Hi Hayley

I like to run, and building cute outfits in which to do so - you never know who you're going to bump into, right?  (like the really cute guy walking English sheepdog and no wedding ring etc). My problem is finding equally cute footwear for my over-pronation...why do these shoes have to be so boring?  For all other types there are flashy colours and detailing, and as a deeply devoted shoe girl, I have a hard time dishing out the dash appropriate shoes that have zero zest.

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

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As a single girl, a runner and a pronator myself in a city where it is EXTREMELY hard to meet men, I totally understand your problem. Looking good on a sunny day while running is very important, but what is more important is how you look after your run while you are in line at the local coffee shop.

So why can’t our pronation control shoes look as cute as the shoes everyone else is wearing? I cannot give you the exact answer (although I do have to say they have come a long way) but after talking with a few of my friends in the running shoe industry this is what I can tell you: Pronation shoes are beefier, they have wider soles and more material to them; take these wide soles and more durable fabrics and colour them bright and you are most likely going to look like a clown. I have tried the fashion over function approach when running myself, but all I end up with are sore knees, hips and back. So instead I have accepted my feet as they are and embraced the shoes that I am forced to wear in my long runs.

I have worn this model of shoe since the day I started to run and I love them. Throughout my 13 years as a runner the shoe has changed and this latest model is probably the flashiest this shoe has ever been, while at the same time keeping me out of the clown shoe category. Recently though, I picked up these shoes  and I love them. Although they are a tad on the boring side, the added pops of pink and blue do provide a bit of flash and they are by far the most comfortable shoes I have ever run in.

So what I suggest is stick to wearing the right shoes for your feet, unfortunately as boring as they are, and invest in a cute pair of shoes that you can throw on afterwards because honestly, who are you going to stop and chat with while running? I would hope instead of trying to pick up the cute guy running with his sheepdog you try and pass him! 

Attached – Anne Hathaway after working out.