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| - I finally started seriously training for my first half-marathon and needed some new shoes. In the past, I've usually bought shoes at Runner's Den, but I was enticed by Road Runner's fancy foot analysis and decided to give it a try.
Bad choice.
Ultimately, I realized the whole purpose of the foot analysis is to sell you their custom insoles, which run about $70. To me, the insoles seem like a sham. If you really need that extra support, wouldn't it be better to go to an actual foot doctor?
The lady helping me was super friendly and nice- until I told her I wasn't going to buy the insoles. The minute I told her that, her attitude and demeanor towards me changed completely. She became cold and acted if she didn't want to help me anymore. Plus, the whole experience takes forever. They only had 2 people on the floor, so from the time I walked in to the time I walked out, I was there for well over an hour- 15 minutes of that was just sitting there while no one greeted me.
When I started getting into my longer runs, I noticed my toes were starting to hurt. I thought maybe I needed new socks, so I went to Runner's Den. The guy at Runner's Den felt my running shoes and told me they were a 1/2 size too small. He said he usually recommends going up a 1/2 size when you buy running shoes because your feet tend to swell when you get into longer runs, which was probably causing my pain.
Road Runner does have a generous return policy if you're a VIP member- 90 days no questions asked. I should have taken advantage of that, but honestly, I would rather go buy new shoes somewhere else at this point than go back. Other places might not have a fancy machine to measure your stride, but I guarantee you can get a better fit and service somewhere else.
If you are going to shop at Road Runner, buy the VIP program online. It's only $1.99 for a year online instead of $20 in the store.
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