Men... Women... and the differences in shoes!

Webster's defines "Black Toe" as... oh, what the heck. Just click this link to know what happened to me: http://www.thewalkingsite.com/feet.html

Ok, with that said, Chandra and I went to "Run On" on Saturday to be fitted with the perfect shoes. It's kinda cool if you've never been properly fitted. You go in with your old shoes and sign up on a sheet. Within 5 minutes, your name is called and you're sitting there discussing your running experiences with an expert! They review your shoes and then have you walk/jog inside the store so they can see where you need help.

I tried on 3 different shoes and decided on a pair of Brooks. I was told to pick the shoe that best felt like wearing a slipper. Surprisingly, these feel just like that:

http://www.brooksrunning.com/prod.php?k=23642&p=BSI41170

Now here is where the story gets a bit funny... and strange. Chandra started her "fitting" about 5 minutes prior to mine. It takes about 30 minutes, so I was a bit surprised to see her still talking with her advisor when I was up at the cash register. As soon as I was finished paying, she's standing right next to me asking, "Ok... I need your opinion. What do you think of these 2 shoes?" She's wearing different shoes on her feet, and she begins to explain that she can't stand the way one looks even though it fits better and will be better for her knees. I said, "Well, you need to go with the one that fits better" and then I begin to explain the "Slipper" decision. Apparently, that doesn't mean diddly-squat to a girl. "But it's UGLY!!!!" she proclaims. I said, "In the end you'll be thanking yourself for buying a better shoe when you're at mile 13 and you don't have any knee problems... or you'll be cursing yourself for NOT buying it if you go with the prettier one."

Again, I got the "But Regan... it's hideous! And it is an old-man shoe!" Realizing I wasn't going to get anywhere, I said "Fine, get the prettier one because that is obviously the one that will make you feel better." (Seriously, who looks at shoes when someone is running? Apparently WOMEN do!)

Well, she went back to the advisor who told her that she needed the support of Mr. Ugly Shoe. She protested, but I guess her sensible side won out. When it was all said and done, I asked "So there weren't any prettier shoes that fit your foot like that one?" She quickly told me no and that she had tried on 8 shoes! Wow... 3 shoes for me, 8 for her. What a difference in men and women! Ha!

Oh, I ran 7 miles on Sunday and Chandra ran 6. We are closing in on Nashville!