Do those toning shoes really work to burn more calories??

I see those "toning" shoes everywhere. I cannot believe that people will pay anywhere from $85-250 for these shoes! Hard to plunk that much money down for a pair of shoes that you are really not sure about?
These shoes have a rocker bottom, which is curved from heel to toe. The idea is that the shoes are designed to induce instability, with the idea that the body will use the core and intrinsic muscle contractions to help strengthen and burn calories. Different website claim up to 15% more calories burned. Well, lets see where the source of these studies are... the companies themselves! Of course they will tout more calories burned!
Speaking to physical therapists and back specialist, they liken it to walking on a mattress... very cushiony, but very unstable. They have reported an increase in knee and lower back pain with these shoes, and our office has seen an increase in achilles tendon pain and tendonitis. This makes sense... with a rocker bottom, you are essentially hyperextending the achilles tendon which inserts behind your heel with every step you take.
So buyer beware... and then you can judge yourself if these shoes "really work." It may be just a fashion statement... and not a very attractive one at that.

So I'm in the half Marathon!

So I was wondering if I even got into the Schaumburg half marathon, which is scheduled this coming Thanksgiving holiday on Saturday. My podiatry practice partner Dr. Misty McNeill, who has run several half marathons in her day, tried to register on-line a few weeks ago and couldn't. So I was skeptical... did I get in, or not? Well, I checked and it looks like I am in!
I have never run a half marathon (13.1 miles) before in my life... the longest I have run is a 10K race, and that was when I only had 2 children! Now, add 3 more kids and a chaotic schedule, and I am on my way to preparing for this race.
I am on a schedule, and I admittedly do not run every day. I do several shorter runs in the week, and then I save the long runs for 6:00 am on Sunday mornings, when my husband can go 5 on 1 with the kids. Last Sunday I completed 8 miles... hey, it took a long time, but I finished.
... And then I walked in the door and kicked off my New Balance running shoes and custom orthotics and put on my Spenco recovery sandals. I would wear these sandals every day of the year if I could.
And my kids ask, "Mommy, were you running? Where were you going?"
That question is still left to be answered.