Le sigh.

Today, I bought new running shoes. I do this from time to time, and the last time was April 2010.

(Crap. I didn’t think it’d been that long.)

Ever since my first long-distance training day for my first Avon Walk, I have entrusted my feet to professionals. Back then, I had a pair of New Balance sneakers that were SO COMFORTABLE and SO AWESOME that I ignored the advice of people with more experience and brains than I. Twelve miles later, my feet were such a throbbing, blistered mess that I considered gnawing them off and finishing the walk on two bloody stumps, because no way could that hurt more than swollen feet in a too-small-for-real-distance shoe. And it was only a training walk.

I learned my lesson, got fitted — and shelled out — for proper running shoes a full size too big, and have never looked back.

Well, that’s not true. Every time I do this, I hope that one of the Cool Companies has made a shoe that feels right on my wonky-ass, buniony feet. I hope to come home with Nike or New Balance or Adidas or any one of the brand names that the Cool Kids wore when I was a fashion-inept teenager with no athletic aptitude…or interest.

True to form, the best shoes for my feet are still made by Brooks. This happens to me EVERY GODDAMN TIME and I’m not sure why it bugs me, except that the name reminds me of Middlebury’s (late) Brooks Pharmacy.

Meet the Adrenaline GTS 12:

Still perfect for my bunions and wobbly ankles.*

*I’ve often wondered why previous running store experts haven’t said anything about my wobbly ankles. Those of you who’ve lived with me or known me long enough know my ankles crack on unconscious command, one in a staccato and one in more of a samba rhythm, and I frequently roll an ankle walking on a flat surface. This guy watched me run as well as walk, though, and the others didn’t, which means he saw the range of motion differently. Still…same shoes. Basically. With inserts, just in case.