My New Kicks: New Balance Rock & Tones

About a week ago, after a particularly long day, I returned home to find an unexpected present from New Balance waiting for me: gray Rock & Tone sneakers.  (Thank you, New Balance!)  They fit perfectly, and, while I've only had a chance to run errands in them so far, they are super, super comfy. 

I'm actually not new to the toning sneaker phenomenon.  I've had MBTs for years, and I really love them.  There's no question that toning footwear is gimmicky, and a lot of the marketing, particularly for this new crop of shoes, is irksome.  (Sneakers don't do anything for you; you do the work.)  Reebok's hyper-sexualized EasyTone ads were especially offensive.  Still, it only makes sense that the way a shoe is constructed would affect your gait, and that shoes can be tweaked to align your body differently and target different muscle groups.  Toning sneakers' curved soles create instability, forcing you to engage your core and fight ever-so-slightly harder for your balance as you walk.  In theory, this mimics walking barefoot on uneven surfaces, the way humans were designed to walk.

W hen I had knee problems, my MBTs helped with the pain.  Now, they're just fun.  It really feels like wearing little Bosu balls on my feet.  The boldness of the shoe, though, is somewhat limiting.  I bought mine in 2005 or 2006, back when MBT didn't offer many choices of styles or colors.  My chunky, bright orange pair make quite the statement, and I can't help but wonder what people think when they see me in them.  (She spent how much on ugly sneakers?  Her cellulite must really be awful.) 

In comparison, my Rock & Tones are far more subtle.  The sole feels thinner, the curve is less pronounced and they look much more like regular sneakers.  I'm not sure that these are as "fun," but I'm probably more likely to wear my Rock & Tones around as a result.

I have to admit, though, that a little voice in the back of my head is asking why "more shoe" is the answer to the realization that walking barefoot is better for you.  I've been reading a lot about Vibram Five Fingers lately, which present a far more minimalist solution.  I'm definitely thinking about trying them for comparison.  They're so not me... but that could change.

I'll keep you posted.

-Gym Belle-

Headphones For Small Eared Runners

I am a small person.  I have small ears.  Earbuds are not my thing.  I have always wanted to run with over-the-ear headphones, but the plastic earpieces are always way too big.  Instead, I end up running with sports headphones that are more iPod-style.  Those are fine in winter, because my earwarmer holds them in place.  In summer, though, they slip out a lot and it drives me nuts.

Fortunately, I think I've found the solution: AirDrives FIT.   With these headphones, the part that goes around your ear is a thin wire that you can cinch to fit, like a noose.  One size really can fit all!  The speaker part rests just infront of your ear canal.  This configuration enables you to hear what's going on around you in addition to the music.  For just listening to music, that might not be ideal, but for running on the streets of Manhattan, it makes a lot of sense.  (It's also probably better for your ears.)

I do have one complaint about my AirDrives.  The cord is insanely long, so when I use my arm-band for my iPod, there's a lot of slack.  My old sports headphones had a removable section, so I could adjust the length.  The AirDrives have volume control on the cord, though, so I guess it evens out.

I paid $40 for my AirDrives FIT, which is a drop more than I usually spend on headphones.  I've been using mine for about a month and, so far, I think they were worth it. 

I'll keep you posted

-Gym Belle-

Shoe-t

Yesterday I set out to run 11 miles.  I ran with a friend, so I wasn't sure of the milage until I got home to map my run.  As it turns out, I covered 12.5.  Towards the end, I walked a few times, but I'm fairly confident that I actually ran 11 of the miles. 

To be honest, after about 9 miles, when my friend and I split up, I didn't feel so hot.  I had a cramp that would not go away and my arches were starting to ache.  I didn't think I had blisters, but it turned out that I did.  A few minutes after I got home, I lost feeling in the fingers on my right hand.  My left fingers felt tingly.  I went to Google my numbness to see if this was a normal side effect, but couldn't really type.  It was not my finest moment.

After I showered and the numbness (apparently normal) had subsided, I decided it was time to give up on my new sneakers.  If it had been a question of breaking them in, they should have been fine by then.  They just weren't right for my arches for whatever reason.  I packed up my old sneakers and my new sneakers and went to Super Runners.  They laughed at me for bringing the shoes, but I wanted to be sure I was getting the current version of the good pair and not something similar to the bad ones.  I got these.  So far, I've just walked in them, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Unfortunately, after about 25 miles, the sneakers formerly known as "my new sneakers" don't look so new, so I don't think I'll have much luck returning them to City Sports.  I guess it can't hurt to have an extra pair.

-Gym Belle-