Store works with runners, doctors to get the right fit
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By Oscar A. Hernandez
Special to The Advertiser
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Carolyn Ching may be walking the Honolulu Marathon this December, but she still wants to make sure she has the right shoe.
"My podiatrist diagnosed me with overpronation of both feet, and Morton's neuroma (an enlarged nerve that usually occurs between the third and fourth toe)," Ching said. "He recommended orthotics to be worn inside my shoe."
Ching, who is training with the Honolulu Marathon Clinic and works out at a health club, has been going to The Running Room on Kapahulu Avenue for the past two years for her shoes.
On a recent visit, Ching was being helped by Gaston Ly.
"Gaston was very knowledgeable about my condition," Ching said.
Ly is the assistant manager, having worked at the store for nearly eight years. A former runner for Roosevelt High's track and cross country teams, Ly has taken classes in kinesiology, sports medicine and weight training.
"This 'academic' knowledge helps most when assisting customers who come from their doctor's office with foot/leg related problems, which allows me to understand (our) customers' needs in order to help their doctor with their prescribed recovery process," Ly said.
Lerma Jean Nakashima, who has managed the store for 15 years, said the staff at The Running Room leaves all medical diagnosis and treatments to medical professionals. The staff, instead, works with customers to assist in their needs after being referred by their doctors.
"Doctors will recommend our store and let us know what type of shoe to select for their (patients)," Nakashima said. "At times we have doctors (provide) a list of shoes for their patients."
Nakashima said that she and her staff will quiz a customer to help him or her find the right pair of shoes.
"(Having a customer) stand will not help us determine what kind of foot type the customer has; therefore, we will have the customer walk for us," she said. "We'll ask a series of questions on injuries and what kind of mileage will the customer aim for."
The Running Room offers an extensive selection of running shoes, as well as walking shoes, trail-running shoes, running apparel, eyewear, and nutritional products.
