Shopping for your first running shoes shouldn't feel harder than your first run. In this episode, Coach Deb breaks down the choices so you can walk into a running store feeling informed, prepared, and confident. She explains the terminology, considerations, her preferences, and helps you focus on what matters most, finding the shoes that are right for you, for your gait, for the surfaces you'll be running on, and your feet.

Where to shop: Learn why Debbie recommends running specialty stores for personalized help, a broader selection, and connections, i.e., building a relationship with the local specialty running shoe store.

How to narrow your options: Women's vs men's, trail vs road, zero drop vs higher drop, cushioning, toebox size, and more.

Running shoe terminology made simple: Understand the upper, toebox, insole, midsole, and outsole, plus stack height and heel-to-toe drop.

Coach Deb also explains the importance of allowing the toes to splay and how that comes into play when selecting the best model.

Deb recommends the Gasparilla Distance Classic, specifically the 5K Walk, February 20th and the walker friendly 8K the next day. $5 off discount codes for each race are RUNTAMPA5 and RUNTAMPA8.

Then, she encourages anyone in the area to register for her own December holiday race, the gnome-themed Run Tampa Tinsel Run on December 12th.·