The first two days of my trip to Paris (for the first time since I was a kid!) I pushed my bike really hard on a gravel bike ride. The left side of my body was covered in scrapes, bumps and bruises, and my skin was still sore when I boarded the plane for the nearly eight-hour transatlantic flight. I bandaged my worst-injured left knee to protect the delicate wound from friction.
However, on my first night in France, it became apparent that I had packed my knees too tightly: my left ankle was swollen. I thought a day of walking in a European city would restore the blood flow and I would feel better, but it was just the opposite. My choice of shoes—a sensible pair of white sneakers for walking through the city—betrayed me and left both my feet swollen. On my third afternoon in Paris, I was already on the bed in my hotel room, legs leaning against the wall. After 19,000 steps on stone and concrete, my ankle started to throb, my little toe and the back of my Achilles tendon were bandaged, and I didn’t know how I was going to get to the Louvre the next day without feeling pain. I had to make a decision: stick with the white shoes that matched all my outfits but were crooked on my feet, or switch to a pair of Nikes that were bright neon green but promised comfort and stretch for my tired dog.
The next morning, I paired the white denim with my sticky green Pegasus 41 ($140), and after that first pain-free hour, I knew I wouldn’t go back. There was no friction on my little toes; my sore ankles loved the plush padding. Best of all, the soles of my feet are supported by springy cushioning. That evening my swelling was almost completely gone and I was still walking 15,000 steps a day.
For my last two days in Paris, I switched into Nike Pegasus EasyOns ($155) that I picked up during my Paralympic Immersion Tour. These EasyOns are designed to be more accommodating and really easy to get on; the collapsible heel allows for hands-free access, while the toggle replaces traditional laces and allows for tightening without the need for any laces. They’re so convenient that all Olympic and Paralympic athletes on Team USA include a pair in their athlete bags.
Nike Pegasus EasyOn — $140.00
size: 5-12, half size | color: 2 | feature: Collapsible heel, toggle laces
- Hands-Free Inclusive Design
- Sliding toggle makes tightening easier
- Excellent cushioning, perfect for road running
- comfortable
- Light and breathable
“This innovation started with our second employee, Jeff Johnson, who suffered a stroke in 2004 and suddenly lost the use of half his body,” said Sarah Rennertson, Nike Sports Marketing Manager for the Paralympics Sarah Reinertsen, who is also the first female leg amputee to have the surgery, said during a panel discussion at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, “He told the team, ‘It’s hard for me. Wear our shoes; I don’t know how to relate them, but I think this is a great opportunity for us to do better,” and that’s how it started. So for 20 years we’ve been figuring out how to solve problems and try new things to make products work better for everyone.
The release of EasyOns comes on the heels of Nike’s other inclusion initiatives, such as the USOPC-supported GameOn program, a year-long athlete career development program announced during the Paralympics that hopes to encourage athletes with disabilities to apply, Nike’s coaches The Dream Summit is a four-day event featuring coaches and leaders, including Special Olympics Vice President of Sports Development Jon-Paul St. Germain, designed to shape the future of inclusive youth sports and coaching.
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But the best part about EasyOns? They’re just as comfortable as regular Pegasuses, with stretchy ReactX foam, a breathable upper, and a grippy sole. When I don’t wear these, I can feel the difference and lack of support in my arches. No more bandaged pinky toes or irritated Achilles tendons, I can rock the super cool pattern (called “electric”) seen on the soles of track shoes worn by Olympians.
I’ve been wearing them just about everywhere for the past three weeks, including traveling (the collapsible heel is so good For TSA), they’re just as effective for jogging on slippery sidewalks as they are for running errands. My feet thank me time and time again. As for my old white sneakers? I never look back.
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