my foray into "minimalist" running

After i ordered my saucony progrid paramount 3's a few days ago, i immediately had doubts. My biggest concern was that it is my first real stability shoe (other than 11 miles in asics gel kayano 14's last summer with foot numbing results). I've poured over websites over the last few days, mostly because of anxiety caused by the paramounts, and i'm starting to realize that maybe a stability shoe isn't necessary. I've always run in heavy, clunky, high platformed running shoes... and for the most part they have been saucony triumphs. i love this brand and its unlikely that i will ever really be able to convince myself to buy a pair of asics/mizunos/nikes/brooks again, even though they are usually prettier. i wanted a racing flat that could help cut seconds off my mile times and reduce the foot fatigue i have during longer runs. minimalist is so trendy right now, and since i'm so trendy, i thought i might as well explore it. i have pretty much decided to start with the saucony (shock) kinvara. its not minimalist like the 5 fingers (thank god) and true minimalists are disparaging it because it has non-minimalist tendencies. i appreciate this. i'm not ready to run 20 miles on sidewalks with nothing but a thin piece of rubber under my feet. ive decided to throw caution to the wind and buy a neutral "minimalist" shoe even though i've been diagnosed with overpronation.

the diagnosis in itself is a little suspicious. stereotypically, overpronators are flat footed and suppinators have high arches. but "experts" have determined that i am both an overpronator and highly arched. this makes buying the right running shoes all the more complicated and it usually involves a ton of cushioning and inserts. i'm hoping that the kinvara will pull back the veil on this phenomenon of a diagnosis and determine whether or not it actually makes a difference.

although i did get a sick deal on the paramounts, i will probably be returning them for kinvaras. its interesting because i always thought the most expensive running shoes were the best, but they really are just the heaviest with the most extra material. i know i'm not fat enough to need all that extra cushioning so i'm going to be a big girl and get rid of it... at least for now.