You Don’t Have to Be a Runner: What Our First 18 Months Have Taught Us

In our first 18 months at Bluebonnet Walking & Running, one thing has become clear: approximately 70% of our customers aren’t shopping for shoes to run in.

They’re walkers. They’re people who spend long hours on their feet at work. They’re planning a trip with plenty of walking, getting back into exercise, or simply looking for comfortable shoes for everyday life.

They don’t need shoes to run a marathon. They need shoes that work for their feet.

That’s why “Every Pace Has a Place” means so much to us. You don’t have to be a runner—or know anything about shoes—to come in for a personal fitting.

We start with you

Before we start pulling shoes, we talk about what you need them for. Walking around the neighborhood? Standing at work? Traveling? Running trails?

We also want to know what you like about your current shoes and what you wish felt different. Those conversations help us choose a starting point.

We watch you walk and measure both feet

We watch you walk, ideally in your socks or barefoot, to get a better look at how your feet move. We look for patterns such as inward rolling, outward rolling, or a more neutral motion. This helps guide the options we bring out.

We also measure both feet. Feet aren’t always identical in size or shape, so measuring just one can miss an important part of the fit.

The measurement gives us a starting point. Trying on the shoes tells us much more.

Three brands to start—with more if needed

We typically start with shoes from three different brands so you can compare how they fit and feel.

The same size can feel quite different from one brand or model to another. You might prefer the room in one shoe, the cushioning in another, or the way a third supports your foot.

If those first options aren’t right, we keep exploring. In our first 18 months, we’ve had a customer try as many as 18 different shoes during a fitting.

Our goal is to help you find a pair that works for you.

We explain what you’re feeling

Shoe terminology can get confusing. We help explain the differences in plain language as you try each pair.

Stack height is the thickness of the shoe beneath your foot, measured at the heel and forefoot. A taller shoe isn’t necessarily softer—the materials and design matter, too.

Heel-to-toe drop is the difference between those two heights. For example, a shoe with 30 millimeters under the heel and 22 under the forefoot has an 8-millimeter drop. A zero-drop shoe has equal heights under the heel and forefoot. Zero drop doesn’t necessarily mean little cushioning.

We carry different options because customers have different preferences and needs. Some also come in with a healthcare provider’s recommendation for a particular type of shoe, including zero drop. We listen to that guidance and help them compare appropriate choices.

You don’t need to memorize the terminology. We want you to understand your options and feel comfortable asking questions.

Good shoes are for everyday life

One of the best parts of these first 18 months has been helping people who weren’t sure a walking and running store was for them.

It is.

Whether you walk, run, stand at work, or simply want a better everyday fit, we’d love to help you explore your options.

Come visit David, Jennifer, Marissa and the team at Bluebonnet Walking & Running in Magnolia, Texas.

What about the other 30%?
They’re runners—from neighborhood joggers to trail and ultra runners. In our next post, we’ll explore their different footwear needs and how we help them find shoes for their miles, terrain, and goals.

Every Pace Has a Place.