I have never really been much of an athlete. I tripped over a hula hoop to break my ankle, I tripped myself (…it is possible) to break my right hand pinkie, I tripped over another human to break my left hand pinkie, and the only sport I did was figure skating (in which I broke a rib when I fell over on my chest during a lesson). Granted, I did it for ten years, but I was never that committed to it.
So the gym is kind of daunting.
I have really found myself drawn to yoga. When I do regularly practice, I find myself with a clear head and my anxiety under control. I sleep better, I smile more and I feel like I glow. But I still need some kind of cardio, right?
Lately I have been thinking a lot about running. I’ve never been good at it. I have asthma, which is a lame excuse, and also…I’m not good at it. And I hate to work at things wahh. But I really feel like now is the time! I’m feeling very inspired about it for some reason. Maybe it’s the cooler weather, the absence of humidity, the absolute boredom that I feel…
Here’s the thing: I don’t know how to run.
Yeah yeah yeah, move your legs at a quick pace. But like, what. I need shoes, right? And does it matter what I wear? How does one start running? Is there something special I should do with my breathing (especially since I’m asthmatic)? What am I doing?
My google search for shoes (this seems like a good place to start) led me to this, a website entirely dedicated to running advice, specifically how to go about picking a pair of running shoes. Oh good!
…who knew there was so much to consider?
Using this website, it seems that I underpronate, meaning that the outside part of my foot takes most of the shock. This means I need neutral-cushioned shoes. But then I have a normal arch (it looks to me like I have the place between normal and flat), so I need stability running shoes. But then my gait is supination (again, rolling to the outside of the foot), but people who supinate are supposedly people with high arches? What’s wrong with me?!? AHH
If I have neutral arches but I underpronate, do I go with a cushioned shoe or a stability shoe? Is there a combo pair? I would think that the underpronation causes more of a problem, so if anything, I need to focus on fixing that problem.
BUT WAIT, in watching the video included on that page that gives me a visual example, it seems like when I stand I overpronate, but when I walk I underpronate?
Seriously. I need help. If any runners have literally ANY advice about shoes and running in general, let a sister know. I’m totally lost.
morganicism 