when the first rubber sole was developed. They became known as “sneakers” because the rubber sole would allow you to walk without being heard. Sneaky, huh? Brands such as Keds and Converse began selling sneakers, and canvas Converse were used as basketball shoes.
- In the 1940s, two brothers each created their own track and field footwear stores in the same town in Germany. One opened Puma and the other opened Adidas. Talk about family rivalry.
- Selling his shoes out of vans at races, the founder of Nike offered a “sponge rubber midsole” in the Cortez shoe. This shoe gave comfort and cushioning to support the runner.
- EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), developed in the early 1970s, is an air-infused foam that has been an “enduring innovation.” It is often used in the midsole of running shoes in order to absorb shock and provide even more cushion.
- Did you know that a waffle iron inspired Nike? In the late 1970s, the pattern on a waffle iron gave the Nike brand an idea on how to create a lighter running shoe. In the same decade, Nike developed a shoe specifically for female athletes. Nike continued to improve its sole in 1987 when they created their iconic “bubble technology.” Where did the famous Nike “swoosh” come from?
- Interestingly, in 2006, running barefoot or close to it became extremely popular. Vibram created a glove-like shoe called the FiveFingers.
- 2010-present, shoes continue to become more comfortable, more “responsive” and lighter. The goal of running shoes now is to “return more energy back to the runner.”
Now, back to your beloved running shoes. How do you know if that sad time has come to retire them from active duty? There are a few signs that can let you know when it is time to replace your running shoes.
Do your shoes fall over when you take them off and set them by the door, as if they were as exhausted as you after that run? That may be a big indicator that it is time to find a new pair of sneakers. Is the sole flat and do holes make the fabric look like Swiss cheese? Do you feel every little pebble through the bottom of your shoes? There are some hazards of wearing shoes like this, besides just the appearance. Running or exercising in shoes that have no cushioning in the soles can be extremely hard on your joints.
Speaking of pain, if you are experiencing new or different pains after your exercise (and it’s not just because of an extra hard workout), then it may be time to look into getting a new pair of shoes. Signs such as sore or stiff feet and achy knees, hips, and ankles are good signs that your shoes are not supporting you like they used to.
If you are an avid runner, one test you can do to see if you need new shoes is to push your thumb into the midsole of your tennis shoe. If it feels spongy and bounces back, great! Your shoes have quite a bit of life left in them. If it feels hard or tough, that means that the cushioning part of your shoe has been compressed.
There are some special shoe stores that will have a runner hop on a treadmill in order for them to observe gait. They take a video from behind the runner’s feet and then slow down the video. There are three general types of gait: overpronation, underpronation, and neutral. As one can probably guess, neutral is the ideal gait. One can also look at their wet footprint to get an idea of their gait. A high arch may indicate overpronation while a low arch may mean underpronation. If you are a serious runner, take the time to do some research into what shoes would be best for and the way you run.
While we all know the pain of getting rid of a favorite pair of sneakers, this change could be for the better. New memories will be made in your new shoes, and you will not forget the old.
You may not realize how sad your old shoes are until you try on that new pair of shoes. You may just fall in love all over again.