Running is Good for the Soul, but Make Sure it's Also Good for Your Soles

Many injuries that occur from running and other forms of aerobic exercise begin with improper shoes, according to the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.  How often do you decide on a pair of running shoes just because they are the new "in" shoe, or because your running partner loves them?

You shouldn't try to assess your own running style from information you find on the Internet, either. Athletic shoe fitting, says the AAPSM, should be performed one on one by an experienced shoe fitter. There are innumerable variables that should be considered when assessing the proper shoe: body mass, running style, biomechanics, gait patterns, range of motion. Training surface, weekly mileage and prior injuries also make a difference.

owner Jayne Aspan and her team of professionals have been fitting local runners' feet since 2004. Since then, the retail store has evolved into a friendly and knowledgable running resource.

"I tell people to come in for the shoes and stay for the schmooze," said Aspan, an avid runner, herself. "We want to build relationships with our customers and create a warm and fuzzy feeling."

Aspan said many people are walking around in the wrong size or style shoe. Her team uses the newest technology to help evaluate individual needs, even for experienced runners.

Aspan general manager Michelle Smith invited me to stop by the store for a running evaluation. She is a certified Newton Natural Running Form coach and knows her stuff.

She put me on a treadmill in the store and instructed me to jog for several minutes while she filmed me from various angles. Afterward, she used an iPad to show me my form and go over my gait and style. Even with my kinesiological and training background, I learned some valuable information about my form, as well as tips to optimize my running.

Minimalist Shoes

One new trend is barefoot running and minimalist shoes.

The barefoot running movement was inspired by the book Born to Run. Author Christopher McDougall examines the disconnect between our modern, cushioned running shoe and the running habits of our early ancestors, who all ran barefoot. McDougall asserts that the modern, cushioned running shoe forces us to run in a biomechanically-poor gait and that humans should run in thinly-soled or bare feet. Thus, the birth of the minimalist shoe.

One new entry into the minimalist arena is the Merrell Barefoot Runner. (Yes, the same company that is a recognized standard in the outdoor shoe.) Aundrea Amyuni, local Merrell sales representative to the Runners' Soul, said minimalist running helps strengthen the muscles and stimulate receptors, thus realigning your natural gait.

But, transitioning into a minimalist shoe is key, and one should ramp up slowly,  Aspan said.

After my running evaluation, Smith chose a Merrell Barefoot, 0 drop runner for me to try out. Over the next month, I am journalling my efforts to transition into a complete minimalist shoe, and will share my efforts and delve deeper into this trend in a future article.

Training

Running can be a lonely pursuit, especially when you are just starting out. Both the flagship Elmhurst Runner's Soul and their sister location in LaGrange sponsor a variety of weekly runs and regular training workshops, as does in Elmhurst, designed to foster companionship and motivation.

At Runner's Soul, Moms on the Move and the Couch to 5-K running programs are perfect for beginners.

More Than a Hobby

Anyone committed enough to running to make it their career is certainly focused on the long-term results of clients.

"Running is a form of therapy," Aspan said.

Later in the day after meeting with Jayne and her crew, I was running at an area gym when I noticed a woman on a nearby treadmill wearing a Runner's Soul T-shirt. Later, in the locker room, I asked her if she frequented the store in Elmhurst.

She said she could not even a run a block before starting the Couch to 5K program at Runner's Soul with coaches Dave and Judy Polkow. Nine months later, she is training for her first half-marathon.

Running changed her life, she said.