I will begin with a confession: I love shoes. Specifically: pumps, strappy sandals, boots, and running shoes. I have multiple pair of black pumps, black strappy sandals and black boots – why? Because you can never have enough black shoes (or black pieces of clothing or black dresses, but that is a whole different disorder I suffer from.)

When I began running two years ago, I started off in Nike – I prefer the Nike Free line. I have had multiple colors (the brighter the better).   In May of this year, I was introduced to the Brooks Racer – I first loved the shoes because they were bright orange and blue. I then fell in love with the shoes after running in them. Oh, they felt so good.

My running partner, Karen, and I have logged 100 miles for each of the months of May, June and July. At the beginning of July, I could tell that my Brooks were starting to wear out. Although I knew I should not change shoes, I got an adorable pair of hot pink Asics – I do not remember the model. I ran in them 5 times and I hate them. They do not feel right. It breaks my heart for a few reasons: (1) I just dropped $90 on a pair of shoes that I can’t run in; (2) they are hot pink shoes (my favorite colors are pink and black); and, (3) I am without a new pair of running shoes.

So, the hunt for new running shoes began – Do I go back to my Nike Frees?  Do I get another pair of Brooks Racers (which was not appealing real since they only come in orange/blue and I really wanted a new color)? Decisions…

I went to Tri Running, our local running store. I scanned the wall – they had the Nike Frees and they had the Brooks Racers. Then, I spotted a beautiful pair of shoes. These were Mizuno Wave Precision 12. Now, I know you can’t buy a pair of running shoes just because they are beautiful (my brain & feet know that, my heart still need convincing). I tried on a size 7 ½ – too tight. I tried on a size 8, they fit. I walked around in them and they felt good. The sales girl then told me that I had 30 days to return them if I did not like them. I bought them.

Saturday morning we had a 10 mile run. I was nervous, not because of the 10 miles but because I had on my beautiful new shoes. Would they feel good? Would they suck? Verdict: I loved them. They felt good. I didn’t feel like my legs were weighted down. I have run in them 5 times now and I still am happy with them.

I am training for the Houston Marathon in January 2012, which means I will go through a couple more pair of shoes before then. I will definitely use my brain and not my heart to pick out shoes in the future.