These are the times that try women's soles

I hadn't previously held this truth to be self-evident: not all soles are created equal.

When I went to the foot doctor, I wore my old(ish) Asics, which I'd now designated walking shoes.


He pointed out how worn the tread was, and told me that you shouldn't be able to flex a shoe past the toes. Then he flexed the shoe up until the toe was nearly touching the heel.

I was astonished. I mean, I'm not a marathon runner. At my craziest most fit, I've never run more than 8 miles a week. And yet in just one year, those shoes were toast.

What's weird is that I then went home and tried the same flex test on my old Pearl Izumis. (No, I don't throw old shoes away. Hell, I don't throw anything away. Hence the archaeological dig through the garage.)

Lo and behold! The Pearl Izumis flexed the toe area and no further. And the tread looked pretty good too. (I'm planning to wear the P.I.s to the foot doctor next time, just to see what he thinks of them.) I've had those shoes a full year more than the Asics, and even though I haven't run as much on them, I've run a lot and walked more. Yet they seem in way better shape.

Today I go back to the foot doctor so he can try fitting my feets with orthotic inserts. He warns me that this might involve buying bigger shoes. If so, I'm heading for the running store this time.

Exercise du jour: If it's not too much to ask, God, I'd like to try a little running today. Please?

Done! Now off to visit Mr. Icepack and his cousin Mr. Ibuprofen