This pair of office shoes isn't too shabby, considering I've worn them about 10 years. At least, I thought they still looked OK when I looked down at my feet every day.
Recently I began running and my knees demand a little more special attention. For some reason, I picked up my old pair of shoes and viewed them from an angle I'd never seen before. The heels surprised me. The inside of each heel had a sole 1 and 1/4" high. This contrasted with the way the sole had worn down on the outsides. The outside of the left heel was only 5/8" high, and the outside of the right heel was only 3/8" high. My feet must roll out to the side when I walk.
Lessons:
- Walk in a pair of shoes for ten years.
- Change the pace at which I walk.
- Go barefoot for a moment.
- Look at the shoes from a new angle.
- My right leg carries more weight than my left leg. I already knew this. But did I ever think about how it affects my shoes, and how my shoes might affect my knees?
- I probably stand a little shorter when my feet roll outward and stand taller again when my feet roll inward.
- Take care of my knees. Buy new shoes.
- Check the tread on my car tires, while I'm at it.
Haha! I think my dad has shoes this old, but he buys Allen Edmonds and gets the soles and heels replaced locally, maybe you can do that if you want a knees-sustainable 10-year dress shoe. :) Mathew loves Rockports though, if you want a more comfortable dress shoe.
ReplyDelete