Best Ladies, Mens, and Kids Casual & Walking Shoes

Why My Interest in Casual, Walking & Athletic Shoes?
I used to be a runner. This was quite some time ago, but at one point, I ran marathons (2 1/2 to be exact). My first marathon was the Jersey Shore Marathon in 1981 (I think it was 1981... it's starting to blur!) and I ran a 3:54 - that is, 3 hours and 54 minutes. My second marathon was the New York City Marathon the next fall, when I ran a 3:34. Both were very respectable marathon times.

Alas, my heart really wasn't in it after a while, and while running my third marathon (Jersey Shore again, only about 6 weeks after the NYC Marathon), I dropped out at the 13 mile mark for no real good reason.

I Take the Responsibility of Reccomending Casual & Walking Shoes and Footwear Very Seriously
During that time of my life I also worked in an athletic shoe store, and got to see a lot of what was cutting edge running and athletic shoes at the time (ahem... I think that by today's standards we would be calling it "vintage athletic shoes" now!). I also had friends who were (and are) national and world class runners and triathletes.

I wrote about sports-related topics for a now-defunct magazine called "Nautilus" magazine, where my first story was about a now well-known Colorado triathlete and bicyclist named Ned Overend. So, I was surrounded by serious athletes who also chose their gear seriously.

Because I was running, and also doing a lot of hiking at my summer job at the Lane Guest Ranch in Allenspark, CO, I became VERY aware of how important comfortable casual and walking shoes are.

Today, I'm glad I had all those experiences! Because, when I'm not dressing up in gorgeous dress shoes, I'm wearing my comfy old Birkenstocks or a pair of athletic shoes. And I know what to look for.

How It All Relates Today...
When I'm traipsing around on the trails in the White Mountain National Forest up in NH these days, I make sure I'm wearing a walking or running shoe with a good rubber sole so I'm not as prone to slipping or falling (Hmmm... Maybe a good pair of slip resistant work shoes from Shoes For Crews might also do the trick!)

These days, instead of long distance running, I'm more likely to be doing something most people know as interval training, where I'll walk a certain amount of time, then I'll jog or run for a given amount of time, and then walk again... It's a lot more fun (for me) than flat out running. Plus, I like the overall workout better. So, I really prefer a solid pair of casual or walking shoes that have good support - Kind of like the Gravity Defyer Shoes, World Most Comfortable and Pain Free shoes available today! YIPPEE!