#107 Listening to Your "Foot Brain": How to Find the Right Running Shoe (ft. Megan Searfoss)

Finding the right shoe, whether it's your first or your fifth, can be daunting. Matt & Andrea are joined by Megan Searfoss, owner of Ridgefield and Darien Running Company, to give a store-owner's perspective on finding the best shoe for you. Megan also shares wisdom from years of running experience and dozens of races including Ironmans and marathons.

Megan Searfoss is the owner of Ridgefield and Darien Running Company, a run-specialty retailer, located in Ridgefield and Darien, CT. In 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, Ridgefield Running Company was named Top 50 Best Running Stores in America, with 2019 awarded Top Ten, and in 2020 a Top Four Store. A competitive athlete, Megan has competed at the Ironman World Championships and Boston Marathon, 9 Ironman distance events, over 20 marathons, and countless other races. Though her personal favorite are long-distance events, it is introducing a non-exerciser to training and competing in a 5K that is most rewarding. Time and time again, her encouragement to cross the finish line has changed lives of many women that didn't believe they could. Megan is passionate about engaging women to make health and wellness a part of their lives through Run Like a Mother, a company she founded in 2008. Run Like A Mother® is a branded lifestyle property that encompasses women at every stage of motherhood. Megan created the National Run Like a Mother® 5K race event series, a women's only 5K occurring every Mother's Day.

The Subjective: how did you get into running?

Chapters
0:00 - Intro
4:12 - Megan's background
13:46 - Megan's favorite races
17:26 - Advice for longevity in your running career
23:36 - The making of a great running store
27:42 - Using your "foot brain" in finding the right shoe for you
29:47 - Finding the right size shoe
32:52 - Replace your old shoes! (And sports bras)
36:28 - Advice for building back after injury
44:18 - The benefits of a running community
47:22 - How Megan trains her store employees
51:20 - How Megan decides what shoes to stock
1:03:40 - How customers can improve their shoe-buying experience
1:06:56 - Megan's favorite shoes right now
1:09:11 - Wrap-up