The running shoe has recently been the best piece of technology that has changed my life for the better. I'm specifically talking about running shoes made for flat-footed, heavy heel-strikers like myself.

Three years ago, I weighed 265 lbs. I could not run at that weight, so I was left to walking. Slow walking.

I could not walk fast because I have a herniated disc in my lower back (I forget which one) that would bump against the nerves in my spinal column every time I would speed walk. So I had to walk for long periods of time in order to lose weight.

To protect my feet, I purchased an expensive pair of running shoes that advertised motion + stability. I forget the model but they were from New Balance. I did not buy walking shoes because I heard that running shoes offered better protection. I stuck to my workout which included cutting back on food and exercising, long walks on the weekends, and treadmills and eliptical machines during the weekdays (I'm fortunate. The company I work for has a well-stocked gym with showers, and they encourage a healthy lifestyle).

After I had lost twenty pounds, I decided to do a little running on the treadmill. I would alternate between running and walking and the weight started to come off faster. I also noticed that my back did not bother me if I ran. As I lost weight, I added more running time and speed. As I approached the 200 lb. mark, I started to run on the weekends. Finally, by April of 2007 I had lost 75 lbs and I have been able to run up to nine miles in less than ninety minutes.

I have been through at least four pair of high-end running shoes since I started ,and I have also been able to get off a twenty year relationship with cholesteral reducing medication. I used to have 272 total cholesteral level with the meds. At my last test, a year ago, I had a 173 total.

 So yes, the running for me has been the single most important piece of technology that has dramatically improved my life.

© JRA, 2009