Run like no one is watching? As if.
A year ago I walked into Runners Soul wearing a worn out pair of Asics and a frown. My feet were not happy. One of the guys (they’re all lean, lanky, careless-haired dudes who probably run faster and farther before breakfast than I’ll ever run in my entire life, so you know, they’re experts … but humble, encouraging experts) sat me down, took off my shoes, checked out the soles, looked at my feet, walked behind the magic curtain and came out with an armload of boxes. Within three tries I’d found Salvation – Adidas Salvations, as a matter of fact. My feet were so happy I felt totally justified slapping down $150+ for a pair of running shoes. Also, I felt monetarily obligated to stick with my new running routine, which is motivation that’s pretty much priceless. (But, really, 900 miles for $163? That’s, what, 18 cents per mile, right? You can’t drive a Vespa for that! It was a bargain after all. Yay!)
Last week I walked back into Runners Soul wearing a worn out pair of Adidas, a Flying Irish jersey and a smile. I knew within moments my feet would be happy again. They put me through the same routine. And, again, within three boxes, they’d found me a winner. But, because I hadn’t done that math equation above before shopping for these new shoes, I told myself to sleep on it. Was I ready for another year of fiscal commitment to this body-breaking endeavor?
Also, I wanted to see if I could get find a pair of shoes that weren’t predominantly white. Yeah, it’s a girl thing. It also points to the fact that I’m more of a recreational runner than a competitive runner, don’t you think? I want my feet to look snazzy when I run, not dirty and tired! Runners Soul was out of the black Asics I wanted. They did have a pair of bright pink and yellow Asics, but I think you gotta be legit to pull those babies off, and in the running world I am about 13 marathons shy of legit. They offered to order me a pair of the tame black ones, and told me I’d have them within a few short days, but I was on a mission for happy feet.
So I slept on it. And I woke up knowing I needed the Mizunos they’d found for me the evening before. But, on a whim, I slipped into Sport Town (the ginormous all-sport store on the ground floor of the Parkade that I’ve walked by a zillion times without ever going inside – my loss) the next morning, on my way to Runners Soul. Lo and behold, there were the black and purple kicks I’d been pining for. So I bought them, threw the bag in my car and zipped down the alley to Runners Soul, where I slid my feet into the mostly-white Mizunos they were holding for me.
Yeah, they’re white-ish. But they had super cool neon yellow laces, and they felt so good I had to have ’em. They’ll be my sunny day shoes. I’ll keep them clean and dry and never let them get too ghetto.
Also, I’ll try not to drip mustard on them. Or Guinness. Those will be dark-shoe days.
You’ll find Runners Soul at 221 N. Wall, right behind the Olive Garden downtown. If you wear your Flying Irish jersey into the store, they’ll give you a 10% discount. Instant street cred.
You’ll find Sport Town at 511 W. Main, across the street from Nectar.
* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Spokane 7." Read all stories from this blog