My Favorite Workout Shoe

Not so long ago, I had to get new workout shoes. I walked so much that I had holes in the bottom of my old ones. I had never had to say that before and was so proud of myself. I loved the shoes I had because they were comfortable. I tried to get something similar, but the old pnes were hand-me-downs from Ma, and she couldn’t remember where she got them. My brother and sister-in-law got new shoes last year that they loved, so I thought I would give them a try.

I was overjoyed when I received my Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 running shoes. That is not true. I couldn’t find my size at the time in the color I wanted. So I’m unhappy about that. However, I will say that, all in all, these have been some awesome shoes. One thing I will admit is that, like a lot of people, I saw the price of these shoes and was intimidated. I can tell you, though, that when you invest in a good pair of shoes, you will be able to feel the difference! These shoes can transition from working out to running, lifting, and more.

Just what is it that makes these babies special, you ask? Let me tell you, they are like walking on a cloud. I didn’t realize how horrible my other shoes were until I put my feet into these. They are made for road-running, which is why I got them. I thought if they could stand up to people running in them, then me walking in them would be a breeze. One thing I loved when ordering was that Brooks makes sure I understand what I am getting and why I may need that particular shoe. They even have a little quiz you can take if you aren’t sure.

With the Adrenaline GTS 21, one of the areas that was focused on was support. As a result, when you run, your body naturally prefers to move in one direction. Deviation is how much that movement changes when you run. While I am not running, I have changes in my movement when I walk due to injuries and my illness. I never walk the same way from beginning to end. So I got a shoe that offers support for this.

You may have a deviation if

• You frequently get the same injury.
• You either pronate or supinate.
• Toes point in or out when you walk.
• You feel unstable when you balance on one leg.
• Hand pressure increases or decreases when you squat with your feet together.

Learning that helped me pick better shoes, and better shoes have made a world of difference. My poor feet used to hurt so much when I walked. I would cry at the end of the night because they were swollen and just hurt. I have since learned that the swelling was due to my illness. It is now under control and is not so much of a problem. The pain, however, is because I was wearing shoes not designed for the amount of pressure I was putting on them. I should say, mostly due to that. I do have arthritis and have pain from that. However, that is a dull sort of ache in the back of everything else for me. I have lived it my entire life.

The pain I’m talking about will bring you to your knees. Now, I walk and don’t worry about the pain. It doesn’t happen. I can easily transition from my workout to walking, grocery shopping, and more. On a good day, that is. You know, the days when the rest of my body decides that it wants to participate in life as well.