Running with a Smile and SOLE: A Sole-Inspired Insole Review

I never thought I’d find myself in this place, actually voluntarily running and enjoying it. It’s a far cry from the years when I could barely muster a brisk walk to the fridge. But, life has a way of throwing curveballs, and here I am, a mid-40s guy, turning pavement into my personal playground.

Losing those extra pounds was like a stealth mission, and while my knees and back weren’t throwing a ticker-tape parade, they weren’t exactly begging for mercy either. Running seemed like a perfectly sane idea in comparison – until reality hit and my joints started questioning my life choices.

Cue the entrance of SOLE’s insoles – my new allies in the battle of me against pavement. It’s as if the universe sent me a message, and that message was “upgrade your shoe game, buddy.”

I snagged two pairs – one for the fancy-shmancy shoes I break out when I want to feel like a CEO (Chief Exercise Officer) and another specifically built for running. I was tickled pink by the fact that they’re made from carbon-negative cork, which, for the record, is something that sounds way cooler than regular cork. Saving the planet, one step at a time – I could totally get behind that.

Slipping those insoles into my dress shoes was like introducing my feet to a first-class spa experience. My posture did a double-take and actually straightened up. I walked around the office like I was strolling on a red carpet. Who knew insoles could make you feel like a million bucks?

Now, let’s talk about the running bit – the part where my knees and back are like a comedy duo trying to trip me up. But guess what? These insoles swooped in like superheroes, or should I say supersoles? (Okay, I promise, that’s the last pun.) And here’s where the story gets even better – the insoles are like magical shape-shifters. I decided to give the “oven thing” a shot. Placed them in the oven, not my feet – just to be clear. And voila, they emerged all warm and cozy, ready to mold to my feet like a long-lost puzzle piece.

Stepping into my shoes, onto these slightly warm insoles, felt like a science experiment that I somehow nailed. It’s like my feet were getting their own personal spa treatment – the relaxation of a heated footbath without the awkward small talk.

In the days that followed, I realized my knees weren’t throwing tantrums as much, and my back seemed to be on speaking terms with me again. Running became a form of joyful rebellion, and I wasn’t about to let my joints dampen my newfound spirit.

So, here I stand, a mid-40s guy who’s now part of the “Running Fanatics Anonymous” club – thanks to SOLE’s ingenious insoles. They’re the unsung heroes of my foot comfort revolution. Who knew that a tiny bit of cork and a dash of oven magic could turn running into a semi-comfortable, occasionally humorous experience?

Francis Vachon

Based in Quebec and photographer for more than 15 years, I specialize in press photography (photojournalism) and corporate and event photography.

A 2006 graduate of the prestigious photojournalism program at Loyalist College in Belleville (Ontario, Canada), I first distinguished myself by being the first runner up student of the Association of Press Photographers of Eastern Canada (Eastern Canadian News photographers Association) for the quality of my portfolio.

Back in Quebec City after an internship at the Ottawa Citizen and the Edmonton Sun, and a contract at the Windsor Star, I quickly developed a large clientele including some of the most prestigious Canadian newspapers.

In 2018, I published two books: The hidden face of photography and En photo et en Affaires