Out There: High Heels? Sure, Why Not!

Sometimes even runners need to indulge.

I was rushing through a local shop when they caught my eye: a perfect pair of bright orange shoes. They were flashy, but not too flashy, and slightly reminiscent of a favorite pair of racing flats that had been discontinued several years ago. When I tried them on, they fit like a glove, made my calves look amazing, and had just the right amount of heel-toe drop: 4 inches.

I had no reason to buy a pair of bright orange high heels. And yet … that day, I became a proud owner of bright orange high heels.

When I shared a picture of my impulse buy on Twitter that night, my running friends acted as if I had tweeted a photo of methamphetamines and a bazooka.

“HEELS? What are you thinking?”

“You’re asking for injury!”

“Are you CRAZY?”

Irritated, I recalled the Twitter outrage to a training partner of mine at lunch the next day. He shrugged half-heartedly.

“Well, they’re right.”

“Et tu, brute? You’re supposed to be on my side!”

“High heels are kind of bad for you.”

“Don’t talk to me about bad-for-you, dude. You’re wearing Vibrams right now!”

“That’s different.”

“And you’re eating a bacon cheeseburger.”

“So?”

“This conversation is over.”

Listen, y’all: I understand that high heels aren’t appropriate everyday footwear, especially for a runner. But every now and then, it’s nice to kick off the trainers and slip into something a little sexy — and no, I’m not talking about a new pair of track spikes.

I spend 99 percent of my waking hours wearing a sports bra and a faint scent of eau de chlorine. Most nights, my partner Neil comes home to a ponytailed mess who has been marinating in the same running shorts since her workout … six hours ago.

Sometimes, a girl needs to exercise her right to shake out her hair, put on a short skirt, and rock a pair of cute shoes … especially if that girl’s got a hot set of marathon legs. Will she pay for it with sore calves during the next day’s run? Probably. But will it be worth it? Absolutely.

Running is a big part of our everyday lives, but it’s not the only thing. There’s a time and a place for indulgence, whether it’s a gooey brownie, a chilled microbrew, or — yes — high heels. Those rare and special moments are a nice contrast to our everyday moderation.

Which reminds me: Neil, if you’re reading this, hurry home tonight. I made reservations for dinner. Wear something nice … and perhaps looks good alongside orange.

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About The Author:

Susan Lacke does 5Ks, Ironman Triathlons, and everything in between to justify her love for cupcakes (yes, she eats that many). In addition to writing for Competitor, she serves as Resident Triathlete for No Meat Athlete, a website dedicated to vegetarian endurance athletes. Susan lives and trains in Phoenix, Arizona with three animals: A labrador, a cattle dog, and a freakishly tall triathlete boyfriend. She claims to be of sound mind, though this has yet to be substantiated by a medical expert. Follow her on Twitter: @SusanLacke