If you’re a runner, what you put on your feet and your body matters

By Patricia Nugent

Whether you are an elite runner, a casual walker or are interested in hitting the trails for the first time, finding the best shoe, fit to the unique biomechanics of your foot, will ensure you reap the maximum benefits from the experience.

Achilles Running Shop—the only foot and ankle surgeon-owned specialty store of its kind in Ohio—opens this month in downtown Willoughby. You’ll find an expertly curated shop with everything needed for runners, from extensive lines of shoes to the latest gear (shirts, shorts, pants, jackets, socks, running bras) as well as high-performance nutrition bars and chews to promote faster recovery.

“We’ve been looking for the perfect spot in DTW for years,” says owner Kris Mendeszoon. “We love the area and feel we’re a good fit with the mix of charming, locally owned specialty businesses and restaurants. And we appreciate that Willoughby is at the forefront of community health initiatives.”

The Back Story
The concept for Achilles Running Shop was born from Kris’ husband Dr. Mark Mendeszoon’s practice. As a foot and ankle surgeon with Precision Orthopaedics in Chardon, this former athlete, now treats all athletes including olympians, suffering from the gamut of foot ailments, many of which can be worsened by improper footwear. Although over the years he had advised patients to invest in the best, what was on the market simply wasn’t good enough.

To address that, he and Kris opened the first Achilles location in 2006 in Mentor. Other locations followed in Cleveland Heights and Erie, Pennsylvania.

The Expert Fitting Process
Wearing an ill-fitting shoe can affect your balance and cause foot pain, back pain and joint pain. According to a 2018 study, only about one in three people are actually wearing the right size shoe.

Expert fitting is elemental to your overall health and well-being. Kris only hires seasoned local runners, who she extensively trains in the fitting process.

“If you are not fitted by a trained professional, you will most likely not end up with the proper shoe,” says Kris.

Here’s what happens:

• Before you even start talking about shoes, a staff member will ask you questions about your lifestyle and running habits.
• He or she will do a Gait Analysis, have you walk and run on their indoor track to get an idea of what your feet and ankles are prone to do. It’s also helpful if you bring in an old pair of running or walking shoes so they can judge the wear pattern.
• The anatomy of your feet will be measured.
• Several pairs of shoes will be suggested, you’ll try them on and see which ones feel the best.

The most popular brands of shoes they carry include Brooks, Asics, New Balance and Saucony. Two of the newer brands to the market are Hoka and Altra.

“Each brand has a reputation,” she says. “We work with customers to think beyond reputation and select the option that’s best for their foot. In general, I’d say with the latest research and development, shoes are getting lighter weight yet still have the same integrity.”

Pop in and Stay Awhile
The welcoming ambiance of the store, with comfy chairs and large televisions on the walls, in addition to the indoor track, is fresh and inviting, and Kris says customers like to come in and stay awhile, chatting with staff and other customers about (what else?) running.

Sponsored group runs are an important part of the community feeling at Achilles, and they invite everyone to join, to walk or run, even to bring their strollers or dogs.

At the end of the day, Kris says what she loves best about the store is the ability to help people achieve a healthier lifestyle.

“With Covid-19, people have become more inactive, whether because they are afraid to go to the gym or just want to stay indoors,” she says. “Running is the perfect pastime to keep you healthier and happier, alleviate stress and also boost your immune system.”

Achilles Running Shop is located at 4077 Erie Street in Downtown Willoughby. The phone number is 440-942-2059. A second store is located at 2248 Lee Road, in Cleveland Heights. The phone number is 216-991-2000. Visit AchillesRunningShop.com for more information.