There will come a day when I can no longer tie my shoes.
Charcot Marie Tooth attacks the nerves that control the extremities, which includes hands and feet. For the most part my hands are weak and go numb, but I still have the ability to use them. They don’t claw up regularly or act like useless clubs. I can still write, although my handwriting has gone away, and I can still use a fork, even if I drop cups sometimes. Without fail, every time I tie my shoes I wonder when the day will come that I can no longer do it on my own.
As a runner I wear sneakers quite often. It’s not a big surprise that I don’t run barefoot, in sandals, or in Toms, even though there are an oddly large number of Strutters who prefer a more minimalistic shoe (or lack of shoe). Me, I need the support. I need arch support, I need ankle support, and I need support pushing off with my toes.
Thankfully the great staff at On the Run were able to find me a pair of Asics that does exactly what I need. I had been wearing Mizuno Wave Sayonara prior, but after they retired I didn’t like the high drop of the other Mizuno shoes. They have a plate in the sole that helped push off the ground, but the drop had my toes rubbing on the up. The Asics felt great compared to every other shoe. I was worried after my first walk with them because they rubbed a bit the wrong way, but they broke in perfectly and now give me everything they need.
There will be a day when I cannot tie my shoes.
I remember when I was a kid, my mom bought me these ridiculous elastic shoe laces that spiraled around so they didn’t have to be tied. My father hated them. Not because they looked terrible (when in fact, looking back in embarrassed for myself), but because my mom had bought them as a result of my refusal to tie my shoes. I would rather tuck the laces in or step on them. My father said the elastic shoes would make me lazy.
Running has made me tie my shoes quite a bit. I wouldn’t have believed you if you had said I’d voluntarily switch from a casual shoe to a running shoe and back, untying and retying each time one day. Sometimes I worry about the day I’ll be unable to do it myself. Each time I tie my shoes I think of how grateful I am to be able to use my hands to prepare my feet, and together they will do incredible things.
I’m not giving up. There will be a day when I won’t tie my shoes. But until that day comes I will tie those shoes and I will run my heart out.