NOTE: I realize that everyone's experience in a paarticular situation IS different. I am ONLY sharing MY experience with the manager, Mr. Gerardo Mora at On the Run ~ Pearland. So not hate comments please.
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OK for a new runner the world of running, whether it be 5k's, 10k's 1/2 or full marathons can be overwhelming to say the least. There is a wealth of information to be had and GIVEN from so many people. It is hard to focus in on one or 2 sources to trust. I am fortunate enough to have 4 friends who are avid runners & have been more than kind enough to answer questions I may have, as well as find a website or 2 that I feel stirs me right.
I have been at this running thing since Aug. 09 (w/ a 2 mon. hideous) that being said I figured that the next logical step was to go and get my foot fitted for a running shoe right? So I was planning a trip next month after this race (4/24/10). Well late last week I got a call from a friend who had a WONDERFUL experience with On the Run in Pearland. Well her excitement was contagious. So the next day bright & early I went to the same place & was hoping for a grand experience.
Well I arrived & it was ....ordinary to say the least it was nice but nothing like what my friend had exp. I was a tad disappointed. I chalked it up to "Hey different people + different sales guy = diff. exp." No biggie.
Well 2 days later I went to D.P for my weekly run. Shoes/ new socks felt fine the first 1.5 miles then it happened I felt a "hot spot" aka starting of a blister in a NEW place. So I finished the walk a little more than 4 miles that day.
My first call was to the store on the way home to let them know about it and to see if I could exchange the shoes. No Answer. Came home and blogged and my "team" told me to return the shoe...I did today and if it was not a horrible and downright embarrassing experience I don’t know what else would have been.
Emailed the manager and he said the blister may not be bcs of the shoe per say but to come in and we will see what we can do.
Got there he was less than welcoming.....Refreshed his memory as to our e-mail. He was firm & adamant in saying "You know that when you run on a blister that it will aggravate it more...if you get new shoes today that doesn’t mean the blister will be gone?" WANTED to say "NO YOU dumb idiot I thought that if i bought some NIKE MEDICATED it would make all my foot aliments disappear" but alas I settled for "Uh huh"
He asked “Well did you know these were a wide? That is probably the problem" Me: No I didn’t ask for a wide I have no idea what they were I just bought what Bryan suggested.
I finally stopped him bcs he just had this tone with me ya know? SO I said "Look I know you have alot of knowledge in this area and obviously people like me who come in from off the street don’t know this..Thus the reason for coming here, paying a little more and putting our trust in your hands. There is so much info out there and to tell you the truth I am a little overwhelmed I just want your help" And I did it I did what any self respecting girl would never do in this situation...I started to cry...WHAT THE HECK? Yes GURL I did. I was not meaning too I was just feeling very lost ans stupid at this point and it just hit me. REGARDLESS this is how the rest of it went:
Let me just hit on the "Hot spots" of the rest of the visit.
1. "You know sometimes people get started in this field and they get obsessed with it and have no idea what they are doing. This can lead to injury and blisters. It’s just a blister after all."
2. "Perhaps you are pushing yourself to hard causing you to get blisters"
To which I said "Dude do you see the size I am? Do you REALLY think I am going all Carl Lewis out there Come on really?"
3. "Well maybe bcs of your weight and you running this is causing blisters."
4. "Sometimes it is just best if you stick with the shoes you have...I mean some people say that when you find what works why change it?"
5. " How many miles a week do you run?" (Me: 12-18 mi/wk) "Well you shoe (that I am currently in Nike Torch5) is considered a Neutral shoe and that is basically a lazy man’s shoe and it allows your foot to do whatever it wants no supporting it in any given way...when you are running more and it becomes more serious then maybe think about coming back and getting a shoe"
6. "I've never heard of that shoe anyway (The Nike Torch5 I was wearing"
7. "It's not like there is this Holy Grail of all shoes find what you like"
8. "This isnt an exact science sometimes you just go wiht what works for you"
Me: "Alrighttty then...Um Can I just get my money back then..You know it was probably more my fault bcs I tried to do this on a week bf I had a run and I just bit off more than I could chew...no harm no fail."
AS he is ringing me out (credit back) he says "You know I once had a girlfriend who no matter WHAT she bought whether it be a bed or a service or shoes or whatever she was never satisfied with it..."
I wanted to say "Thus the reason for her break up with you?" But "Uh Huh" came out instead!
SO that was my deal-io today and I thought that along with everything else I would share it with you!
So Mr. Gerardo Mora at On the Run in Pearland and I did not see eye to eye that is ok but really as manager with more than 30 Years running experience (ran the 300th Annivesary of the Boston Marathon and runs 60 miles a week) I would think that he could have been a little more nicer to say the least. not to mention professional...i mean when was the last time you were compared to a mangers ex-girlfriend as you were returning an item?
So I did just what he suggested i went to another store and bought shoes that felt good for me. After all I am just a lazy man running small time here right? maybe one day when i am serious i will be worthy of his help???
I am outta here...........
M
Saturday, May 8, 2010
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