Ah, I just remembered something. My knees were hurting. I eventually went to an orthopedist. He gave me the full knee exam, and finally asked, "What do you do for exercise?"

"Run", I said.

"Wearing what shoes? Shoes like those?"

"Exactly these shoes."

"Stop running on pavement. And get some decent shoes." He told me to go to a real running store - not Foot Locker or the like. So I went to this running store. I walked in, and they told me to take my shoes off and stand there. "There, you see what his feet are doing?" one salesman said to the other. "He needs one of these three brands."

I bought a pair of Mizunos - not because they are a big name, but because they kept me from destroying my knees. I'll pay for quality when I need to. Pay for hype? No.