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Running Gear that Isn't (Read 1967 times)

servingthealiens


    I picked up these shoes at Kohl's today.  My intention was to have them as "everyday" walking around shoes, not for running.  They're light and comfy and I like the look of them.

     

    But, Kohl's website bills them as "high performance running shoes".  Uh... no.  Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they'd be awesome for some people - likely the people who train in racers, or who can successful wear minimalist shoes like Nike Free. 

     

    However, as we know, that's not the majority of us, and unless you have a naturally PERFECT stride, most people have to slowly work up to running in shoes with minimal support. 

     

    It just irks me how often I see stuff like this - running or sports gear that's not actually suitable for that sport, or not suitable for people new to the sport.  +1 if it's sold at a place other than a sporting goods or sports specialty store.

     

    What are your favorite examples of running  gear that isn't, or at least running gear mass marketed that isn't suitable for the mass market?

      GU, PowerBars and the like are hyper-marketed to the point where you see people on boards asking stuff like, "How many GU's should I take with me on a 5-mile run?"

      servingthealiens


        YES!  I can't believe I didn't think of that one.  They're marketed to the point that people think they need one before, during, and after sports when probably 70% of the time, you don't need any, unless you're doing intense exercise for a very sustained period of time, or in harsh conditions.

         

        Nevermind that most nutrition bars are 200-500 calories, so if you're an "average fitness runner" who does 5-ish miles a few times a week, sure, you'll gain fitness, but if you're sucking down "energy bars" every time to move a muscle, you'll gain plenty of weight too.

         

        It's beside the point that most of them are glorified candy...


        Half Fanatic #846

          YES!  ... They're marketed to the point that people think they need one before, during, and after sports when probably 70% of the time, you don't need any, unless you're doing intense exercise for a very sustained period of time, or in harsh conditions.

           

          My box of GU energy gels says "Eat one GU 15 minutes before (training) and then one GU every 30 to 45 minutes during training", so on a 5 mile run you would need only 2 or 3 Wink  - that's BS, maybe even detrimental if you are a distance runner.  I have used them in races lasting 2 hours and longer, and sometimes when struggling during hot summer long runs.

          "I don't always roll a joint, but when I do, it's usually my ankle" - unk.         "Frankly autocorrect, I'm getting a bit tired of your shirt".                  I ran half my last race on my left foot!                                  

            I feel very un-irked by all of this.

            Runners run

              I feel very un-irked by all of this.

               

              Dude, you're harshing our pedantry. 

              MrH


                So you expected something described as "high performance" to be heavy, ultra-cushioned, ultra-supporting and intended for beginners? And from a Specialist Running Store like Kohl's too?

                The process is the goal.

                Men heap together the mistakes of their lives, and create a monster they call Destiny.

                  So you expected something described as "high performance" to be heavy, ultra-cushioned, ultra-supporting and intended for beginners? And from a Specialist Running Store like Kohl's too?

                   

                  I bought a pair of Nike's from Kohl's last year to be my "casual" wear shoe.  It's been an ok shoe for me, but you can tell the kohl's shoes are the rejects from Nike, NB, Asics, etc.  The quality is just so much lower.

                  servingthealiens


                    So you expected something described as "high performance" to be heavy, ultra-cushioned, ultra-supporting and intended for beginners? And from a Specialist Running Store like Kohl's too?

                     

                    There is at least one fail going on here, either in sarcasm or reading comprehension.  Possibly two. 

                     

                    Here, why don't you try again?  We all have off days.

                     

                    My intention was to have them as "everyday" walking around shoes, not for running.  They're light and comfy and I like the look of them.

                    Kerry1976


                    Master of the Side Eye

                      There is at least one fail going on here, either in sarcasm or reading comprehension.  Possibly two. 

                       

                      Here, why don't you try again?  We all have off days.

                       

                      My intention was to have them as "everyday" walking around shoes, not for running.  They're light and comfy and I like the look of them.

                       

                       

                      HMMM.....you picked the one sentence to which the earlier quote WASN'T responding. Sounds like someone else needs a little time working on basic reading comprehension. 

                      TRUST THE PROCESS

                       

                       

                       

                        I picked up these shoes at Kohl's today.  My intention was to have them as "everyday" walking around shoes, not for running.  They're light and comfy and I like the look of them.

                         

                        But, Kohl's website bills them as "high performance running shoes".  Uh... no.  Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they'd be awesome for some people - likely the people who train in racers, or who can successful wear minimalist shoes like Nike Free. 

                         

                        However, as we know, that's not the majority of us, and unless you have a naturally PERFECT stride, most people have to slowly work up to running in shoes with minimal support. 

                         

                        It just irks me how often I see stuff like this - running or sports gear that's not actually suitable for that sport, or not suitable for people new to the sport.  +1 if it's sold at a place other than a sporting goods or sports specialty store.

                         

                        What are your favorite examples of running  gear that isn't, or at least running gear mass marketed that isn't suitable for the mass market?

                         

                         hmmm....I'm not sure whats got your undies in a bundle here. High performance running shoes ARE for people who train in racers and minimalist shoes who have a perfect stride. Why are you irked? Because you don't?

                         

                        IMHO, nothing at Kohls is of a quality of a high performance running shoe. A running shoe store would never carry that shoe. It is designed and marketed to people just like you who are just starting out and don't want to pay the extra 20 dollars for a quality shoe and probably walks more then they run, which is fine. The market them as "High performance" to make people feel like they're getting the same high quality shoe as a specialty store at discount store prices.

                         

                        The pain that hurts the worse is the imagined pain. One of the most difficult arts of racing is learning to ignore the imagined pain and just live with the present pain (which is always bearable.) - Jeff

                         

                        2014 Goals:

                         

                        Stay healthy

                        Enjoy life

                         

                          Nike is famous for doing this with their shoes.  Some Nikes are about the best running shoes one can buy but their Shoks and some of their other designer running shoes are not really made for running yet are advertised as such by the mass marketed shoe retailers. 

                          "You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas"  Davy Crockett