I buy my running shoes at specialty stores for runners. I love the service I get there. I can walk around the store without shoes and the experts can tell what’s wrong with my feet, what kind of gait I have and the kind of support my feet need while running. It’s incredible. Then they bring out a few different types of running shoes for me to try on and they all feel magical.

I like to try a new brand each time I buy a pair of running shoes. It’s a form of sneaker FOMO. I always believe there’s another shoe out there that will be a little more comfortable and allow me to run more quickly.

My first running shoe was a Brooks. When I switched from basketball shoes and cross trainers to Brooks, I felt like I was running on air. 

When my Brooks shoes wore out, I switched to ASICS. The transition was rough. The shoes felt great in the store. But when I started running in them, my feet felt uncomfortable. They were sore at the end of pretty standard runs. And I was sorely tempted to switch back to Brooks.

But I persevered. And after two weeks of running with ASICS, I was happy that I had. The soreness in my feet disappeared. I was running faster times. And I was expending less energy.

After my ASICS wore out, I went back to my running store. They brought out some Brooks and ASICS for me to look at. But then, the salesperson asked me if I’d ever heard of Hoka shoes.

I hadn’t. As much as I love running, I don’t live in the running world. The closest I get to running culture is the Strava app that tracks my runs and running stores.

Apparently, Hoka was the hot new running shoe. But they weren’t for everyone. According to the salesperson, people either loved Hoka shoes or hated them. There was no in between.

I tried the shoes on. They seemed fine. So I bought them. It was a major mistake.

Ever since I bought my Hokas, my body has fallen apart. I injured my hamstrings and quads first. Then I hurt my shoulder. After that, I broke my ankle.

Now that my major injuries have healed, I’m running again. And my feet HURT. My Hokas are too tight. They squeeze my toes together so it’s uncomfortable to run. At the end of my runs, my feet and toes are so smushed together that it’s hard for me to walk — even after I take the Hokas off. And my left toe occasionally starts hurting around mile four. 

I should probably ditch these cursed shoes right away. They’ve brought me nothing but trouble. But I’m going to give them a few more weeks. I’m slowly rounding into running shape. And I want to give the Hokas one last chance. If my feet are still hurting at the end of the month (or whatever popped in my foot this morning turns into a major issue), I’m buying new shoes. 

Hopefully, they won’t be cursed like my Hokas.