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So many options these days when shopping for runners

I needed new runners. I had decided that the occasional walk around the block or visit to the gym was in order, and my sandals didn’t cut it. Too flimsy. I needed footwear that was, well, exercise friendly.
shoes

I needed new runners. I had decided that the occasional walk around the block or visit to the gym was in order, and my sandals didn’t cut it.

Too flimsy.

I needed footwear that was, well, exercise friendly.

I went to the mall, which happens to sell more than a few pairs of shoes.

I found myself a sporting goods store.

“Oh, hello,” I said to the twenty-something clerk. She was wearing pretty little purple shoes. “I need some running shoes.”

“Well,” she said. “You’ve come to the right place. What kind of shoes are you looking for?”

“Seven and a half,” I said.

The twenty-something clerk laughed.

“But what kind of shoes?” She repeated.

I wasn’t sure I understood the question.

“Um, ones with laces?” I said.

The twenty-something clerk decided a tour of the store was in order.

“These ones,” she said, waving to the footwear display behind her, “are tennis shoes. Next to it, we have basketball shoes. Then there are hiking shoes. And walking shoes. And running shoes, some for road running and some for trails.”

“Oh,” I said. My head was spinning.

I had no idea how hiking shoes differed from walking shoes, and I wasn’t about to ask. I also wondered what would happen if I dared to wear tennis shoes while playing basketball, but I suspected that no good would come of that.

“Of course, we also have cross trainers,” said the clerk with the pretty purple shoes.

I refrained from asking for an explanation, but again, I was puzzled. It was news to me that a running shoe could be cross, but I was pretty sure I didn’t want shoes with an attitude.

It occurred to me that it had been some time since I had been shopping for running shoes. The last time, I believe I had only to decide on size and colour. Never was I asked about things like stability, support or cushioning.

I resisted sharing this observation with the twenty-something clerk, who would not have recalled those days.

I stood there, baffled.

“Okay,” said the clerk. “Let’s start with this. What is your exercise style?”

I considered the question.

“I would say, um, not entirely enthusiastic,” I said after a while.

This time, it was the clerk’s turn to look puzzled. I waited for her to clarify her question, but that didn’t happen.

“Tell you what,” I said, pointing to her feet. “Do you happen to sell those shoes? The pretty purple ones?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Seven and a half?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Let’s do it,” I said.

I had found my shoes. They could have been made for baseball or squash, I really didn’t know. That could have been a problem, so I decided not to ask.