Running Shoes: my "A HA" Moment

[Honeibee]

Please bear with me as this is a rather lengthy story but I need your advice.

I did my first couple of 5Ks in a pair of old New Balance XTers because, well, what did I know.

Then I started hanging around those who know better (WISHers) and realized the importance of getting proper running shoes. So I went to the local sports box-type store and bought ASICS Kayanos, if for no other reason than they felt good in the store and looked cool.

They worked pretty well except for long distances. About mile 10 they start to feel like slippers. I thought maybe I needed a new pair so I bought another pair. Same problem. They're pretty good on the TM but not the road.

Then I bought a pair of Saucony Pro Grid Hurricane 8s, which I loved loved loved and wore out.

I was starting to notice though, that both the ASICS and Sauconys started to "fall over" to the outside. I'm pretty sure I'm a supinator. I've always thought that, even before I got involved in this training business. I had mentioned this to my podiatrist and he agreed that I supinate.

Several months later (about two months ago) I had to go back to my podiatrist because I was sure the bunion on my left foot was coming back. (I had that surgery about four or so years ago.) He insisted it wasn't and that the second toe was moving up because of scar tissue, leaving space for the big toe to move over. (Ummm, isn't that the way a bunion starts????) Anyway it was time yet again to buy running shoes so I brought in a pair of Kayanos and the Sauconys to show him the wear patterns and get his advice. In looking at my shoes he says "Oh you're a pronator". OK, not for nothing but he IS the Chief of Podiatry at the hospital here, but now I'm confused. We discuss this. Get motion control shoes, he says. OK fine. He's the expert.

Two weeks ago Charlie drove me 50 minutes to a running store that I heard good things about. (Theres got to be ten running shoe stores within 20 minutes of us but I wanted to be sure I got the right thing and wanted expert advice! Uh hu.)

I brought my old running shoes, my racing socks, the shoes I clipped out of RW that I wanted to try, my average weekly miles outside and on the TM...I was well prepared. I told the salesman I wanted MC shoes and he brought me out a couple of pairs. I liked a pair of Sauconys but he didn't have them in wide. Then he brought out a pair of New Balance. I liked them as they were wide and boxey in the toe. They felt good so I took them.

I got home and later that day got the September RW and saw it had "21 New Shoe Reviews". Cool, let me see if the shoes I just got are in here. Yup. They were. Right there under Stability.

Grrrrrrrrrr.

Monday morning I call the running store and had a looong talk with the manager. I told him I was a little concerned since my podiatrist said get MC and I ended up with Stability. As he explained to me, both MC and Stability shoes have extra support on the inside (arch) side of the foot. But he said try these for two weeks and if I don't like them I can bring them back.

Later that day I scroll thru the RW forum threads about running shoes. I search on "Supinate" and see that EVERY TIME they recommend NEUTRAL shoes for supinators.

Oh for crying out loud.

Then....on my way home, something suddenly occurs to me.

No wonder I have been having ITB pain and maybe this is why my ankle hurts!

If I already supinate and all this time I have been wearing shoes with extra support on the INSIDE of my shoes....aren't I straining my ITB? No wonder my foot feels like it's getting messed up! It probably is! Have I been forcing it to supinate even more???!

I'm trading these Stability shoes in for a pair of Neutral shoes. Let's see what happens.

Anyone else supinate? Are you in Neutral shoes???

 

[windwalker]

Judy are you a walker or a runner? Running store shoe experts don't know a thing about a walkers needs.

Walking Panda

 

[Honeibee]

Well, Dave, my "official" answer to that question is "I'm a racer." I do whatever it takes to get from Start to Finish as fast as I can with whatever steam I have left.

But really, I'd say about 70% walking, 30% running.

But I have also been known to trot, canter, skip, jog, lope, tread lightly, pussyfoot....

 

[windwalker]

Well, Dave, my "official" answer to that question is "I'm a racer." I do whatever it takes to get from Start to Finish as fast as I can with whatever steam I have left.

But really, I'd say about 70% walking, 30% running.

But I have also been known to trot, canter, skip, jog, lope, tread lightly, pussyfoot....

Well no wonder everyone is confused about what shoe to put you in. Let's reconsider the litter chair with the 4 cabana boy barers.

Laughing Panda

 

[bunnyfoo]

I know where you're coming from Judy When I first was fitted for my running shoes back in January, the salesperson at my running store said I was an over pronator and recommended the Kayanos (along with several other shoes). I had them checked out by chiropractor who watched me run on the TM and did some kind of bendy test on the shoe itself. He said it was fine. I went back to the store a couple of months later and a different salesperson said I was a serious overpronator and should be in a motion control shoe! Oy!

So I had my PT look over my shoes, he watched me run in them and said that a MC shoe would have been overkill. He also mentioned that the running store people only get the very basic training on fitting shoes. So my lesson learned is to always get a second opinion but when I was told I needed MC shoes I sure did scare me a little.

Good luck with your shoe search!

 

[luvdiz2]

but do you Sashay?

 

[hoosmi]

Judy- I literally share your pain! I keep trying to look at the wear patterns on my shoes and I can't figure it out either... I started with different types of stability shoes- they were ok.

Then I just bought some MC shoes because I thought they fit better (and on sale and cute ) . They feel great but I've only been walking in them, and slowly. I have no idea if they are appropriate or not for when I'm really training.

But, I bought neutral shoes for the last bit of my Goofy training. In theory (according to my perceived wear pattern), they should have been great. They did feel wonderful. But, towards the end of my training and the entire full, I thought I had an ITB injury. The outside of my left leg was killing me. Once I got home, I found a huge lump sort of on the outside of my upper calf. I used my stick like crazy and finally dumped those shoes. By the way, my ankle hurt too. I limped for a month before I got rid of those shoes. (Ok, I kept them because they dragged me through the full, but I'll never put them on again).

I went from thinking I had a massive ITB injury to totally 100% fine by getting rid of bad shoes... and I still don't know what type I should really be wearing!

Jen in GA

 

[Honeibee]

Vicky and Jen - Seems impossible to get the right advice, doesn't it? If money was no object, suuure, we could just keep trying different shoes. OK, yeah, back to reality.

I think I'll try Neutral shoes. Carefully. (You've got me about them now too, Jen!)

but do you Sashay?

I've been known too, given a few too many Mojitos.

Let's reconsider the litter chair with the 4 cabana boy barers

What's that you say, Dave?? A litter box? With four bare cabana boys? Can they be cabana men??

 

[KeenHo]

I think I've seen her saunter once or twice.

 

[Honeibee]

I think I've seen her saunter once or twice.

You know too much!!!

 

[MouseDogMom]

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time, but I'm so glad you posted this! I've been struggling for weeks now, and it's just beginning to occur to me that the shoes might be the culprit. After reading your post, I'm more convinced that I need to take a serious look at them. I've run the whole Galloway season in Saucony Guides, and am suffering from ITB issues for the first time.

Running Warehouse is going to stop selling me shoes - this will be the second time I've ordered a pair of shoes that are duplicates of what I already have (that I bought locally) and then decided that maybe I don't like that particular shoe and sent them back! I think I'll go back to my Mizuno's for a couple of runs and see what happens.

As for you, has any shoe store actually watched you run/walk and try to determine what you really do? I know both of the ones I use here either have a treadmill or take you outside and watch you before they determine which shoe you need.

Good luck!

Jackie

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I tried on my first pair of Brooks Glycerin shoes tonight. I think I may buy these. They are neutral shoes, seem to have good shock absorbtion. You may want to go back to the store with your incorrect shoes and trade them in for these neutrals.

I love my running store, b/c if I don't have a good fit they never hesitate to take back the shoes. My problem is that I seem to be between sizes. Not always an 8 1/2 and not quite a 9. I've not returned shoes much, but for the insurance of being able to do so, I love going the this runing store.

 

[laughinplace199]

Yikes! I've never even heard of stability, motion control, or neutral shoes, so I'm no help. When I bought my first (& current) pair of running shoes, I went to a running shoe store, they watched me walk and run, recommended a couple of shoes, I picked one, and it's been fine (I hope I didn't just jinx myself - I'm knocking on wood right now). I really hope that you find the right shoes soon!

Well, Dave, my "official" answer to that question is "I'm a racer." I do whatever it takes to get from Start to Finish as fast as I can with whatever steam I have left.

But really, I'd say about 70% walking, 30% running.

But I have also been known to trot, canter, skip, jog, lope, tread lightly, pussyfoot....

But do you gallop, stroll, or saunter?

By the way, I'm not sure which cabana boys Dave was referring to, but I am the self-proclaimed expert on cabana boys over at Team 'Ohana, so if you need one, let me know. I may have an extra one around here for you...

 

[DianeL]

Judy I'm with ya! Since my LSD yesterday I've been cuddling the ice pak to my foot. At my chair base sit my dead shoes with the police crime scene tape surrounding them.

I'm hoping to go tomorrow to try out some shoes. I'm scared because my usual shoe guru is no longer in the state. I HATE buying new shoes.

Good luck in the shoe hunt!!!

Dave? Cabana men and a litter? Do they run? I'm trying to improve on my finish time. Trials will be held Thursday at my local park. Must bring proof of time. 1st and only long day of training will be held this coming Saturday and if all goes well race the following weekend. If they don't beat my current 1/2 PR they will be replaced before the jan 1/2. Afterall I do have the full in sight for 2010 and must have a working team of cabana men to meet my finish goal No red bike shorts allowed, I can't have them stopping constantly for photo ops

Judy if this works out we could have a race inside of a race

 

[Disneefun]

I supinate horribly (so bad that I can't do heels because they "roll" under me and I go splat -- very pretty in a formal gown, I'll tell you). For about a year I had horrible pain on the outside of my ankle. I thought I'd done something to it, but it turned out to be from cruddy shoes and too much training in said cruddy shoes.

After going through every shoe imaginable, I've finally found relief in the Saucony Grid Sinister. These are made for more severe supinators. The Grid Ignition wasn't bad -- it's for neutral to moderate supinators--but I get more relief from the Sinister (who names these shoes, anyway?).

Just my suggestion.