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A major component of many sports is equipment. Those who have are set apart from those who have not by their ability to perform. While it isn't the main factor in achieving greatness, it does play a role. Running, however, is accessible to anyone with shoes and willpower. During my run today I contemplated the importance of good shoes when running. Are they truly influential, or do we merely use them because they feel good and look cool? They certainly feel much better than walking around barefoot, but the natural running craze sweeping the nation challenges the necessity of shoes whatsoever. I, personally, don't buy into the hype, but it is an interesting perspective. So, in the middle of my difficult but boring tempo run, I set out to answer for myself they answer to a couple of questions. First, why do I even wear shoes? This may seem like a no-brained; sticks, glass, rocks, even just the discomfort of pavement slapping against my skin prompts me to want some sort of barrier. Interestingly, not everyone feels the same-- I saw a man running completely barefoot around a lake the other day-- but for the sake of sanity, we're going to say that some sort of sole is necessary. The answer I found was that shoes keep my body working in the right way. They cushion landings, support my bones, ligaments, and tendons,and encourage the right form. I think (and this is an unprofessional musing) that wearing shoes lets my feet and legs relax a bit and leave some of the physics to shoe technology. The second conundrum is how will wearing a different shoe affect me? Can a shoe really make me go faster? I've run in a couple different shoes now and have fun ally found my fit. While I don't think a particular shoe will automatically make me faster, I do think each affect how I run and thus affect my overall performance. A cushioning shoe keeps the pounding from wearing me down too far, allowing me to keep training strong. A different amount of support can change my stride and strike zone. These all ultimately affect my speed, albeit in an indirect way. The most direct influence my shoes have, however, is mental. Certain shoes make me feel fast, especially new shoes. I lace up a pair of pristine white beauties and feel the unbroken fabric around my feet and instantly am ready to push the pace. The same goes for racing spikes; the second they're snug around my toes I'm resdy for the gun to go off. I don't think I'm alone when I say that some shoes can just feel fast. Therefore, they usually make me run fast. The ultimate question, one that I still don't have an answer to, is how much of a role shoes play in determining performance. I'll continue to mull this over... During my first race with my new spikes! Yes, all this thought about shoes gave me the itch for new ones. I went out and bought some new Nike distance spikes for this track season. They're really fast-looking, so hopefully they'll make me feel speedy. If you're thinking about buying new shoes, here are a couple of my favorites. - the Asics cumulus, which is now the nimbus, is what vie found to be my personal favorite. Enough cushioning, but not too much to slow me down. This shoe cured my string of injuries, plus it now comes in a cool purple and gray-- it doesn't show dirt! - the Saucony ride treated me well. It felt fast, but I needed a bit more cushioning. If you don't, I would suggest this shoe. - any type of Newtons! They're comfy, promote good striking, and look hot. Happy shopping!