So to be honest I have not started training yet. DH gets paid Thursday. I buy a stroller, maybe some shoes.

Anyway. I was online checking out what shoes are out there.

I found this site

I'm not going to buy them online, I want to be fitted for shoes and wear them in the store before purchasing them.

So have you bought your shoes? What kind did you get? Do you like them so far?

This site

I found out yesterday that a friend of mine has been training for a marathon since January. She lives out of town, and we don't see each other often. She got fit for shoes and a lot of help on footwear and footcare from a specific person at an athletic shoe place that happens to be halfway between work and home. Wednesday is the day they're open late so if I'm semi-functional at the end of work I'm going tonight!

and also planning to get some Thurlo Cool-Max socks. I looked at some last night at campmor.com.

Thurlos are DA BOMB. I highly recommend them, pricey as they can be. I got a good discount on them at the Sacouney outlet.

I wear Acsics sneakers, the culmulous line.

Reb, I was going to suggest asking your marathon friend, but here you have posted it already. You're just quicker on the uptake than I am!

Yesterday the computers at work crashed first thing in the morning. I had to get out of there at lunchtime and I walked, fast and wearing brand new (non-athletic) shoes to the shoe store. I talked to the shoe guy who says:
-don't buy shoes at a "self-serve" shoe store. "I serve 8-10 self-serve victims a week".
-don't buy shoes at a place where they are paid by commission.
He looked at my feet and watched me walk, and recommended a few specific shoes to try on based on that. (I'm an under-pronater - walk on the outside of my feet). He recommended setting aside at least an hour for trying on shoes. By that time I was late leaving to walk back to work.

Today I have shin splints.

okay, which places are non-commission?

Yeah, well, I didn't ask that. Since I usually buy what's on sale, and have made some bad shoe choices in the past, I'm planning to get fit at this place (they only do running shoes and gear...) and buy a second pair somewhere else. This place gives a discount for the second pair, but I didn't ask how much.

bought some Merrells today. Walked 40 minutes right away. Not one minute of discomfort!

I was looking at Ryker They are a woman shoe maker. Only study womans feet, only make shoes for women.

Still don't know.

where can I find out about Ryker?

I like the idea of women owned, by and for women. But I also like the idea of someone fitting something for my odd walking and non-standard feet (very narrow heel, very wide forefoot).

Merrells have a nice, wide, toe bed. The guy at the Walking Co said if I was used to Birks Merrells woul dwork well. And they do! This is my 4th pair of Merrells and I them!

It's RYKA

Lady footlocker

Ryka home page

i mostly buy my shoes from shoestrom.com coz they buy comfort shoes with reasonable prices .