Two of us ‘LIFERs’ here at Ideas in Motion Media have spent the summer preparing for our upcoming fall half marathons. Jenny Craig and I have put the hours in for training but we needed to take the next step to make sure we’ve got the equipment needed to have a successful race. Recently, we took a trip to Extra Mile in Valparaiso to gear up and learn about what we need to be prepared for our upcoming 13.1 mile trek.
When we walked in, we were greeted by Laura Gutzwiller who was very excited to help get us set up for our races. We explained to Laura that Jenny was specifically shopping for a new pair of shoes, while I was looking for miscellaneous “accessories” for running, if you will.
At Ideas in Motion Media, we’ve been partners with Extra Mile for many years so we were aware they were the only place to go when looking for new gear. Extra mile is an essential stop in Northwest Indiana for runners in the area and they’ve really set themselves apart from other stores. We asked Laura how Extra Mile had created this reputation for themselves.
“Extra Mile has great staff that not only has a lot of expertise on what you need but they are experienced as well and know for themselves what works and what doesn’t from shoes to gear and clothing,” Laura said.
She was able to do just that while working with Jenny to find her new pair of shoes! First, Laura spoke with Jenny about her running history to determine what kind of running she does, typical distance, how often she runs, and what she was looking for in her new pair of shoes. Laura took the time to examine Jenny’s previous pair, to see what where they had the most wear and tear, and consequently where the “problem area” was.
Once she learned this, Laura had Jenny walk barefoot so she could determine her overall stride, arches, and how her foot naturally pronates. Finally, Laura had Jenny squat so that she could see how her foot is pronating – or rolling inward – during movement. This is important when selecting the right shoe for the runner because you want to have the right shoe to support the way your body naturally moves.
Once Laura got a good idea of Jenny’s natural movement, she had determined a pair of Saucony’s that would be a good fit for Jenny. Laura walked us back to the treadmill in the store, and had Jenny run while she recorded it on the computer. Once Jenny was finished running, she and Laura both watched the footage to determine if these shoes were supporting Jenny correctly.
After some further discussion, Jenny decided to stick a pair of New Balance. Laura was very sincere and genuine about ensuring Jenny was making the right decision.
According to Jenny, “It was great to learn so much about my feet and stride. I am excited to begin learning even more and hopefully improving how I run. I love my new shoes and am confident Laura set me up for success!”
Fall is a great time to push yourself to run the distance and Jenny and I have worked hard throughout the summer to get prepared. With our half marathons quickly approaching, we’re very thankful to have Extra Mile and Laura here in town to help make sure we have everything we need!