Thanks for the kind words guys. Dahila, I will explain some tips for using a compact camera. I take it that's what you’re using? I no longer have my DSLR (as you know) but I can give you a little point by point guide on how to shoot better pics with a little compact.
First I help Jesse a little then keep moving again and come back later.
Jesse - about the shoes.
Here is a guide to understanding
Foot Pronation:
http://www.asics.com/au/en-au/pronation-guide
If you go to "specialized" sports store that puts you on a tread mill and does a few other tests to find what your pronation is, you will end up paying like 300 to 400 au dollars ... around 150 UK Pounds. Something like that
If you have on old pair of running shoes ... Check the tread on them to see where they have worn down.
I will give you an example of one of my old New Balance 590 V3 Neutral shoes:
Click Image For High Resolution Inspection.
__________
I'm Neutral with a slight Underpronation. The ball foot area (parallel arrows in diagram above) is worn "fairly" even with the outer leg ? A,B,C & D (as labeled above) slightly worn to that of the cosponsoring side (inner leg) In fact ... the ball foot area has a slightly more ware on my big toe area (inner leg/over) which plays into the "S" line - Waring in - config as described in the Pronation Guide I linked above for neutral feet.
Summery - whilst my ball foot area wares well on my big to region,
I'm over all fairly neutral down the middle of my foot (strong arch but not too high) with a
slight tendency to land on the
Underpronation (outer leg) ... which is typically good enough for most standard neutral shoes ... BUT - EVEN BETTER for the ones I purchased.
I bought the following shoe on eBay: (Click on title to go to eBay page)
Saucony Men's Comfort Wide Neutral Running Shoe Echelon 4
The review on Youtube is quite favorable, however it does note that it's a must for a fairly neutral runner as it seems to give more on the Overpronation side. Given the inspection I did with my high resolution snap shop of my shoes (neutral with a slight underproduction) I knew I was on a winner. I bit the bullet and ordered. You have already heard how happy that purchase ended up.
If for some reason you are over pronation - I believe a stability show is what you will be looking for. I'm no expert - I just research on the internet. Use Google, Youtube, go to the specific forums, ring the shops, query them and so on.
Other things you can do ... go to the shop and try on a size withing the brand you thinking of buying online. Asics and Saucony seem to be pretty comparable in thier US10 and US 10.5 - Mine are a perfect fit. The Saucony's I bought are also good if your slightly heavy. They are for wider feet. Everything about the shoe I bought was designed just for me. I am buying another set - and will be rotating. The wider fit, sits my [front] ball strike area snugly with lots of support.
Tighter fits can lead to a pain in the arch! My new balance were kind of like that...especially if I did up my laces to hard and when the give in them went some time ago. (whilst a neutral shoe, they did not have the support for me .. I know that now .. they were good, but did not really last me long)
They are so soft and bouncy when running on the road, however such is a limited effect. By rotating them, I will be allowing one pair to fill back up with air during it's day off, while I stress the next pair. Think of it like a trailer load that never gets empty. The springs will loose their spring if the trailer is not unloaded regularly. Buying an expensive pair of runners that will be run in day in and day out ... and or worn everyday as well as run in ... it does not take long for the millage and unending stress to ware them out. Not only will I be rotating mine, I will not be Waring them when not running. I will buy a third "cheap" neutral pair on sale for my general daily goings about.
Other factors are always untie your shoes "before" taking off - do not stretch in them - keep them dry as possible and use good quality socks. Socks are something else I am learning about.
I think I have covered all the basics - OH YEA - the link refers to the Asics Nimbus Gell for neutral runners. I saw them locally, but did not try them on. they were like $220:00 - very sexy too. lol Normally my runners have always had give on both sides in the middle. The Saucony Echelon 4 was the first I have used with support on the underpronation side. ATM these shoes seem to glide over concrete. Again, the effect is only limited, but I am doing all I can to make sure the effects lasts a long time.
I hope some of these tips help. If you want ... take a photo of an old pair like I did and link me up. Just be sure to go outside and get sunlight on the soles to make them show up good in the pic. Set your camera to its highest resolution for your pic. Use some kind of photo editor and apply some sharpening. Play around with the light levels to bring out the detail some more. You'll soon work out just where it is that your Wearing down your shoes.
____________________________
Dahila - I will have to get back to you about the taking pics. It's amazing what you can do with a compact camera. Are you using any kind of photo editing program to at least crop your photos? GIMP is free and there are plenty of tutorials online. Taking good photos is a MUST for selling products. It's how my wife and I get by selling many things on eBay. I've been doing it so long now, that even when I use my phone I can pull off DSLR like shots.
I will do a proper guide on that soon enough and link you up. It was a little easier for my to help out Jess for now. The photo guide will take me more time .. BUT - I enjoy doing that kind of thing and I will learn some more for myself.
I have had a HUGE day today. I still have to unload a trailer load of sand. Smiles - Guess What ... I ended up actually going to ALDI and buying a Work Out Sand Bag:
Between all the running around, this mornings run, updated posts (which keep me focused and driven) - buying a new pool for the little one (blow up one broke) - setting up a sand pit and playing with the new sand bag (lol) - making this post and now about to go for a calm down walk ... I will get around later to doing up that photo guide Dahila. I teach you soon enough - I promise.
What is the model of your camera? That will help.
I hope this finds you guys well. I'll soon be in bed getting ready to do this all over again.
Thanks for keeping in touch. Much appreciated.
Your online friend
Dave.