I crossed over to the other side last week. I knew it would happen someday, but I had held out as long as I could, partly for financial reasons but mainly because I didn’t want to appear to be one of the “those people.”

And now there is no going back.

A quick back story. I’ve been running (jogging, really) for the last 10 years. And I must say that I am fairly serious about it. I probably run 20-22 times per month on average. I’ve entered the occasional 5K race, but as time has gone along, I’m less interested in setting a PR and more interested in how soon I can be finished. This started with the goal of being in shape enough to run 1 mile in 10 minutes and has evolved from there.

But I have always felt there was a line between being a recreational runner and a serious runner that I wasn’t willing to cross. (And it has nothing to do with the placement of Band-Aids, if you know what I mean.) And so I always bought my running shoes at a sporting goods store, where you could get a new set of irons, a Coleman lantern and a new pair of Nikes all in the same place.

Runners of my ilk are supposed to change shoes about every six months and I know this because my legs always let me know when I am overdue. Like clockwork.

So when my knee started acting up the other day, I knew what the deal was. But due to a ridiculous shortage of SHOES at the sporting goods store, I came face-to-face with my own podiatry. (Probably not the best metaphor.)

So I did it. I bought real running shoes.

At a real running store.

With multiple real salespeople.

Who analyzed my stride.

Who brought me FOUR pair to try on (from four different brands I have never heard of).

Who did a comparative analysis of the final two choices.

All with a long-time running guru standing right there giving me advice, because he knew a running stooge when he saw one.

Are they the ugliest shoes I have ever worn? You betcha. But just like brands of ketchup, there is a difference and don’t let anybody tell you differently.

And quite honestly, there is no going back. See you on the other side.