Time for "Running Shoes"??

I have mentioned a couple times in tweets and Dailymile comments but was probably not taken seriously. Kind of my fault, the persona I put out out there online and in general often makes people think I am always aloof but down to the story.

I guess as a child I had "running shoes" that is what they called pretty much all shoes except the ones I wore to church. Now they would be tennis shoes, basketball shoes, training shoes, etc... Any way put they were not designed for running. I was always faster the day I got new ones though. My Dad always knew it.

Four years ago I decided to take up running. Mainly just to try to get in shape so I could keep up with my 5 year old daughter and infant son. I grabbed an old pair of elastic top sketchers out of the closet. I ran in these shoes until they were so worn out the heelcup was actually cutting my heel. I then grabbed an old pair of discount sk8 shoes out of the closet. My wife had picked them up on sale for bumming around at the cottage. I am still using them as my main "running shoe" but they are almost dead. I think they will last until the end of the winter.

Last year I went for a lunch hour ride in a pair of my cheap $2 old navy oldschool tennis shoes and after blowing a flat ran back the 6 and change KM to work in them. I so expected pain but it did not come. In my world of running I guess these are minimalist running shoes.

yeah I know reused image...

In all as much as I am a "runner" these are all "running shoes". I am enjoying running more lately but think that it will get shadowed over when real cycling season kicks back in. I need a pair of "running shoes" and think if I am planning on doing any longer runs than my current 5 and 7KM lunch hour runs I may want something designed for the job.

There are so many styles etc.. out there. Plus minimalist shoes. What do I need to know before snagging a pair?

This is where I hope I can drag in a few runners to my cycling blog and help a guy out. Thanks in advance... I'm out...