The importance of a good running shoe + Asics GT-2000

I’ve never been a runner, I think it can be quite boring and I always feel like you have to run for so long to get anywhere. And to get to that same point faster or further in the same amount of time, you need good condition, which takes even longer to built up. With my cycling though, my condition is finally getting to a good point. And this also makes running more fun, and easier. But nope, I'm still not a runner! For some strange reason I do like running things like the Antwerp 10 miles though, so I kind of have no other option then training, especially if I want to run it faster then last time.

When I actually started training, I was getting a lot of knee pain every time I ran. Not that I started running that much, but still :p, I had been wearing the same runners for almost 2 years, very basic ones. They were also Asics and ment for running, so they were decent shoes, but not nearly close to what my feet – and the rest of my body – needed. And the shoes were killing my running mood and my progress.

My sister, my aunt and my cousin all bought their running shoes at a store called RUNNERS in Mol where they specialise in running shoes (hence the name of the store). So I decided to pay them a visit too, to hopefully make my running life better. In the store they make you run up and down a mat to look at your feet when you run, to see which shoes are best for you. And everyone who works there knows a thing or two about running, so you’re in very good hands. I ended up with the ASICS GT-20000.

The GT-2000 is a light weight running shoe that is firm at the back. Compared to my old flexible shoes, this supports my feet the entire time I run. I think this is where a lot of people go wrong, with the flexibility of the shoe. Yeah it's cool that you can bend it, but that doesn't mean it's good for you. The shoe also has gel cushioning in the rearfoot (visible, see picture above) as well as in the forefoot! This makes the shoe super comfortable to run in for a long time and it also helps absorbs shocks better. Another thing that makes the shoe absorb shocks better is a thing called FluidRide, the latest evolution in the midsole technology of Asics. The GT-2000 also has a lot of other extra features like reflective strips so people can see you better at night, comfordry sockliner, I.G.S. (Impact Guidance System), Dynamic Duomax, .... For more information about all these things I refer to the Asics website, since they can explain everything better then me.

A good running shoe makes such a difference in the running experience, even more then I expected. So I recommend to anyone who goes running, even if it’s only once a month, to invest in a good pair of shoes. Go to a specialised shop and let them advise you, don't just buy any shoe because it says it's a running shoe. You and your body will thank you for it! I have no more pain in the knee and I actually feel like training more now. I’m still not a runner, and I think I’ll never turn into one (never say never though). But for this year I do already have at least 3 running events on the to do list; starting with the Urban Trail run in Antwerp this Sunday 12/3, which I’m doing together with Lore and Marijke.

Is anyone going to come cheer us on?

-xox

Joke