The most important piece of gear in a runner's life is their running shoes. The running shoe can make or break you. If you don't have the correct one for your running gait it can result in injury. If your running shoes are too old it can result in injury.
So how do you find the perfect running shoe for you? Most of us go to a local running store. We get our gait analyzed. We talk to a running specialist who fits us in the correct shoe. We build a relationship with our local running store because as a runner we are going to need many pairs of shoes throughout our running career.
Is it always convenient to visit our local running store? Not always. Most of the time my two little boys are with me. It's hard for me to focus on anything but them when they are with me. Don't get me wrong...I've definitely taken them with me to my running store on several occasions. But in the midst of trying on shoes, talking to the running expert, and trying to decide on the perfect pair...I'm also having to tell them to be quiet, get out of the clothes rack, put those shoes down, stop running. It's exhausting! I'd much much rather shop online.
Sure...shopping online is easy when you know the exact running shoe you need. But what do you do when your favorite running shoe is discontinued? You can't ask your computer screen what shoe you need!
This is where kindrunner.com comes in.
On Friday I told you a little bit about Kindrunner.com. Today I want to tell you a lot more!
Kindrunner.com will be launching on June 1st. They are an online running store where you can buy shoes from expert running shoe fitters. The experts behind kindrunner.com are runners themselves with over 40+ years of experience in the running industry. They will be able to get you in the correct running shoe....and you can shop from the convenience of your home! They can also give you product guidance...still online! They will have product review videos too!
But the absolute best part about kindrunner.com is their effort to change the world for the better! Kindrunner.com is the only place on the web where runners can trade in their old running shoes for new ones. How? For every pair of shoes sent to kindrunner, the runner will receive Kindness Cash Rewards that can be applied to any product on the site. In turn, kindrunner will give your old shoes to their shoe donation partners that include Soles 4 Souls. Your old shoes will be repurposed and given to non-runners who need them for basic transportation and protection from disease and injury. People in places like Haiti and Africa will be given your old running shoes. Some will even be given to people in the US. It all depends on who is most in need. And the boxes and shipping material will all be recycled properly!
Here are just a few of my old running shoes that are laying in my closet. Some of them still look fairly new. All that's wrong with them is that they have too many miles on them for me to continue to run injury free. But they would be perfect for a non-runner!
Another plus...free three way shipping! Kindrunner.com will ship your new shoes to you for free, you will ship your old shoes to them for free, and it's free shipping in case you need to return your new shoes. That's one huge plus for me! I love to shop online but hate to pay for shipping!
Kindrunner.com is already having contests! They are giving away a year's worth of running shoes to you and a running partner of your choice (3 pairs each)! To enter all you have to do is sign up on their email list (make sure your chosen running partner signs up too). Also, once they receive 500 likes on their Facebook page they are giving away a free pair of shoes to one of their followers! Who doesn't like free running shoes???
Be sure to check out kindrunner.com on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!
QOTD: What do you do with your old running shoes?
