(Mis)Adventure of a Beginner Runner

As anyone would tell you, the most essential piece of equipment for running as sport would be the Shoes. Yes, Shoes with a capital 'S'. You can certainly run barefoot (or barefeet? I can never be sure) if you like, but for me, like so many other runners out there, I prefer running with shoes.

So, what about shoes, you may ask. A great deal. What type of shoes, how to choose, where to buy, what size to buy, these are all important issues pertaining to a pair of running shoes and have been well explored in various online articles written by people more qualified then me.

No, what I am going to talk about in this article (or hub or whatever they call it, newcomer here!) is my own misadventure with my own running shoes. Now, I am still very much a newbie when it comes to running knowledge despite having joined runs (all below 15km) since 2011.

Part of the reason is because I seems to always have something else to prioritize, part of the reason is because my family is basically a family of couch potatoes so I do not have anyone to talk about it. However, the mistake I am going to tell you below is still entirely my own fault. And stupidity. Especially stupidity.

So I bought a pair of shoes beginning of last year, and I ended up not doing much running at first. Because I started a new job while studying part time for my professional cert and it all got to be too much for me to keep up with my exercise.

Then I resigned in the middle of the year and got my cert and then a new job and suddenly I have time to run. Long story short I started running again and joining runs and whatnot.

Fast forward to the end of 2017. Still having fun running, still joining runs. And I never check my shoes. Nope, not at all during 2017. Which is bad and irresponsible. Shoes have to be changed out after a certain amount of distance ran or walked. Otherwise, they will be too broken down to help keep your feet safe.

And that is what happened to me. Without realizing it, I had already broken down my shoes. In January 2018 I joined a 15km run, the longest I ever ran and wondered why my feet were more painful than before. At that time I attributed it to the longer distance ran.

Then last Sunday, I went to a running clinic. By chance one of the sports brand was having a mini expo/exhibit there for their newest launch and I went to have a look since I was thinking of splurging on a second pair of shoes. Somehow I remembered this article I read online that said that the way the shoes have been worn down can give clues to what shoes to buy next. So I turn over my feet to have a look at my sole.

I received a great shock when I realize the cushioning rubber on the sole was all but worn away. I became slightly panicked at that because goddamnit, I have a run coming up!

I thought of getting a new pair of shoes and running in them in my next run which was this morning. But all the articles I read and my running friends discouraged me from that because new shoes should be broken in before taken for a long run. Or as my friend put it, the shoes have to be 'seasoned' first.

And that's how I ended up running this run in my broken down shoes. Not a fun experience; my feet hurt at the end due to the diminished cushioning. I actually contemplated not going to the run but I joined together with my friend and it seemed unfair to dump her.

And so, I learned my lesson. I am going to check my shoes every so often. I will NOT be caught out without a pair of nicely broken in shoes again.

Broken in shoes, not broken down shoes.