Stephen A.
Yelp
This place is amazing. Just wanted to get that off my chest.
So today I swung by, finally ready to take the plunge and buy a pair of big boy running shoes. I've been running for a while, but never took the time to really invest in a pair of shoes that complimented my running style. That's where this magical place stepped in.
Immediately upon walking in I was greeted by two very friendly folks at the counter, ready to help. I spent so long in the store I've forgotten the name of the kind, patient, and insanely knowledgable woman that helped me. She asked if I've been fitted before and I probably had a slightly blank look on my face as I said no. But that's okay, they have some fancy technology to make it quick and simple.
That's right, I said TECHNOLOGY. I love gadgets. Heck, I used to work for Apple, that's how much I love technology. First, you stand on some cushiony-sensory thing (technical term) and it figures out where you put your weight and how your arches are built. Gone are my amazing arches from undergrad, but they're still pretty nice if you ask me. Using this super-techno device, we figured out size and arch support. Then we went over to a treadmill with a camera setup so she could watch me run. We watched the glorious footage of my pasty-white calves gliding across the treadmill with my left ankle turning in ever so slightly. She recommended a mostly neutral shoe (I learned all about pronation! You should, too! http://www.runnersworld.com/running-shoes/pronation-explained?page=single) with a small amount of support for my left ankle. (Blasted old dance injury.) And thus began trying on shoes.
Talk about patience: we went through five pairs of shoes. Multiple times. She had me run a couple of minutes in each pair of shoe. After five pairs, we narrowed it down to three. Then she had me run in all of them again! I was able to eliminate an amazing pair of Pearl Izumis, and narrow it down to a pair of New Balances and a pair of Asics. (Two of my favorite brands, already!) I ran in them again. Then I ran in one on my left and one on my right. I couldn't make up my mind. I told her I was thinking about just buying both pairs and calling it a day. She let me know of their generous return policy and told me to wear them around the house a few days and see which one I liked best, or just keep them. Overall, I probably ran at least twenty minutes while testing shoes. She was super patient with me and insanely helpful. Nearly an hour later, I walked out with a purchase I'm insanely happy with and ready to go running even more. Wonderful experience. Everyone there is so helpful, smart, kind, and passionate about running. It's like an Apple Store for running! I love this place.