In Coach, Going Nowhere
The other day, I almost staged an intervention.
I was at the Y, talking myself into doing a treadmill workout. I have what I call a 3-to-1 relationship with the treadmill: I hate it three times more than I love it. I hate it for obvious reasons ... boredom, with a double side of monotony. But I love it because it allows me to squeeze in a quick run or walk when it's too cold or rainy or whatever outside. I love that it's there for me. It's like that shot in the butt you beg for when you have a sinus infection: You know you need it, you know it will do the job, but the fact of the thing is pretty god-awful.
I have learned, though, how to outsmart the treadmill. How to play games with the speed and incline buttons to distract that whiner inside (who whinges incessantly during my 20 minute or so ordeal). How to cover up the timer so I'm not aware of how achingly slow the minutes go by. How to only allow myself to peek during commercials on the TV monitor, where I may be treated to an I Love Lucy episode on a good day, or subjected to the yammering about the elections or the latest Britney episode on one of the 24-hour news channels.
Anyway, on this particular day, as I was on the treadmill, I noticed the woman on the machine beside me. I had actually seen her when I checked in at the front desk. She was one of those women who look completely put together, even on her way to a workout. Nice hair, nice makeup, what looked to be a new outfit straight from the pages of Athleta.
I think she was new at the Y, from the way she fumbled a bit with the treadmill buttons and neglected to use the sign-up sheet. (I'm no gym monitor--I only noticed because I was in the process of signing up for that very treadmill when she jumped on it.)
"Good for you," I thought (despite the fact that she stole my favorite 'mill). "You Go, Girl!"
She began walking at a decent pace, then picked it up to a light jog.
"Yeah! You're moving now!"
(Can't keep my inner cheerleader down.)
And then I glanced down at her feet and saw what could be her undoing.
Her shoes.
They were beautiful, brand new (apparently) Coach "fitness" shoes. You know, the ones with the little "Cs" on them.
I almost reached over and pushed the emergency STOP button right there.
Not that I have anything against Coach shoes. Or bags. I have spent my share of $$s in that store, believe me.
But trying to actually work out in Coach sneakers is a recipe for disaster. Those shoes ARE NOT fitness shoes, ladies. We all need more support than those sleek, chic sneaks have to offer.
Maybe I've drunk the sugar-free KoolAid, but I am a big believer in true fitness shoes and fitness shoe technology. I've been running for a long time (and hope to have many good miles in me yet), and the only time my knees start aching is when my shoes are worn down. It's very important to get the right shoe for your primary activity (ie, if you usually walk, get a walking shoe, if you usually run, get a running shoe). It's equally as important to get a shoe that works with the way you move. Does your foot roll in, roll out, or neither? Do you first land on your heel or your toes (more applicable to runners)? You can figure these things out by looking at the bottoms of your shoes to see which places wear down fastest. Or, you can just find a good fitness shoe retailer, take in some old shoes, and have them fit you.
And those stores aren't that hard to find. I used to tell people to go to a running specialty store (even if they were walkers), because the people who work there seemed to be more knowledgeable than the clerks in general sporting goods stores. But I did some events with Lady Foot Locker when I was an editor at Health magazine, and found out that the staff there really knows their stuff.
It helps, though, for you to take a few minutes to read up a bit on the subject. Here's a good article (I know because I edited it myself!).
Why invest in good shoes? Here's a cautionary tale. Once upon a time, I got a free pair of shoes from a company that was trying to woo me to write nice things about them (editors get stuff all the time, by the way--this particular incident really turned me off to the practice!). So I ran in them. After about the third time--no kidding--I started feeling this awful pain in my heel. It hurt so bad when I got out of bed in the morning that I could barely walk. Soon, I found out that I had what's called plantar faciitis, an inflammation of the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of my foot. Now, it could have been coincidence, but ... I think not. I have always blamed those shoes for the 6 months I lost to that horrible problem. That's right--six months of pain, six months of not running, six months of anxiety that all the hard work I'd done to lose my 70 pounds and change my life would all go to you-know-what.
All from a little pair of shoes.
I know, believe me, how much inner strength it takes to get yourself to a gym or get yourself up in the morning for a walk, or whatever your fitness resolution is. The mental thing is so, so hard--the last thing you want to do is have a PHYSICAL setback.
I didn't say anything to my treadmill companion in Coach. Should I have? I think not. I don't think she would have listened. And who the hell am I to give her advice? All I can do is make sure YOU girls know the score. Save the chic shoes for the post-workout Starbucks run (skinny latte no foam!).
Share your shoe stories--and ask questions, please!--here!
all my best--
Lisa D
I was at the Y, talking myself into doing a treadmill workout. I have what I call a 3-to-1 relationship with the treadmill: I hate it three times more than I love it. I hate it for obvious reasons ... boredom, with a double side of monotony. But I love it because it allows me to squeeze in a quick run or walk when it's too cold or rainy or whatever outside. I love that it's there for me. It's like that shot in the butt you beg for when you have a sinus infection: You know you need it, you know it will do the job, but the fact of the thing is pretty god-awful.
I have learned, though, how to outsmart the treadmill. How to play games with the speed and incline buttons to distract that whiner inside (who whinges incessantly during my 20 minute or so ordeal). How to cover up the timer so I'm not aware of how achingly slow the minutes go by. How to only allow myself to peek during commercials on the TV monitor, where I may be treated to an I Love Lucy episode on a good day, or subjected to the yammering about the elections or the latest Britney episode on one of the 24-hour news channels.
Anyway, on this particular day, as I was on the treadmill, I noticed the woman on the machine beside me. I had actually seen her when I checked in at the front desk. She was one of those women who look completely put together, even on her way to a workout. Nice hair, nice makeup, what looked to be a new outfit straight from the pages of Athleta.
I think she was new at the Y, from the way she fumbled a bit with the treadmill buttons and neglected to use the sign-up sheet. (I'm no gym monitor--I only noticed because I was in the process of signing up for that very treadmill when she jumped on it.)
"Good for you," I thought (despite the fact that she stole my favorite 'mill). "You Go, Girl!"
She began walking at a decent pace, then picked it up to a light jog.
"Yeah! You're moving now!"
(Can't keep my inner cheerleader down.)
And then I glanced down at her feet and saw what could be her undoing.
Her shoes.
They were beautiful, brand new (apparently) Coach "fitness" shoes. You know, the ones with the little "Cs" on them.
I almost reached over and pushed the emergency STOP button right there.
Not that I have anything against Coach shoes. Or bags. I have spent my share of $$s in that store, believe me.
But trying to actually work out in Coach sneakers is a recipe for disaster. Those shoes ARE NOT fitness shoes, ladies. We all need more support than those sleek, chic sneaks have to offer.
Maybe I've drunk the sugar-free KoolAid, but I am a big believer in true fitness shoes and fitness shoe technology. I've been running for a long time (and hope to have many good miles in me yet), and the only time my knees start aching is when my shoes are worn down. It's very important to get the right shoe for your primary activity (ie, if you usually walk, get a walking shoe, if you usually run, get a running shoe). It's equally as important to get a shoe that works with the way you move. Does your foot roll in, roll out, or neither? Do you first land on your heel or your toes (more applicable to runners)? You can figure these things out by looking at the bottoms of your shoes to see which places wear down fastest. Or, you can just find a good fitness shoe retailer, take in some old shoes, and have them fit you.
And those stores aren't that hard to find. I used to tell people to go to a running specialty store (even if they were walkers), because the people who work there seemed to be more knowledgeable than the clerks in general sporting goods stores. But I did some events with Lady Foot Locker when I was an editor at Health magazine, and found out that the staff there really knows their stuff.
It helps, though, for you to take a few minutes to read up a bit on the subject. Here's a good article (I know because I edited it myself!).
Why invest in good shoes? Here's a cautionary tale. Once upon a time, I got a free pair of shoes from a company that was trying to woo me to write nice things about them (editors get stuff all the time, by the way--this particular incident really turned me off to the practice!). So I ran in them. After about the third time--no kidding--I started feeling this awful pain in my heel. It hurt so bad when I got out of bed in the morning that I could barely walk. Soon, I found out that I had what's called plantar faciitis, an inflammation of the band of tissue that runs along the bottom of my foot. Now, it could have been coincidence, but ... I think not. I have always blamed those shoes for the 6 months I lost to that horrible problem. That's right--six months of pain, six months of not running, six months of anxiety that all the hard work I'd done to lose my 70 pounds and change my life would all go to you-know-what.
All from a little pair of shoes.
I know, believe me, how much inner strength it takes to get yourself to a gym or get yourself up in the morning for a walk, or whatever your fitness resolution is. The mental thing is so, so hard--the last thing you want to do is have a PHYSICAL setback.
I didn't say anything to my treadmill companion in Coach. Should I have? I think not. I don't think she would have listened. And who the hell am I to give her advice? All I can do is make sure YOU girls know the score. Save the chic shoes for the post-workout Starbucks run (skinny latte no foam!).
Share your shoe stories--and ask questions, please!--here!
all my best--
Lisa D
posted by Lisa Delaney at
11:10 AM
5 Comments:
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for bringing this up! I have flat feet. Is it true that one cannot run if they have flat feet..cause I want to! :))
I have been a walker for the past 12 months and have shed around 25 odd pounds..I want to run now..and have started a little bit..
Keep inspiring us!
Take care,
Suj
hey lisa,
Thank you so much for writing this book it has been so inspirational and helped me make such positive changes in my life. I just read it, and started speed walking for 5 days now, and I already feel a difference . my depression is almost non existant, even though it wasn't to bad to begin with.
i have been overweight my whole life, and nothing, NOTHING has made such an impact on my life as your book did. Thank you, thank you thank you
i'm glad you wrote this. my husband loves to run, and he's in the army. the shoe thing is so important that the army helps the soldiers find what type of shoe they need for optimum performance and to keep from getting injured. but if he hadn't learned that from the army, i would have thought any old shoe from a discount store would do. working out is hard enough for us ffgs, no need to make it worse!
maggie c
Thanks for all the wonderful comments!
Suj--people with flat feet can DEFINITELY run! But you should totally get a shoe-fitting. Try a specialty running shop. People with flat feet tend to overpronate (roll out) when they run, so that means you would need a motion-control shoe. Runnersworld.com has some great info on finding the right shoe for your feet. Check out the info here. http://www.runnersworld.com/subtopic/0,7123,s6-240-319-326-0,00.html
Hi Lisa,
I learned the hard way...3 months after starting to run, I was diagnosed with a stress fracture. The doc asked me about my shoes...the same running shoes I had for nearly 4 years.
After much research, I have learned two important things about running shoes: my type of foot and to change out your shoes every 3 months or so. So now, just like an oil change, my running shoes get a change too...a costly change but well worth the costs later.
I have seen tons of people running in shoes I know are soooo the wrong or too old of a shoe for them. But what can you do?
Keep it up!
-Monique
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