More Than Just a Running Shoe

What if the right pair of running shoes could change your life?

In this episode of That First Mile Podcast, we’re joined by Rosemary Rios, manager of Sole II Soul Sports in Visalia, CA, to talk about far more than shoes. We explore how proper shoe fitting can prevent injuries, build confidence, and help people take that very first step toward a healthier lifestyle.

Rosemary shares her journey into the running community, what she has learned from helping runners of every experience level, and why local running stores continue to play such an important role in bringing people together. We also discuss common mistakes runners make when buying shoes, how often they should be replaced, and what every new runner should know before lacing up.

Throughout the conversation, we reflect on the connection between running and mental health, the power of community, and how small steps can lead to life-changing transformations.

Whether you’re training for your first 5K, your next marathon, or simply looking for motivation to get moving, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration.

Thank you for listening to That First Mile Podcast. If this episode encouraged you, please follow the show, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s ready to take their own first mile.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

What up everyone, and welcome back to the That First Mile podcast. As always, I am your host, Randy Grant, and I got a good one for you today. First, I'm gonna tell her happy birthday. As yesterday was her birthday. So I appreciate you taking the time out of your birthday week because I know most ladies kind of celebrate the week or the month, not just the day. So for that, thank you. Thank you. All right. So now if you're a runner in the Central Valley, I would imagine you know this lady because she is a uh a manager at one of the the I guess locally owned shoe stores here in Visalia, California. And her name is Rosemary. So I'm imagining if you're a runner anywhere, probably from Bakersfield up past Fresno, because you used to have a store in Bakersfield and Fresno. So you you probably have come across this lady in the community. So again, happy birthday, and thank you for joining me today, Rosemary.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

Thanks, Randy.

SPEAKER_00 1:06

All right, so birthday was yesterday. We're gonna kick off some birthday stuff first before we get into everything else, just to make sure that we we cover and celebrate you. So, how how was your birthday?

SPEAKER_01 1:20

It was pretty good. Spent the day getting outdoors, took the day off from work, and went up to Pincushion and did a little hike, hung out up top and had some time to relax and enjoy the weather, some sunshine, and then once went back down the hill. We had lunch in Fresno, had some sushi. It was really good, it was nice. And then came back home and got to hang out with my with my dog Cooper and got to see my mom, and it was a very blessed day.

SPEAKER_00 1:55

So are are birthdays a big thing with you, or do you keep it more low-key?

SPEAKER_01 2:01

I actually like birthdays. I love to celebrate birthdays, but I find it hard to celebrate my own.

SPEAKER_02 2:07

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 2:08

Yeah. So I I even enjoy celebrating my birthday, but I won't plan it. I don't want to like make it a big thing.

SPEAKER_00 2:19

Well, it sounds like you still made it a big thing because if if if you know anything, uh to go on a hike is it's never easy. It's it's always you're driving, you gotta get food, you gotta have snacks, you gotta have the right shoes. So yeah, that was still a big thing, I would say.

SPEAKER_01 2:34

Yeah, it was it was nice. I was really happy that my husband took the the day off and planned that out for us. It was nice.

SPEAKER_00 2:41

See, see, so he he made it a big thing for you. And and and uh, you know, big things don't necessarily have to be uh a full band and and a hall. And you know, to me, I'd I'd much rather go to up in the mountains and and stuff like that than celebrate a big old party.

SPEAKER_04 3:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:04

So what was what's the best birthday you ever had? What's like like the bam, that's the one that jumps out, or or what will be an ideal party?

SPEAKER_01 3:17

You know, honestly, anything really I don't ask for much and I just appreciate whatever it is that I have, whether it's a big community, small community, or something low-key getting out outdoors, because that's kind of my favorite thing. It's being out in nature. So yeah, I can I can go either way with a big party or just low-key and have it just be us.

SPEAKER_00 3:43

So if somebody were to surprise you with like the best birthday gift or surprise gift, what would that that that gift be? What what is like the one thing you go, you open that up and you was like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Well, honestly, yesterday was kind of kind of up there, you know. Knowing that he he was taking the time to plan it out and say, hey, like we're gonna go somewhere that I think you're gonna enjoy and being out in nature, like that was good. It could be going to the beach, it could be going up to the mountains, it could be going to the lake, it doesn't matter, like any of those would be great. So I've spent I've spent a lot of days like that, like either going out to the lake, you know, on a boat with a group of friends, doing something like that. Last year I had a big party, and that was super fun too. A lot of work, but it was fun. So yeah, I'm open to anything.

SPEAKER_00 4:42

Gotcha. Okay, so now it's day after birthday, starting the new birthday year. What's the big goal or what is one thing you want to accomplish before your next birthday?

SPEAKER_01 5:02

Probably taking more time for myself, doing those things, you know. I I think sometimes I get wrapped up in the community of all that I have to do, all the work that I do in the community, that I recognize I need that time for myself to be able to reconnect and refresh. Yeah. So getting out like maybe more often on those hikes.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

And and that that is very necessary, right? Because yeah, sounds like you got a big heart and you're someone who put others before self. But it's difficult to put others before self if you don't take care of yourself because we have a tendency to burn ourselves out, and then just that getting back to that place is a little bit more difficult.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

Yeah, for sure. And I think that that was kind of what was happening, and I had been going for a little longer than I should have without having that that time to reconnect and recharge.

SPEAKER_00 6:07

Reset button. You got to hit it every so often.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 6:11

Yeah, because you definitely do a lot. We'll we'll get into some of the stuff that you do. All right, so past the birthday. Tell us a little bit about yourself, who you are, where you're from, likes, dislikes, things that make you happy, things you piss you off.

SPEAKER_01 6:28

All right, so my name is Rosemary Rios. I grew up uh born and raised in Vyselia as a young adult. I moved away, never planned to come back, but you know, God had plans for me otherwise. And I came back here in 2012 and got married in 2013 and then was active in running, started in 2012, and got involved in the running community somewhere around 13, 14. And then by 15 and 16, I was participating in some of the training groups at Soul to Soul. So I got to learn about the store, about what Run Specialty was and the people, and it was a lot of fun to be around. I like the community aspect, and then I started, I ran a lot of races, local races, and then I would volunteer at some of the packet pickups. And in 2018, I had gone back to school full time and I wasn't working, and it was just to focus on what I wanted to do next and you know, find my my purpose of what I'm supposed to be doing in life. And the owner of soldier when I was at a packet pickup there and offered me a job. And I wasn't really looking for a job, but I was like, that's like that's everything, you know, like I that I love. Like I enjoy running, I like the community, I like helping people, and yeah, I can do it part-time while I'm going to school. Sounds good, which basically like was the perfect fit. And so yeah, I started in 2019 and things, even through the pandemic, grew and escalated really quickly, like before the end of 2020, I was managing and taking things over. So it it just happened organically and really, really fast. But and so I've been there ever since, and it's it's just like it's like a passion job, which is really really nice to say that I have because I truly enjoy what I do. And not everybody can say that. And so I'm I'm I'm really grateful that I can do something that I really enjoy doing while still making a difference in the community and helping people, because that's I think my real purpose in life is whatever I do is going to be helping people.

SPEAKER_00 9:14

And being being from Visalia is probably even a bigger plus because it's always good to give give back to where you're from. I I absolutely I'm from Chicago, so I would imagine since I've and I've lived I've lived in Visalia now since 2015.

SPEAKER_02 9:33

Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

And I would say I probably have not been all that active in a community because as someone who's in the military for 23 and a half years, we kind of move somewhere, you stay there, and you leave. So you don't necessarily always view the places that you stay as necessarily your community.

SPEAKER_02 9:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:54

So now after being here for as as long as I have, I I I feel like I'm I'm obligated. Now I've I've coached before and I coached the football team when I first moved here. So I guess that's you know, giving back, but I think I I owe it to myself and the community to be a little bit more involved and and get out and and and give a little bit more of yourself. So that giving is always a positive.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

For sure. Yeah, and I like that space that I can do that to be involved with the community, not just local races, but our youth, you know, schools do a lot of work with students and getting their teams fitted or helping them with donations and different things like that. And then, of course, we have like a huge elderly customer space that come from Patitris and girls and stuff, and that that really is, I would say, a big deal to me because you know, taking taking care of our people is really important, you know, and so I really enjoy it.

SPEAKER_00 11:04

And you have no idea how much a good pair of shoes can change your day until you get a good pair of shoes, or you got a bad one.

SPEAKER_02 11:14

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 11:15

So that's amazing. So yeah, it it you know, I I I think what you do over there is amazing.

SPEAKER_01 11:33

Thank you. I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_00 11:35

Yeah, because we come I I probably come over there more than I should. I I don't I don't know if I can give you honest answers. That's why you yeah, I I so be before before running, shoes has always been my thing. Like I've I've I've had a very extensive shoe collection my entire life. I one of my deployments, I left to go overseas for a year in 2012. So I was gone 12 to 13. And before I left, I donated 60 pairs of shoes. So yeah, I try to try to try to now that you got another reason that you run, so you gotta you know keep it going.

SPEAKER_02 12:24

That's a lot, yes.

SPEAKER_00 12:26

But I want to get into something kind of funny, and and I I I don't um I've said on the podcast before I'm a people person who doesn't like people, and I I've always I I guess I have an innate ability to live within my bubble. No matter if I'm sitting in the house, I'm out in public, you know, I I kind of just move the way I move, and I probably don't pay too much attention to the surroundings unless I know I need to pay attention to the surroundings because we gotta get up out of there. So we I've I've been going the soul-to-soul for quite some time now. I don't know, maybe around COVID time. Maybe that's when we started going quite recognized, after or before. I think it was after. And recently we spoke, and you know, we've always spoke, but this at the time you was like, I'm glad you talked to me now. I was like, what are you talking about? He's like, I always thought you didn't like me. And I was like, but I I I know I can be, I don't want to say standoffish, but maybe I could be a little brief at times when people talk to me. Why what why did you think I didn't?

SPEAKER_01 13:39

And I get that a lot. Well, I get that a lot because I'm always trying to welcome everybody to the store, or like when they come to Run Club, I'm like, hey, welcome. How'd you hear about us? I'm Rosemary. Like, what's your name? And you know, just asking a bunch of questions. For you, I remember specifically, I was trying to figure out like how to help you. Okay, you know, looking at your shoes you're wearing. Oh, you like these? Okay, like let me steer you in this direction, or you know, whatever it is that you liked, but you're you were a little bit reserved. And I'm like, okay, I'm gonna step back because he doesn't want me all in his face. But I'm here when he when he has a question or wants to try on a pair of shoes, you know, just kind of reading people and like that personal space. Because the biggest thing is like when people come through the doors, I I want to remove that like like layer of intimidation that people have when they come into a running store to just make it a lot easier. More of like, I want to give them a good experience and not not a transaction, not you know, something that I'm trying to sell them shoes. You know, I'm just trying to help them find the right shoes for them. And so yeah, I I got that a little bit more reserved feel from you, and I was like, okay, I'm gonna step back, I'm gonna tone it down.

SPEAKER_00 15:12

Uh I think when it comes to shoes, and it's probably like all shoes, I I kind of know what you're going with this time or that time, or sometime you see it and you know that that's the one. Like I said, as a as somebody who's bigger, I go through shoes pretty quickly. And and as I've advanced in running, I've discovered that, you know, before before I just ran when I was in the military, we just ran. There was no rhyme or reason. If you ask me, hey, how'd you do that run? I say, Man, I just put one foot in front of the other and we just do that until we're done. So it wasn't until you start to pay attention to the science of running that you start looking at, oh, I need a recovery shoe, I need a a race day shoe, we need a tempo shoe, you gotta have a everyday shoe. So you know, I I would imagine I kind of know. So maybe that maybe that's what and I think that all the all the uh all your employees now kind of have that same impression that you had of me. They kind of they kind of sit speak and then they keep moving.

SPEAKER_01 16:17

Yeah, so I just tell them when you see them come in, don't bother them. Let them look around and they're gonna find what they want, they'll ask you for help when they need. I said, but as far as I'm concerned, they're offers, just let them do what they want.

SPEAKER_00 16:31

We're gonna spend the money either way, huh?

SPEAKER_02 16:35

Yeah. They're gonna find something they want. If they don't need it, they're gonna get something they want.

SPEAKER_00 16:41

Yeah, yeah, that's true. That's definitely true. So, what what is one of the biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to running shoes?

SPEAKER_01 16:51

I would say wearing the wrong size.

SPEAKER_00 16:55

Oh, that is a big one.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

Yeah, yeah, see it all the time. I mean, I can I can just tell you, like, even my employees, like for instance, Carmen came in and she was wearing like a seven and a half Bondi and thought it it was it was good, and she really got it because it was cute, the color, you know. And I don't know how she got in the size, but reality was she needed a nine, so she was pretty far off. A lot. If they've never shopped with this before, I would say nine out of ten times they're we're in the wrong size.

SPEAKER_00 17:37

I can see that. Yeah, it especially because there's just so many colors and so many styles, and and oftentimes you you you see that one shoe and he's like, I want that one, but they have it a half size smaller, not not knowing that if you do if you do a a 10K in that shoe or you do a half mirror, your feet swell up, and now you're and also I think because I mean let's be real, not many stores, if any, have the good old Brannock tool that measures your feet, and very true, very true, and not only that, but like the last time you probably got measured on one of those things was probably in high school for most people, true, you know, and if you've been out of high school for some time and you think, oh, in high school I measured, I was wearing a 10 and a half, so I'm in a 10 and a half forever, you know, and and that's not always the case, you know, your feet change over time. So I think what keeps us and probably a lot of others here in Viceria coming back is is that what you're talking about right now, because when you go to a dicks or a footlocker, like you're one of however many people have walked in the store that day. And and and you know, some of those stores you you go in there and like a dick's like their back wall is bigger than your whole store. And and and they don't, it's not a very welcoming. You just see a shoe on the wall and you say, Hey, can I get a 12? They bring you a 12 and they walk away. Whereas you're you're you're you and your crew are like, how does that feel? Let me see up front and da-da-da. So and and it's it's locally owned. So in in today's world, if you're out there listening, I don't care where you're at in the world, you know, shop at your local stores because that money that you spend is going to stay in your community a lot longer than if you go to a dicks or you go to any of the big shoe brands or any big company, right? So shop local.

SPEAKER_01 19:49

I agree. I agree. You asked about pet peeves, thinking dislikes. That's that's definitely one of them. You know, I've worked in big corporate places, whether it was retail, customer service, fitness, whatever, and you know, coming to a small business and has been eye-opening to how we as a society shop, you know, and the importance of how we are purchasing our products and what a difference it makes. But the thing that gets me about our store in particular is that we are a run specialty store. And there's so much more than just the fact that we sell the same brand of shoes. Like we put time and effort and energy into learning about the products, the technologies, and what makes those shoes the performance that they are. Because when you go to the big box store, like you were just mentioning, they got a big wall, and you know, somebody that you're gonna have to press a button to get a hold of to say, Hey, can I see this and this size? It's it's there's no no comparison in my eyes. And run specialty is just so special for the runners and people that just need a good pair of shoes. And we offer that one-on-one engagement and like help customer service that seems to be a little bit of a lost art these days. And yeah, shopping local is super important, whether it's your shoes or your food, if you can get it at a local market. I mean, just it goes such a long way. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:40

And and I I think now, you look, I'm from I'm from a city that's there's like four million people, so it's always hustle and bustle. Where living here now, I'm more inclined to go to a local business, whether it's a restaurant or a close. I went to Walmart the other day for the first time, probably in like Five or six years. Wow. Because people Walmart don't care if I don't go there. I'm one of millions plus. Whereas if I come and I spend that money in your store, like I would imagine the you know Walmart doesn't have to worry about going out of business. They don't have to, they don't have to greet you at the door. You know, most of the time you go to Walmart, the workers half the time you say something or you ask for something, they look at you like, why are you asking me questions? Like, so you know, it it's definitely local. And and the things that you do to keep the people coming back. Talk to me a little bit about all the the run club stuff that you do, also the shoe demos that you do. That that is definitely something that you're never gonna see any of those major shoe stores do unless unless they got a contract or they're sponsoring a race.

SPEAKER_01 22:57

Yeah. Well, also I think because those big box stores don't care for the everyday runners. I don't think they're gonna make that effort to make those runners feel connected and seen and uh valued, you know.

SPEAKER_05 23:14

Right.

SPEAKER_01 23:15

Um so but going back to your question was that yeah, we have a run club, which is also an addition to our store, and that's really just to be connected with the community more, right? Um to add some fun in a way for us to put those shoes to use and connect with people who are like-minded, have the same kind of goals, who are similar in the activities of running and walking. And we do a weekly run at the store every Thursday night at six. And the perks of us having the store in our our license to carry the brands. I work closely with my colleagues in those brands, and they bring shoes for us to demo. And we get a run in those shoes during that run that day to test them out and see what it feels like, you know, like you could try them out before you you commit to buying them. And it's a lot of fun because we get to try different shoes, some of them even before they are coming into the store, or say maybe there's like a speed shoe or a race day shoe that I'm not gonna carry in the store because it's very race specific or maybe a little expensive, but it gives them the opportunity to try it and see for themselves, like, oh yeah, like you know, we've read the reviews on this shoe, really interested, but you don't carry it in store. I don't want to commit to buying it because it's like you know, $275. Um, and we get to try it during, and then you're like, okay, yes, like it's worth it. I see the value, and yeah, that size fits or whatever it is, and then you know, you can buy it.

SPEAKER_00 25:10

And and that's key because there, I mean, there is no other time in the history of running that the market has just been saturated with so many different brands, right? And if if you look at Instagram or you look at TikTok, you know, you know, four or five years ago, it was what was what was the Nike ones, the the plated ones, the carbon plated shoes, right? For for like five years, the car everything was carbon plated this and carbon plated that. So people were you you you could be walking around the mall and see people walk around in carbon-plated shoes that they would pay three. It's like, what are you doing, dude?

SPEAKER_01 25:53

Like, yeah, because there's it's a trend.

SPEAKER_00 25:59

And what is your perception? Because if you watch social media, they're gonna tell you the more expensive the shoe the better. How how do you feel about that?

SPEAKER_01 26:12

I do think it's perceived that way, but it's not always the case. And uh I think it could vary person to person on let's say, like, you know, how avid of a runner are they? Are they like a beginner runner that's just starting and only running a 5K distance or an experienced immediate to advanced runner who's run marathons? Those are very different runners. I wouldn't suggest them getting that that uh carbon-plated shoe for that 5k the same way somebody has been running a handful of marathons and has that experience. It's it's not good for everybody. Just because it's expensive doesn't make it better than you know, maybe like a solid trainer or something that's more versatile.

SPEAKER_00 27:04

And you gotta know your limits. Here's why. I'll tell you, I tell you a crash and burn story. So my first marathon was the LA Marathon. The the the the new balance, I don't remember what it was, but they were the carbon-plated ones. And I I I ran I ran quite a bit in those shoes before, but I had never done 26 miles. I think the furthest I had ran in was like 16 or 17. And in those carbon-plated shoes, I crashed at mile 19. It was like they fried my legs. My legs were like just toast, you know, from like 19 to 23, it was run walk, and then from 23 to 26, it was all walk because that that that impact that the carbon plate. Now I ran fast. Like that first 10, 19 miles. I think I had an 830 pace. That's pretty quick for a guy my size. And but after that, it was all destroyed. And then I came back like a month or two later and ran the vicilia half marathon, same shoes. And I did that 13 and like an eight flat. So you you kind of gotta learn those those mediums, those like so the marathons that I've run since no more, no more carbon-plated shoes for me at that distance in my size.

SPEAKER_01 28:18

Yeah, that's a great example of of how you need to know what type of shoe works for you.

SPEAKER_00 28:25

Yeah, and the downfall is you don't know that until you do it. So I think your run club and the those demo runs that you do, you know, even though you're not running, you know, a half marathon those days. I've seen some of the people that you posted, you know, some do six or seven miles that on those days, and it at least gives you a feel as to what you do. So now what I do with the carbon-plated shoes, those are just tempo runs, just tempo day, six, seven, eight miles tempo. I will never run another marathon in a carbon-plated shoe.

SPEAKER_01 28:57

So okay, but there are a lot of people there by them, and that's all they want to run a marathon in, you know.

SPEAKER_04 29:04

True, true.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

It's crazy. And and that's why I always tell people like there's no one best shoe out there, you know. Filling is relative and everybody's feet are different, and it's absolutely a choice of what kind of filling and how much brutality you want to take in for that because some people will run in those vapor flies, knowing dang well they're gonna blister, their toes are gonna be bloody, and their feet are gonna be just like scrunched and achy. And they're willing to do it because it's it's a look, or like you know, something like it's cool to say that's what they ran in, or maybe maybe they did run their fastest race. And then there's other people who are like, no, I'm going comfort all day. I'm gonna go on this one because this one feels best on my foot that carry me for you know 26 miles. So it's really to each their own, you know.

SPEAKER_00 30:05

Yeah, but it it what separates the small stores from the the big retail stores. I I'll tell you a funny story. We were in Paris like three three years ago, maybe four years ago. I think it was three years ago, and we went to a little local shoe store that we saw. It was like down the street from our hotel, and they had like all this stuff. So we all literally stopped by, and it was the the the Hoka, the Cialo one. And I asked the French guy in there, I said, How you know, tell me about this shoe. And he looked at me and he looked me up and down. He said, This shoe not for you, you too fat. And I must have had a look on my face because I would imagine you know English was his second language, and I must I had a look on my face, and he looked, he like, no, no, no, not not fat. Like you're you're a big guy, and the the the carbon-plated shoes probably won't work for you because you're not fast. And I was like, I thought that was pretty funny. But if I would have tried to buy that same shoe and dicks, nobody would have told me no.

SPEAKER_01 31:13

No, not not at all. Not at all. But yeah, I would tell somebody the same thing, like, hey, you know, if you're having expectations for the the shoe to take you from here to there, but your training has been here, you can't expect it to perform that way.

SPEAKER_00 31:30

Correct.

SPEAKER_01 31:31

Because you still have to have the ability to turn over quickly and to to run at that pace. If you've ever run in a super shoe and you're like, wow, this is great, and it feels so good, and and you can tell how easy and effortless it is to run, that is the shoe, in fact, working for you and helping you. But guess what? You still gotta maintain that that pace for the duration of the run if you think you're going to get that maximum like like to your your max goal of that that pace, you know. And I don't think people realize that sometimes.

SPEAKER_00 32:16

No, because in in your mind, you know, I say 5k, then you say, okay, well, let's graduate to the 10k. In your mind, you say that's not that big of a difference, but dude, that's like half of what you just did. So that's so however long it took you to train for that 5k, now just double that.

SPEAKER_01 32:35

Yeah, and the paces are different when you have to extend that distance.

SPEAKER_04 32:40

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 32:42

Your 10k uh isn't gonna be the 5k pace.

SPEAKER_00 32:47

Not right away, anyway.

SPEAKER_01 32:50

No, no, no. I gotta put some work in.

SPEAKER_00 32:55

Yes, lots of it. So somebody out there who's listening to you right now is a beginner, and they walk into soul to soul and they say, Hey, I'm a beginner, and I'm starting to run, and I want to do a 5k, what's the advice you give them? And what's like, do you have a go-to shoe for a beginner? Or is it just you you try to gauge the person?

SPEAKER_01 33:21

Um first, I think because I'm naturally like excited and happy to encourage people into running. I would, you know, like show that enthusiasm, say, hey, like, congrats, like that's that's really cool. You're gonna do that. You know, let's go ahead and and see what type of shoes is gonna be good for you. Make sure we get a measure, check their arches, see what type of support they need. And we're looking at foot shape. That's key for me every single time. Like those are non-negotiables, right? To make sure that we're getting them fitted into the right kind of shoe. And then I depending on the person, they may tell me what their level currently, what they've been running in shoes-wise, and how far fast. And that may determine what kind of shoes I'm gonna bring out, but bring out like some trainers that are gonna be solid, like really easy to use trainers and give them types of cushion, like the amount of cushion. Maybe I'm giving them something that's like a mid cushion that's gonna feel good underfoot, but not too much shoe, and then give them something like more cushion to see if they like that, and then give them something like maybe that's in between that's fast and fun to see what type of technology they like to fill, because it's and it really depends what they're looking for. But say if they're that person also is in between, like maybe the support they need as far as a correction or not, I may have to just like give them two shoes have them that are equal and the same, but have different types of support, and then continue watching them walk and see get their feedback, and then figure out okay, you like this feeling better than this one. And I see that you could go either way, I let them choose, and then I pull shoes that are closer to that shoe and go from there.

SPEAKER_05 35:27

I invite them to the run club, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:31

I yeah, but there is no one shoe in particular, but I could tell you, like, for instance, if I was gonna give them, like, say maybe they said, Oh yeah, my friend wears brooks and said I should try brooks. Okay, great. Maybe they need a little bit more support, so I'm gonna pull them or they don't need the support. Maybe I'm gonna pull them the ghost because that's what somebody recommended. Okay, so I know if I'm gonna give them the ghosts, I could also give them the cumulus that's also very similar and across the same category, and even maybe the Sokney ride, those are all like the same kind of shoes, but feel very different based off of the brand because their technology is different, right?

SPEAKER_00 36:17

Right. So, from what from what I could tell, you've you've you've built like a community in there. So now I'm that that beginner runner. I bought the shoes. What's that last piece of advice you're gonna give them before they walk out?

SPEAKER_01 36:35

To tell them to take it take it easy and give themselves grace because running is hard. The shoes are don't make a difference, but you have to be consistent. So every run is gonna be different, and sometimes it's not gonna feel good, but the more you stay consistent, the better condition you're gonna you're gonna get, and it'll get easier. And I welcome them to or invite them to the run club so we can help them with accountability. Maybe running with friends would make it easier for them, and adding like a different type of support. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:14

So that kind of gives me like a natural trans transition. Uh my next that I want to talk about is the run scene in Visalia. Because since I've been here, you know, I maybe it's been since I've paid attention. Because I probably I don't probably maybe I don't always pay attention, right? But the run scene in Viselia right now seems like it's kind of kind of exploding. Not maybe maybe just I see that I see there's there's there's lots of women's walking groups. There's the looking at the Viselia Girls Run, I think that's the name of them, Vicelia's Run Club, you know, it the the the what's it the the walrus uh what's the the pub runs are big now and and so talk talk to me a little bit about the the run scene in Viselia as somebody who's from here and has now worked you know in this, how have you seen it progress over the years?

SPEAKER_01 38:09

Yeah, it's definitely grown and changed in a lot of different ways. I mean, there was like for instance the Viselia Runners, that's like an OG run club here, and they're the ones who founded started the end of the trail run, that race, you know, which has 5k 10k on Ben Blankenship, who is the the founder and coordinator. Well, yeah, founder and coordinator, I guess I would say for Run the Valley series. He's the one who goes way back with Viseli Runners of starting those races. And that group was really cool because they were kind of the only, I want to say legit club because they had memberships and they have people that have have responsibilities, positions, you know, in their in the club. They have things and things like that. They've always been known for the consistency. Then we had like smaller clubs that were like maybe more like maybe not as organized, but still fun. I I was a part of the Soul Runners for a handful of years. That was really cool. And we would meet and do all kinds of different races together and stuff like that. And and then consistency running started, I want to say maybe like 2019, 2020, and they were all like Facebook-based where they would communicate and and then you know, throughout the years, those kind of like they were pretty good and stayed consistent, but then boom, like 2025, and it was like the year of the run clubs.

SPEAKER_05 39:47

Right.

SPEAKER_01 39:47

Everybody, everybody who just ever wanted to be a part of a running club or I don't know, seen it, got inspired somehow, just said, I'm gonna make a run club. I want, I wanna, you know, do this. And it just blew up. And it's really cool now because there's a lot of people who are really taking on to the idea of it and joining the run clubs. The idea that you don't have to actually have experience and be an elite runner, and you can just go and join and it's fun. And and it's just it's social media has really grown it. And it's like, I think a part of it is like for an aesthetic thing, which is fine too, because whatever gets them started, you know, but the idea that everybody wants to feel like they belong to something, right? Yeah, and running clubs, you can do that when you can say, Hey, I I belong to this run club, or I go to this one and and I do this regularly, so I belong to it. And that is just so big, you know, and it's meaningful to that person, but meaningful to the person who maybe established that club and is trying to grow it and make it make it welcoming to everybody.

SPEAKER_00 41:08

Yeah, that's a lot of fun, you know. Is the the vice seller runners, are they still out there? I don't, I don't, I used to see them, it felt like everywhere.

SPEAKER_01 41:16

I believe so. Uh I think they're just maybe not as big. And you got to think about like we're talking about them running for generations. Oh, you know, they've kind of tapered off or changed how much running they're doing or doing it differently, you know. And whereas new run clubs, I think they're they're all in their like 20s, and maybe some of them in their 30s, but primarily they're all pretty young. And it's like it's it's whether it's for social media or for like just like a new click or whatever it is, like it's really picked up, and it's cool. It's cool to see everybody else.

SPEAKER_00 41:59

I enjoy seeing it, and I I just because I I cheer for people, like so. When you're driving and you see somebody running, you're like, get it, you know, especially where we live at because there's some days I see people out here running, it's like a hundred degrees, and you're like, that dude's crazy. So but I added it.

SPEAKER_01 42:17

Most people would yeah, true. Yeah, most people, they're crazy. Why are they out there running? And I see them and I'm like, Yeah, good job.

SPEAKER_00 42:28

And that's what that's what separates it, is it goes kind of back to that community. Before we started the podcast, we were talking about listening to running podcasts. And I said I didn't listen to very many running podcasts because it always felt like they were talking to the elites, they were talking to whereas now these run clubs aren't they're they're talking to you. They're they're they're saying, look, we don't care if you run one mile or you run a half marathon if you come out here with us, because there's gonna be somebody in that group running that you can run with.

SPEAKER_01 43:02

Absolutely. Yep, there's a place for everybody.

SPEAKER_00 43:06

That's key. But I I don't I don't go too many of them because they're they're definitely a lot younger than me. Like most of those, most of them are like I got kids either their age, or some of them are even younger than my kids. So it's like this old dude out here.

SPEAKER_01 43:22

But it also sets a good example of like, dang, that guy's pretty badass. Like, I want to be like that's goals. I want to be like that, you know. I know that's how I would see people all the time. Like in races, if there's like an older, you know, 60-something-year-old person who was in front of me. I'm like, dang, that's goals. Like they're moving and grooving and be racing at that age, too.

SPEAKER_00 43:44

You know, those are those are my favorite things.

SPEAKER_01 43:49

Yeah, yeah. Also, I think they're open to advice from experienced runners. So it's okay if you're like The older one you can offer some advice to them that they're gonna and also they're probably gonna be like, dang, that guy's a legend, he's done like this race and that race, and you know, something they're gonna.

SPEAKER_00 44:14

Yeah, I will admit because when I always say when people see they I don't look like I should be a runner, like I don't I don't give off the runner vibe. So when when I go and I run, especially being in the the the the Navy as long as I was, especially towards the back end of my career, we would go for runs, and the young dudes would be like, Oh, the old man is here, and we come up and I play the old man thing and I take off and we get done. He's like, I swear I thought I was gonna catch you, but you just kept pulling away. So that's fun. So I know you you've helped organize or or sponsor or been a part of some of the big the races right here in the valley. What what is what is what are a couple of your favorite races that we have right here in the Central Valley that that if if there if I'm I'm a I'm a runner, what's that one that you're gonna go do that one?

SPEAKER_01 45:14

Yeah, there are a lot of good local races, but obviously being from Visalia and living in Byselia, working in the community, I really support the Run the Valley series before before taking the role that I do. I have now at the store. Even before that, I was like championing that series, you know, it was my favorite one. And and Ben is very near and dear to me. I think he's a great coordinator. He pours so much into every race. And so it doesn't matter which of the three you want to do. I would, I would always tell people, yeah, you got to do those, you know. The Vicelia, they all have like something good in each race, like the Vicelia half, that's yeah, it's fast and flat, it's beautiful here, you know, that's such an easy and enjoyable route that we get to train on all the time. But when you put it into a race, you get a different energy and it's pretty. And and then chilling in the park after, like it's beautiful out there. Why not? You know, and then you have hell of a half that that is just a different kind of beast, and you have like bragging rights to it, and it's it's fun, it's challenging, but it's so rewarding, you know, personally, once you're done, and everybody, everybody has different stories about it. I love it. It's it's pretty cool to hear, but obviously with the hills, the heat, like it's its own beast, and everybody loves to be able to say they run Rocky Hill, right? Um, so it's pretty epic. I've personally done the hell of a half 10 times throughout the years, so yeah, that one is definitely on my list. I don't think it's a good first half marathon for anybody though. Um there yet, or you know, you want to continue running, don't do that as your first half. But some people are crazy enough to do it, and I'm just like, all right, good luck, you know. And then the judgment day in Bakersfield is really cool. I love the scenery, I love the route. I've been a part of helping Ben kind of redo that route throughout the years to try to perfect it. And I I do think it's kind of perfected right now. Anybody who complains about it, they just are looking to complain about something, I guess. Um but also that race. And then you have like a lot of novelty runs that people are into, and those are really cool too in in their own ways. But if I was picking a race, one of the three the Run the Valley series is definitely the ones that I always encourage people to do the most.

SPEAKER_00 47:59

Yeah, Visalia is still my Viselia half marathon is still my fastest half marathon ever. There you go. Oh, we got we gotta we gotta knock that. That's from like three years ago. So I need to I need to get a little bit more active and get that done.

SPEAKER_01 48:18

Yeah, you can for sure.

SPEAKER_00 48:21

But I I I enjoyed all three of those runs. And I'm out at Rocky Hill now like twice a week. And I'm we're gonna there you go. Last year, a hell of a half kicked my butt because I was coming off an injury, and and and I did it knowing I was coming off an injury, and you know, I I I'm mostly mostly it was probably all ego running, and it was it was humbling because I I finished, I did it, but it it was woof. It won that day. But luckily it wasn't as hot as it normally was. I think last year, it was last year. It was it was it was I think that day the the high was only like 88. It was not as hot as it normally was last year.

SPEAKER_01 49:05

Yeah, it was a good one.

SPEAKER_00 49:07

So, yeah, yep. So yes, so I got some rapid fire questions for my shoe expert. We gotta bring you back, and we we the next time we come, we gotta we gotta have these these shoe reviews where you could bring in some of the shoes and give some advice. And because you know the you you you watch social media and some of some of these running shoe influencers are are man, they gotta be making tons of money because some of them got like hundreds of shoes behind them because you get to that point where like these these brands are sending them shoes, so that's that's gotta be a pretty cool feeling.

SPEAKER_01 49:46

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 49:48

So, what's your favorite running shoe of all time? And currently, what is your favorite running shoe?

SPEAKER_01 49:59

Okay, I can answer my favorite running shoe currently first, and that's the ASIC Super Blast 3. As far as all time, I think the one that if I look back on and I kind of daydream wishing that I could have it again, I would choose the Ultra Torn plush 4.5, which if you know what that shoe is, you you you know ultra, you're down with ultra and and the history of it because that doesn't exist anymore.

SPEAKER_00 50:38

I've I've never actually had an ultra. Oh my gosh. Yeah, I've never I take that back. I bought a pair of ultras at your sidewalk sale in the a couple months ago, but I don't run I it like I just walk around in it. I I don't I've never run in an ultra.

SPEAKER_01 50:58

That's okay. Is it comfortable to walk around in?

SPEAKER_00 51:01

Yeah, yeah, they're all right. Yeah, not my favorite, but maybe it's you know it's not the one you said, so it's maybe that's different. But I like the super blast two over the super blast three. My yes is you like a firmer, which makes sense because before it wasn't before I was I was into the the the the softer ones for quite a while. So I'm not saying I dislike the super blast three, I just it seems like on my longer runs, even at a faster pace, the the the two has a little bit better. So yeah, yeah, it's trailer snappy. Trail trail or road sex.

SPEAKER_01 51:50

Yeah, I'm a roadie. I love trail, but I think road is just so much easier for me. Yeah, just to get out and go.

SPEAKER_00 52:00

In the military, of course, I always always we always ran on the road, but when I lived in Southern California down in San Diego, it was all trail. I out every every Saturday I was in some some park down there in the trail because the trail makes you think more. Because if you're not paying attention, you'll you're gonna eat eat it pretty bad.

SPEAKER_01 52:20

For sure, for sure. And it is beautiful, but I think because you're constantly having to look down and pay attention to where you're going, you miss your scenery. Where on the road I I can see it a little bit better.

SPEAKER_00 52:37

Believe it or not, when when I first moved up here and I start road racing, I never even paid attention to left or right of me. It was always exactly what was right in front of me. So I I there were there were runs that I probably didn't pay attention to any of the scenery because it was always right in front of me. Because as a trail runner, every every step you take is the most important step you're gonna take.

SPEAKER_01 53:04

Yeah, but also, I mean, I think I just got acclimated to running here when I lived in San Diego. That's when I started running, and it was amazing. You know, I can just run out the door and I'm going up and down hills, and then I get like a mile down and I can hop onto a trailhead. And yeah, so it was pretty cool and and different. So, but here still, like I think I maybe because it is a different terrain that we have here, I I just I've grown to like it, and I can get lost in in just the view of the sky.

SPEAKER_00 53:43

Gotcha. Morning or evening runs?

SPEAKER_01 53:46

Morning.

SPEAKER_00 53:47

Me too.

SPEAKER_01 53:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 53:49

Me too. What's your favorite post-run meal?

SPEAKER_01 53:59

I don't think I really have one specifically.

SPEAKER_00 54:04

You know what I noticed about anything you can get after a long run? Like that it's always just that much better because you just got down.

SPEAKER_01 54:13

Yeah, I I'm kind of just yeah, want to eat something and everything's gonna taste good.

SPEAKER_00 54:21

100%. What's the longest run you've ever completed?

SPEAKER_01 54:25

Race-wise, full marathon. Unfortunately, I ran the mountain to the beach in 2022 where they misguided the runners and end up running what was it, 26.9 miles, and I was really upset. So 26.

SPEAKER_00 54:46

What's one item you can't live without while you're running?

SPEAKER_01 54:53

Well, my shoes. For sure. Having the right pair of shoes.

SPEAKER_00 54:59

Yes, I agree with that.

SPEAKER_01 55:01

But if an accessory, I would probably say after after shoes, I would say.

SPEAKER_00 55:20

I need the music.

SPEAKER_02 55:24

Oh, do you?

SPEAKER_00 55:25

Oh yeah. Those people who who can do all those long runs with no music are insane.

SPEAKER_01 55:32

Yeah, I I mean I prefer it. I I'd probably run like maybe ten miles without nothing more than that though.

SPEAKER_00 55:41

Oh yeah, 100%. What's your favorite race distance?

SPEAKER_01 55:46

Half marathon.

SPEAKER_00 55:49

I like that one.

SPEAKER_01 55:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 55:52

I've kind of mastered that one.

SPEAKER_01 55:55

Yeah. Yeah, I like the half marathon distance.

SPEAKER_00 55:59

What's your biggest running pet peeve?

SPEAKER_01 56:10

I don't like things bouncing or to hear things bouncing. Like if somebody has keys in the something like that. No, I remember one race, judgment day in Bakersfield, there was a lady who had some sort of like drawstring duffel bag with medication. She had like ibuprofen or something, and it would just the whole time. And so I had to just muster up the energy to pass her far enough that I could see it would drive me nuts.

SPEAKER_00 56:46

Gotcha. What's your dream race anywhere in the world?

SPEAKER_01 56:58

I'm forgetting the name of it off the top of my head because it's been a long time since I looked into it, but it's it's like I don't know, something canyons. It's an ultra-distance race with the Tara Humadas. And I would love to run out there. I think that would be amazing. And it's like a whole event.

SPEAKER_00 57:25

Is that the one in Mexico?

SPEAKER_01 57:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 57:28

Yeah. With the ladies who run with the with the yeah, those those ladies are total badasses. Uh I remember watching that Netflix documentary on them, and then it just seemed like they just blew up everywhere.

SPEAKER_01 57:40

Yep. Yep. To run out there would be pretty awesome.

SPEAKER_00 57:47

Yes, yes, it would. So what's one piece of advice that you would give someone who who's just looking to run? No real reason, or or or what's a positive, like, you know, because for me, it's it's I go for a run. Sometimes it's just to clear, clear your mind. What's what's one thing that you could tell somebody who is just who's looking to get into it? The advice to to push them over the top to make it a real deal and and and are at their at your store buying 20 or 30 pairs of shoes like I have in the past.

SPEAKER_01 58:27

Something that's gonna like get them hooked into running or what?

SPEAKER_00 58:31

Motivate them to get into it.

SPEAKER_01 58:41

I think just learning to give yourself the grace because every run is gonna be different. And when you can let go of the expectations and let your feet just lead the way, you're gonna you're going to like receive the benefits of what you're trying to get out of it. And you'll be able to run further. And eventually you're gonna run faster and farther than you ever thought you could when you let your feet lead the way.

SPEAKER_00 59:25

Yeah, cancel that white noise. Stay off social media. Don't don't don't go there for your validation. The the validation is right in the mirror.

SPEAKER_01 59:34

Yeah, whatever expectations you think you have here, uh just let it go and go based off of how it feels.

SPEAKER_00 59:42

I like it. I like it. Yeah. So if I were to come to the store tomorrow, knowing what you know about me now, I'll I'll give you the opportunity because I don't think I've ever asked anybody in there what shoe I should I should look at. So if I'll come tomorrow, what's the shoe you're gonna point me in the direction of?

SPEAKER_01 1:00:06

Well, there are a lot of good ones, but I'm pretty excited about it, and it just hit the store, ready for release tomorrow, is gonna be the A6 Nova Blast Six.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:22

Oh, yeah, that's it. That's been everywhere.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:24

I've never had a Nova Blast, it's such a solid trainer, it's very versatile, it's fun, it's like a fast, fun, easy trainer. I think there's a reason why it was the number one used shoe on strawberry last year.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:41

I've never had a Nova Blast, it's just a little bit better. Yeah, okay. Maybe we should check it out.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:51

So, but I think I've taken enough of your time. You've been uh amazing. You were nervous, but I think you did an amazing job. And like I said, we we gotta kind of make you probably my my recurrent. I don't the only recurrent best guests that I have back are like the my family. So I think next time we need to sit down and and and and come up with the the the shoes and and and and present it to the folks, especially once the uh the of the video, I got everything set up with video so we can highlight your store, highlight you, and and highlight what it is we do here in Visalia, California.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:29

Sounds good. I can probably do one at the store. Well, show the shoes and get to know it a little bit better so that people can understand what we're talking about.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:38

Well, maybe I can even the equipment I'm buying, I have pelican cases and everything. Maybe we could just do a podcast from the store.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:45

That would be really cool.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:47

That would be cool. So all right, I got a closing that I even typed up that I try to be professional. So as I wrap up, I just want to say thank you again, not only for joining me today, but for spending part of your birthday week again with me, because you know, ladies love their birthday weeks. People don't often realize that someone working in a specialty running store isn't just selling shoes, they're helping people start healthier lives, recover from injuries, and train for the goals they had once thought were impossible, and sometimes simply giving them the confidence to believe that they belong in the running community. So, Rosemary, thank you for everything you do for the runners here in Bysalia and throughout the Central Valley. We hope that this time next year you're even healthier, you're happier, and you're even more successful than you are now. So, and and to anyone listening, if you've been waiting for the right time to start your fitness journey, maybe today is that day. You know, stop by Soul to Soul Sports right here in Vicelli, California. Ask Rosemary or any of her employees. They're amazing people in there, and they will get you in the right shoe to start that journey. And you know, as always, please go ahead, like, share, and subscribe to the That First Mile podcast. I really appreciate everyone taking the time out today and joining us. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 1:03:13

Thank you, Randy.