Triathlons for the Geometrically Challenged

sometime this week i decided it was time to bite the bullet and invest in some triathlon foot wear. clip on shoes and real running shoes. i told myself i would buy the running shoes that fit best regardless of price and that with the bike shoes, i would get something decent that actually fit me.

but, in addition to having the vertical challenge of being four feet ten inches, i also face the horizontal challenge of having very wide, flat feet. that are a very small size five and a half. i went to the running store where you go when you know you have problems. they gave me some shoes sent me to the street gave me some options then said that they didnt carry my size in many brands. (you know you're in trouble when you go into a "serious" running store and they give you nike). they found a few for me to try and promised to order them for me to test. and then i'll shell out the most i think i've ever paid for a pair of shoes with the hope that my calf muscles will stop aching and my toes will stop throbbing.

and at the bike store, they were all about the sale. they got it, but only because i want to take advantage of the coming weekend's warm weather to try my luck with these new, fancy shoes. they gave me a few to try, and the sales person pulled out last season left over small sized when i told her there was no way i was paying $150 for a pair of cycling shoes that i couldnt get in and out of quickly. and you know you're in trouble when you tell the woman you wear a five and half and she gives you a "US five" from a brand that sizes only in mens. i tried on the five and thought it was odd it was so large. i looked inside and discovered that she had tried to sell me a 38 when i wear a 35 on a good day. we went over this a bit and i settled on a pair of "us fours" which are supposedly size 36. they seem to fit well enough, though i'll have to ask around as to how they are supposed to fit.

so far in my quest to dress for the triathlon, i have had to special order both my bike and my running shoes. my bike shoes i got because they were the only ones left from the previous season. i've given one shot in running in a swim suit to test the support, but that was a no go. so the next task...outfitting the geometric challenge that is my bust.