Who Is Usung My Monument Guide Book In Boston, MA?
 |
| Bill Rodger Monument Running Shoes casted by Bob Shure Sculptor |
Bill Rodgers
Quincy Market / Faneuil Hall
Cast by Robert Shure and Skylight Studios Bronze
Bill Rodger’s name is synonymous with the Boston Marathon. In this article he talks about comfort and the ne- cessity of finding the perfect running shoe. He describes what a good pair of running shoes should have.
Quincy Market / Faneuil Hall
Cast by Robert Shure and Skylight Studios Bronze
Bill Rodger’s name is synonymous with the Boston Marathon. In this article he talks about comfort and the ne- cessity of finding the perfect running shoe. He describes what a good pair of running shoes should have.
Bill Rodgers and the Perfect Running Shoe
Lisa Poole / Associated Press: Bill Rodgers at the 2009 Boston Marathon
“For weeks now, I have been struggling to find the right running shoe. I chose one for its pink swoosh, but it never felt right. I tried two other pairs but still struggled with blisters and foot pain. Then I finally checked out my local specialty running store, where the salesman (shout out to Matt at Princeton Running Co.) watched me walk, suggested a few different shoes and let me try them out on a treadmill. Sure enough, I found a shoe that felt great, and several runs later, my feet couldn’t be happier.”
Lisa Poole / Associated Press: Bill Rodgers at the 2009 Boston Marathon
“For weeks now, I have been struggling to find the right running shoe. I chose one for its pink swoosh, but it never felt right. I tried two other pairs but still struggled with blisters and foot pain. Then I finally checked out my local specialty running store, where the salesman (shout out to Matt at Princeton Running Co.) watched me walk, suggested a few different shoes and let me try them out on a treadmill. Sure enough, I found a shoe that felt great, and several runs later, my feet couldn’t be happier.”
I recently spoke to marathon great Bill Rodgers, four-time winner of both the New York City and Boston
marathons who now owns a specialty running store in Boston.
I asked him why it’s so tough to find the perfect running shoe. Here’s our conversation.
What makes the perfect running shoe?
Some people run in almost anything, others are on a never-ending search. I think finding the right fit is im-
portant. You really want to be comfortable in your shoes. It’s about how it feels. You’ll find out on the road. There’s never quite the perfect shoe. It’s a quest. In 1976 I did have a pair of running shoes from Asics, I wish they still made them, the Asics Montreal. They were phenomenal shoes. They were light, they didn’t wear down fast, great shoe, fit perfect. They were the best shoes I ever wore.
You own a running store. Why do you think it makes such a difference to shop at a specialty store rather than a larger sporting goods store?
I don’t think it’s that unusual to have a pair of shoes you just don’t like, and they end up being your garden- ing or walking-the-dog shoes. I always tell people to go to a specialty store in their area and get fitted for shoes and find the right shoe for your foot type. You may want to try on two or three or four different pairs of shoes. Compare one company to another. The staff will look at how you move, let you run a little bit, see how your foot hits the ground, see what your arch is like. They will help you try to find what works best.
Why is it so tough to find the right shoe?
We all have different types of feet. I have a high arched kind of rigid foot. That means I land on the ball of my feet. At least I used to — now things have changed as I’ve gotten older. Then there is the issue of age. Sometimes your arches flatten out. You may need some arch support. Some shoes have more arch support, certain companies seem to have shoes with a lighter forefoot and heel box than others. People become very loyal to certain shoes.
How do you know when you’ve got the right fit?
It should feel pretty snug, but not real tight; comfortable, like you want to run in them. It will probably feel more comfortable than any other shoes you’re going to wear. There should be a thumb’s width at the end of the shoe for your toes to move around in. I actually don’t fit people with shoes today. I used to be the shoe guy, but I can’t because I’m usually traveling. Now I’m a shoe fitter emeritus.
Shoes today have an amazing number of features and technical descriptions. How do you know what to choose?
Everything to me is the fit, the feel of the shoe. Do you feel biomechanically like you’re moving barefoot? That’s what you want. There is a trend now for simpler shoes. For 30 years I’ve thought they’ve had too many gim- micks on the running shoes. Various companies copying each other and trying to outdo each other and adding roll bars and computers on the shoes. It was unnecessary and made things more complicated than it should be.
How do you know when it’s time to buy a new pair of running shoes?
I know the shoe companies say 500 miles. I never go by things like that. I go by feel. When you’re on a run and you land on a rock and you feel it on your foot, when that happens you know your shoes have lost a lot of their cushioning or support and you might be wise to invest in another pair of shoes. I am one of those people who pushes it. I like the broken-in feel to my running shoes. When they seem to fit really well and lace up really well, to be one with your foot, that’s what you really want. If you have that, then you have a great shoe.
I asked him why it’s so tough to find the perfect running shoe. Here’s our conversation.
What makes the perfect running shoe?
Some people run in almost anything, others are on a never-ending search. I think finding the right fit is im-
portant. You really want to be comfortable in your shoes. It’s about how it feels. You’ll find out on the road. There’s never quite the perfect shoe. It’s a quest. In 1976 I did have a pair of running shoes from Asics, I wish they still made them, the Asics Montreal. They were phenomenal shoes. They were light, they didn’t wear down fast, great shoe, fit perfect. They were the best shoes I ever wore.
You own a running store. Why do you think it makes such a difference to shop at a specialty store rather than a larger sporting goods store?
I don’t think it’s that unusual to have a pair of shoes you just don’t like, and they end up being your garden- ing or walking-the-dog shoes. I always tell people to go to a specialty store in their area and get fitted for shoes and find the right shoe for your foot type. You may want to try on two or three or four different pairs of shoes. Compare one company to another. The staff will look at how you move, let you run a little bit, see how your foot hits the ground, see what your arch is like. They will help you try to find what works best.
Why is it so tough to find the right shoe?
We all have different types of feet. I have a high arched kind of rigid foot. That means I land on the ball of my feet. At least I used to — now things have changed as I’ve gotten older. Then there is the issue of age. Sometimes your arches flatten out. You may need some arch support. Some shoes have more arch support, certain companies seem to have shoes with a lighter forefoot and heel box than others. People become very loyal to certain shoes.
How do you know when you’ve got the right fit?
It should feel pretty snug, but not real tight; comfortable, like you want to run in them. It will probably feel more comfortable than any other shoes you’re going to wear. There should be a thumb’s width at the end of the shoe for your toes to move around in. I actually don’t fit people with shoes today. I used to be the shoe guy, but I can’t because I’m usually traveling. Now I’m a shoe fitter emeritus.
Shoes today have an amazing number of features and technical descriptions. How do you know what to choose?
Everything to me is the fit, the feel of the shoe. Do you feel biomechanically like you’re moving barefoot? That’s what you want. There is a trend now for simpler shoes. For 30 years I’ve thought they’ve had too many gim- micks on the running shoes. Various companies copying each other and trying to outdo each other and adding roll bars and computers on the shoes. It was unnecessary and made things more complicated than it should be.
How do you know when it’s time to buy a new pair of running shoes?
I know the shoe companies say 500 miles. I never go by things like that. I go by feel. When you’re on a run and you land on a rock and you feel it on your foot, when that happens you know your shoes have lost a lot of their cushioning or support and you might be wise to invest in another pair of shoes. I am one of those people who pushes it. I like the broken-in feel to my running shoes. When they seem to fit really well and lace up really well, to be one with your foot, that’s what you really want. If you have that, then you have a great shoe.
"Boston Bronze and Stone Speak To Us" Boston's monument guide book can be purchased on Amazon.com and in Boston's local book stores, such as North Ends "I Am Books"
Boston is America, America is Boston!
No comments:
Post a Comment