Finding the Right Shoes

So here's a short story about finding the right shoes.

One item that gets a lot of attention from marathoners is shoes. This is a no-brainer since it's the #1 piece of equipment for all runners. So what happens when you find the right pair of shoes and the brand discontinues or 'updates' them?

This was an issue I faced up until last weekend. Since last spring I've been running in the Asics Gel-Nimbus 9 shoe. According the the website, the shoe is described as:

ASICS' top-of-the-line cushioning shoe, the GEL-Nimbus® 9 features a Space Trusstic System® for more efficient foot function, a Biomorphic Fit Upper, and the extreme lightweight comfort of a Solyte® midsole.

What this really means is it's a shoe with minimal support or motion control and lots of cushioning. Although a little heavy at 12.4 oz, it's a solid training shoe and also the same shoe that I wore for the Baltimore Marathon.

So I was a happy man until Asics 'updated' the shoe to the version 10.0. This presented a few problems and one big opportunity. The problem was now I needed to adapt to a new shoe that might include a few new 'features' and a new fit. It might turn our better, it might also make the shoe worse for my foot. The opportunity was that with some luck, I might find some Nimbus 9s on sale as stores make room for the new version.

When it came time to get some new shoes (I usually replaced my shoes after 350+ miles), I checked the usual online shops but could not find any size 10.5 Nimbus 9s! I was resigned to paying full retail for a new pair of 'updated' shoes that might or might not work...

Luck struck in the least likely place last Saturday when I happened to walk around my local Modell's Sporting Goods shop. Modells isn't a place known for high-end running shoes so I was shocked to see my Nimbus 9s on the wall at a huge mark down. I asked if they had any 10.5 and the manager pulled out two pairs. I grabbed both boxes, confirmed the shoes inside, and went for the register. I think the manager had never seen someone grab two boxes of the same pair of shoes and run for th register without trying them on. The ulitmate bonus of finding these discontinues shoes came when they were rung up. Not only were they on sale, the attendent took another $15 off as part of a Christmas sale. I got the shoes for $50 when the original retail was $120. Christmas came early!!!

Thanks for reading.