The Running Event: Austin, Texas
Luke ‘Shoefitter” Seeks out the latest ‘new’ Thing

I have just returned from Austin Texas, the ‘shoe geek’ centre of the world, where I attended ‘The Running Event’. This is a and new style event that brings together retailers, vendors, race directors and training groups, as well as the major stakeholders in the American running market, and of course me, Luke “Shoefitter” from Aerobics First in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

As I walked into the vast Hilton Convention Centre I knew I was going to find the latest ‘new’ thing in footwear technology. I did not expect that in the very first booth I visited, I would find what I was looking for.

Velocy was the brand name and as soon I slipped my foot into the shoe, I realised there was something special about it. Usually, conventional footwear technologies focus on the heel as the primary support and balance system. That's why virtually every major running shoe company focuses on 'cushioning' and 'shock absorption'. But what if heel technologies are not the answer? What if gravity is actually a friend and not a foe?

Velocy has developed a technology that enables the body's center of mass to be rotated to a position ahead of vertical in the direction of travel in walking and running, and there-by allowing for maintained momentum with every stride.

So what does this mean? In “Luke Shoefitter” terminology it actually could be the Holy Grail of shoemaker lore, the “go-faster-shoe”.

Everything the cool Velocity representative said to me about their shoes made sense, but with my limited academic biomechanical background I needed to consult those who know way more than me. I asked Velocity if they were so confident in their product that they would let me trial the shoes. Further, I asked them to send three pairs to our Canadian shoe and foot gurus. They said they would. I will keep y’all posted.