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I started running a few years into my college journey, almost a decade ago. I began running as a part of my overall commitment to being healthy inside and out. I started to fall in love with the challenge but got distracted by graduation, so it wasn’t until a few years after graduation that I started registering for races. I found a whole new community in my hometown of NYC and loved having something to work toward. I’m someone who works very well with deadlines, so signing up for a race was the perfect deadline for training.

As I began running more regularly, I could only run a couple miles on the treadmill. I was honestly happy to be able to run two miles in any time frame since I struggled to run one in high school when we had to do it in gym class twice a year. I dreamed of running a half marathon and thought it wouldn’t be possible, so I planned on running a 5K to start with and then working my way up. I started running 3-5 miles and convinced myself to sign up for a half marathon when I saw people who hadn’t ever run distance before making it to the finish line. Knowing myself and my commitment to goals, I knew I could train if I put my mind to it and had enough time. I was determined to test my limits so I signed up for the last New York Road Runners race of the season in Staten Island. I signed up for the race at the end of May, so I was sure I’d be able to train by October’s race date. I trained myself for my first race with a little help from old training programs. I ran 3 times a week and started with a few miles a day, scaling up to my long runs which ended at about 9 miles a few weeks before October’s race day.

I’d never run more than 5 miles before training for this race and while it was challenging, I learned that my body is truly capable of way more than I thought. After training for 12 weeks, I completed the race. Looking back, I realize how important the journey to the finish line was. I’ve continued to run because it reminds me of how powerful I am. With a bit of training and focus, you’re able to accomplish so much more than you may have initially thought. I realized this not only goes for running but for almost everything in life. Each time I run, I’m constantly reminded of this inner power, and as cheesy as it may sound, I end my runs, even the short one mile ones, feeling focused and accomplished. I’ll continue running because of the mental clarity and the way that running makes me feel, although due to COVID, I don’t have any races coming up anytime soon. I’ve loved running during the current times because it allows me to get outside and feel a sense of freedom. I’ve also been able to explore new cities since I’ve not been quarantined in my usual home. You can safely discover so much about a new city by running through the streets and exploring.

A huge part of my running journey has been finding the right shoes. There’s no one right pair, but a handful of options that I love for different distances and purposes. I’ve learned so much through trial and error especially as I’ve been running more regularly over the past few months. When I started running, I ran in whatever shoes I had on hand and learned quickly that the right shoes can really improve your experience. Here are the top three things to keep in mind when choosing a running shoe:

1. Know your feet. If you can go to a running store to try on shoes that’s always helpful. The experts can help you better understand your feet. In current times, it’s likely more ideal to buy online. So, asking yourself a few questions about your feet can help you find the best fit. Think about how wide/narrow your feet are and how much arch support you typically need.

2. Make sure you’re getting the best shoes for your activity. Think about how you’ll use the shoes. Are these an every day running shoe? A race shoe? A trail running shoe? Asking yourself those questions can help you sort through the best options. An everyday running shoe will be most versatile, while a trail shoe will have more traction and be better fit to handle dirt, mud, and other elements.

3. Read reviews and, when in doubt, size up! Reading reviews will give you insight into the fit of the shoes and any nuances for the model you’re looking at that you may not notice even if you’re familiar with the brand. Believe it or not, your feet do swell a bit when running and running socks are often thick so sizing up can be helpful. Some shoes also do come in a wide or narrow option. One of the things I really appreciated about these Brooks runners! Brooks has so many sizes and color options. A lot of websites that sell shoes will also tell you more about how the sizing fits so look out for a fit guide near the sizing area. Make sure when you finally do have the shoes that your toes have room to breathe and you test them out with the socks you’d typically run in.

I’ve had my eye on Brooks running shoes for awhile, so I was excited I finally got to try these Brooks Adrenaline GTS 20 shoes! They’re light-weight and extremely comfortable. This color scheme also does great with a dustier environment like Los Angeles where I’ve been testing these out. One great thing about ordering from Zappos  is that  their customer service is amazing, and they offer 365 day returns to make sure you really love your purchase.

Hopefully this helps you find a pair of shoes that work for you and can support you on your running journey!