North Bay Woman

58 NORTH BAY WOMAN S P R I N G | S U M M E R 2 0 2 0 Buy other Hoka shoes at: Nordstrom, Healdsburg Running Company, Any Mountain (Corte Madera), The San Francisco Running Company (Mill Valley), Heart and Sole Sports (San- ta Rosa) and Silk Road Gallery (Sebastopol). Best for Cross Training: Altra Solstice XT Training activities, such as at-home workouts, tness class- es, or walking, require a lateral support that running shoes are not designed to provide. For a shoe that does that well and offers the fl exibility for burpees besides, the Altra Sol- stice XT is the top choice of experts. Note that each model of Altra's Solstice shoe is built for a specifi c purpose, and the XT is designed specifi cally for cross-training. The Solstice XT is lightly cushioned with a caged upper that offers support for lateral movements, while its grid-like midsole provides excellent fl exibility for agility drills and speedwork. Solstice shoes are designed with a foot-shaped toe box, allowing the foot to splay naturally under heavy lifting. Good traction on a gym fl oor or the yoga mat or your lightly carpeted "stay home" living room gym prevents sprains and injuries. Using an interlocking arrow pattern rather than lugs, as on running shoes, the Solstice XT's rubber outsole is made for sticking. The tread may not hold as well in the rain as a trail shoe, but it grips indoor surfaces with stability. Buy the Altra Solstice XT at: Center Shoes and Orthodics (Novato), Athletic Soles, FleetFeet (Santa Rosa) and online at AltraRunning.com. $110. Best for Summer Hiking: Hoka Challenger ATR-5 The Hoka Challenger is an ATR – all terrain runner – that, according to Wick, is "ideal for both hiking and running." The Challenger has many advantages: It comes in wide widths, so works on most foot types. It has fi rm cushioning, so works well on both road and trail. And it is a neutral shoe so it won't over-correct. The Challenger also has an internal heel counter for sup- port. And Hoka's unique, early-stage Meta-Rocker puts the transition behind the metatarsal heads, which allows for faster forefoot transition. For those "off-road" hikes, a gusseted tongue keeps out grass, rocks, and other natural elements. And all of this comes with an affordable price tag. Buy the Hoka One One Challenger ATR-5 at: ArchRival Sports, REI, Athletic Soles, and FleetFeet (Santa Rosa). $130. n – All shoe photos courtesy Holly Wick, owner of Athletic Soles in Petaluma ta Rosa) and Silk Road Gallery (Sebastopol). Think of your foot's arch as the tires on a bike. When you under-infl ate tires, you get a softer ride, but with more drag and effort. An overinfl ated tire gives you a faster ride, but you can feel every bump. A tire infl ated to the right pressure allows you to ride longer with less effort and relative comfort. The arch of a foot operates in the same way, an action called pronation, which helps to absorb the impact of contact with the ground. Overpronation is like an under-infl ated tire; and the foot gives so much that the ankle falls inward. When the arch is stiff and gives very little, like an overinfl ated tire, it's called underpronation, or supination. A neutral arch lies in the middle. Two quick tests 1) Take a well-used pair of shoes, particularly a running or walking shoe, and look at the wear pattern on the sole. Soles with heavier wear on the little toe side may indicate supination, while soles with more wear on the big toe side, overpronation. Wear down the middle shows neutral pronation. 2) With wet feet, step across a stone fl oor, a piece of cardboard, or other print-bearing surface. In a neutral foot, the heel and toe look connected by about haIf the width of the foot. A narrower strip shows supination. A strip greater than ½ the foot indicates overpronation. Finding your pronation level can assist you to fi nd the most comfortable shoe you need for any activity. n How to Determine a Shoe's Fit

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