Shoes Of The Day

I took my son to an athletic sporting event tonight, and after the first half of play he wanted to go home. I thought, “when I was a kid,” put some sugar in my mouth and I was good for at least another shot-clock violation or two. So, off we went to the concession stands in search of something loaded with the white substance that makes us all (legally) feel good. Perfect, right outside our portal we located the cotton candy stand! “Dad, let’s buy those treats” pointing at the air and sugar inflated bags of cotton candy. We exchanged way too much money and then whipped open the plastic.  He cautiously reached his hand inside the bag, touched the fiberglass feeling swirls of baby-blue sugar, and hesitantly lifted it towards his mouth — “eeew! Dad, we don’t eat this!” So, being the brave dad, I said, “Look Son, mmmm….sugar!” and put some in my mouth. He still wasn’t convinced, and after a couple of attempts he was adamant, “I don’t like this stuff.”

Well, today I felt like a kid again. Not only did I get all-i-could-eat cotton candy, but tonight when I was looking online, all the shoes that were hot when I was a kid are hot again.  Here is a list of shoes that were hot in the mid 80’s and are back with a vengeance! The shoes of the day:

Sperry Topsiders

Vans Authentic

Converse All-Star Ox

Clarks Wallabee

I am going to find a penny for my new loafers and then put in the video tape of ‘Back to the Future‘ See ya in about 30 years Marty.

No, we’re not talking Wayne Newton, if so this would be a cowboy boot review. We’re talking Sir Isaac Newton and a company that has built their shoe brand around Newton’s first law of Motion. Yeah, the law that states that an object at rest remains at rest and an object in motion remains in motion…etc. Shoes that remain in motion?

I don’t know about you, but I have yet to wear a pair of running shoes that say, “come-on, keep on going, you’re not tired, you feel great.” These days, I get tired just lacing up my running shoes. I just want to know, where were these shoes when I had to run the timed mile run in 7th grade 20+ years ago– probably in Coach Swenson’s “secret closet.” Jeff, you were there. Yeah, that’s for another day.

It is interesting to read and hear about trends and buzz-words in the news: “green” in building, “organic” in food, and “barefoot” in shoes. Get off your heels and run on your forefoot - that is what they say at Newton Running. (Running-man stick-figures not included.) However, if you run in cowboy boots, stay on your heels and just be careful to not damage your spurs.

Be prepared to spend a minimum of a Benjamin and a Grant for this shoe technology. Better yet, get your grant, pay for these shoes, and go running.

Enjoy the shoes of the day that stay in motion….the MEN’S CUSHION RACER by Newton Running.

Breaking Shoe News: Under Armour, the performance apparel company looks to the future with footwear claiming “the game has changed and the future is ours.” Can’t wait to see these shoes.

The new Under Armour shoe touts the following: Power. Power meaning “domination and explosion.” Further power is defined by “The ultimate power player trains for maximum vertical performance” Dwight Schrute needs this Shoe! Speed. Speed meaning the “fastest in the game.” Fastest? I wonder how they tested this. With automobiles it is obvious, bigger engine, more horse power and worse gas mileage = faster. Not sure how they are going to get more ponies under the tongue! Finally Evade. Evade meaning “lateral supremacy, the player who dominates with quick cuts trains for lateral supremacy.” Yes, this is definitely Dwight Schrute’s Shoe!

Under Armour will be running a commercial during the Super Bowl this year — and if your looking for comedy, you won’t find it here, they don’t want to do funny this year. Stay tuned because the first ad will come about one week before the Super Bowl and the new Under Armour shoe makes its debut on May the 3rd.

See the UA Evade Proto here.

If Under Armour is really making a shoe, shouldn’t it be called “OA” — for Outer Armour?

Time for some feel good shoes - shoes with a cause!

This is a story from Wilmington, DE.  Thanks for the great news story Lauren.

Enjoy the MLK shoes ’story’ of the day:

“WILMINGTON, Del. - January 21, 2008 — Shoes filled a gymnasium in Wilmington today. Some were brand new, but most were gently used.

Members of the New Castle County chapter of Jack and Jill of America, the nation’s oldest and largest African-American family organization. On this day in honor of Dr. King, they kept the spirit of public service alive by conducting a shoe drive.

Bags filled with shoes came in, and then there were those shoes that the children collected on their own. Some hosted parties, while others called on local churches They prayed for them and there were shoes all over the altar. People were bringing in bags and boxes,” said Eboni Coger, 16.

“For my birthday, instead of presents, I asked if we could get shoes,” said 8-year-old Camryn Lane.

Children and parents worked side by side. Hundreds of shoes had to be matched up, tied together and sorted for a final count.

“The children of Jack and Jill are proud to say we have collected 2,436 shoes,” proclaimed 8-year-old Kennedy Crowder.

And the count kept rising. All of the donations will be given to an organization called Shoes to Share, which ships them to impoverished countries like Haiti.

“These shoes will help a lot of people. I think that they’ll do a lot of good,” said Mackenzie Snead.

The shoe drive drives home the point that it is up to people like these children to keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream alive.

“I think Dr. King would be very proud of us,” said Dylan Granger.

“I think he’d like it because we’re all giving a piece of something to the community, giving back in a way,” said 17-year-old Dylan Granger.

Giving back and remembering Dr. King’s dream.”

Look no further — these are the shoes for 2008.  The shoes of the day, the 2008 Air Cardgage!

Obama and Huckabee come out with a win in Iowa Caucuses. However, I found an article about two real
winners in Iowa — they are two second grade teachers and their classes from Walnut Hills Elementary School. Everyone talks about the desire to “change” or to do something about the war in Iraq, but these wonderful young people are really DOING something by helping other children in the war-torn country by sending them shoes. They collected more than 60 pairs of shoes, wrapped them up in Christmas wrapping and shipped them off to Iraq. The complete article can be found here. Nothing says “victory” like a new pair of shoes!

This the shoes of the day “shoe-caucus award” goes to Kami Clark and Robin Julseth!

If you have a chance to visit Park City Utah - keep an eye out for this tree. Yes, shoes really do grow on trees! Sam, thanks for the heads up!

I think I’ll post this under…..”shoe art” In Park City this is installment is considered “art”. Most cities in Utah would consider this the “Lost and Found.”

You can find the tree between Deer Valley Drive and the Marriott.

Enjoy the shoes “tree” of the day.

Need some holiday cheer? Here is the perfect justification to go and buy yourself a pair of shoes! I was reading an interesting article today and I have included it for your viewing pleasure.

A special thanks to Leslie LoBue for this article

“UNDATED (WJRT) — (12/11/07)– If you are having back pain, believe it or not — your feet may be to blame.

HealthFirst reporter Leslie LoBue says relief may be just a shoebox away.

From high heels, to as low as they go, women have had a long love affair with shoes. But fashion and function don’t always mesh.

On this high-tech runway, podiatrists get to the bottom of a patient’s pain. Force plates imbedded in the floor measure pressure points in the foot.

One other common problem, heel pain, is often caused by walking in completely flat shoes.

“Every shoe I buy has a little heel. I don’t wear anything flat,” said Rita Schlessinger.

For some patients, a new style may be just what the doctor ordered. Podiatrist Kathya Zinzer says they have to fit the person who’s going to wear them.

“Every person is an individual, and every footprint and foot type is like your own basic fingerprint. So every shoe type is going to be different for different patients.”

With this motion detection system, cameras on the outside of the runway send out infrared light. They reflect movement of sensors placed on patients’ ankles, toes and legs. That provides a 3-D image of the patient in mid-stride.

“A lot of patients who come in to see us, come in and are having a lot of lower back pain or knee pain, and it really starts from the foot,” said Zinzer.

Doctors say any heel over two inches changes the body’s center of gravity. Over time, some patients may begin to feel the effects, but that doesn’t mean high heels have to take a hike.

By occasionally switching styles, you’ve got a better chance of staying pain and injury free.

The Gait Study Center at Temple University is considered one of the most advanced labs of its kind in the world.

Their technology can also be used to help you find the right running shoe.”

Why — because we are interested in more than simply talking about shoes, we care about the feet that go in them too, thats you!

Go and buy some new shoes - do it in the name of health, holidays or just because your friends at shoesoftheday.com recommended it.

Enjoy your shoes of the day, now go and get another pair.