Read What They’re Saying About The Training Station

The following is written on page 116 of the Summer 2010 issue of Philadelphia Style magazine:

“Hit the ground running at the window-filled Training Station at the Piazza at Schmidts. The high-tech fitness facility boasts iPod-ready cardio machines that let you navigate your music library using touch screen TV’s, a diagnostic test that captures video images of your ankles and arches while running to determine the best sneaker for your foot and Olympic-grade workout equipment like a rowing machine that uses water resistance instead of wind. Owner and fitness trainer Phil Clark, who is getting ready to compete in the 2012 Olympics, will even track your training progress and record it on a USB drive.”

How Hard Is the Shoe?

The midsole is the most important part of a shoe. Sandwiched between a shoe’s upper and outsole, the midsole is what you stand on.

Midsoles are made of thermoplastic foam. The foams have varying degrees of hardness. Hard foams offer more support than do soft foams. Soft foams have better cushion than hard foams.

It is important to buy shoes with the appropriate amount of hardness. Hard shoes sometimes irritate people that don’t really need hardness. Soft shoes may not well support the unstable foot and ankle system.

The Training Station understands all of this, and more, abut sneakers. If you need the right pair, we’re the folks that will find it.

Wear Different Sneakers

People who like particular shoes tend to buy those shoes, for years. They say things like, “I love these shoes,” and, “They’re perfect!” But it’s much better to love people than shoes, which will never love you back. And the only perfect shoes are those that were perfectly constructed just for you.

Your favorite shoe will eventually be discontinued. Or it may be updated in a way that no longer makes it your favorite.

It’s better to try different shoes.

I promise that there are shoes, in addition to your favorites, that will do good work for you. They may feel as comfortable, a little less comfortable, or a little more comfortable than your favorites. In all cases, they will be comfortable and they will work well with you. They may even be better than your favorites.

I will grant that it’s best to stick with a favorite shoe, when you select your own shoes. If you have access to shoe fitting expertise, you should use to explore and expirement.

The Training Station has the best sneaker fitting service in Pennsylvania — take advantage of it!

Wear Shoes That Fit

You need room in sneakers. Each footstrike hits the ground with three times your body-weight. During a mile-long run, the feet absorb anywhere from 10 to 15 tons of pounding. These forces cause feet to spread and swell. Make sure they have enough room to spread and swell into.

People who wear the right size have fewer blisters, are comfortable in their shoes longer, and don’t need to break-in their sneakers.

If there’s one thing that we know at The Training Station, it’s how to properly fit shoes. Phil Clark will do a gait analysis and take at least six measurements of your feet. If you want some happy feet, let us put you in the right shoes!