Never in a million years did I think I’d become a runner.
Run away from an angry stray dog? Of course! Run after the ice cream truck on a hot summer day? Absolutely! But to lace up the sneaks and hit the ground running for fun? No thank you very much!
In my defence, I tried to love running but it was running that didn’t love me back. No matter how I ran, my legs ached and my feet were sore and I was always one huff and puff away from passing out. It was clear to me that the universe was telling me that I was not meant to be a runner. And when the universe talks to you, you listen, right?
Wrong! I’m stubborn and I wasn’t going down without a fight. So last summer I made it my mission to make running love me back. I downloaded the Nike Run App and would schedule two to three runs per week. I was miserable at first. I remember forcing a smile as I passed other runners on the street. I always wondered if they could tell I was faking it, that I was hating every stride with this foolish grin on my face.
But then everything changed when Saucony sent me the Freedom ISO Running Shoes. It was in this very moment that I realized that in all my years of being active, I had never owned a pair of running shoes before. My closet was filled with trainers, cross-trainers, dance sneakers and grippy socks. But not one running shoe. So the first time I went out for a run in my the Freedom ISO, I felt more supported, connected to the ground, my feet didn’t hurt and my run became faster and longer before I felt fatigued.
The problem wasn’t that running didn’t love me back, it was that I was wearing the wrong type of shoe. Running shoes are made for running. (Thank you Captain Obvious!) They are specifically designed with forward motion in mind. They lessen the impact of your step and cushion the foot from heavy landings. Wearing the wrong shoes lead to discomfort, injuries and can keep you from performing at your best. And the last thing you need is for your shoe to be holding you back.
In the depths of true Canadian winter you can now find me outside running thanks to the Peregrine 7 Arctic. Yes, I love running so much that I’ve become that crazy person running in the SNOW. And the reason I can is because I’m finally wearing the right gear. I’m no running pro yet, but at least now when I pass the other runners on the street, my smile is a genuine one.
