The Running Thread - 2016

[DVCFan1994]

ATTQOTD: I don't trust my feel for my shoes, so I buy new shoes when one hits 300 and retire shoes at 350. Maybe someday I'll trust my feel more, but not yet. I have constant minor aches and pains, I've had more significant injuries, but also even when "healthy" I have lots of little twinges etc. For that reason I don't really think of my shoes as the cause, or I might "need" new shoes every month.

I have excellent reason not to trust myself. One week prior to PHM 2014, I was having even more knee pain, and was headed in the direction of my normal running store, so I brought the two pairs of shoes I alternated to get their opinion. I did not track mileage at all back then. They told me both pairs were totally shot. The showed me a bunch of things (how easily they bent in half, some wear spots) and I was quickly convinced, even though my first ever challenge weekend was only 6 days away, I had to change my shoes. They also watched me run and came to the decision I no longer needed a stability shoe. I had previous been an overpronator and was now at neutral to mild supinator. Yikes, so totally new type of shoe, 6 days from a challenge weekend - and my first half. I was nervous, but it worked out ok. I went to the Brooks Defyance. I had been in the Adrenaline, and the Defyance is the same shoe minus the stability bar in the sole. So a change, but not a huge one. A few weeks later I added a pair of Brooks Ghost 6 to the rotation which became my favorite shoe ever. But when it was time for new shoes I hated the brooks 7 Since then searching for the bliss the Ghost 6 I have run in New Balance 880s, Mizuno Waverider 18s, Ghost 8, Saucony Triumph ISOs and Defyance 8s - the only shoe I have liked enough to buy 2 pairs. Moral of that story, stop searching (and paying hundreds of dollars) for the perfect shoe and wear what works, even if it isn't my favorite looking of all of them.

I am wondering if I am going to need something with more cushioning for the longer runs of marathon training, but the thought of starting again searching is frustrating.

 

[disneydaydreamer33]

ATTQOTD: I also retire mine based on feel/tread wear, although I do track the mileage always in Strava. I am a little on the fluffy side for a lady (6'0", 225), so I also don't get as many miles out of them. For the past year I have been running in Altra Olympus. I stocked up on 4 pairs last spring of the 1.0 versions at deep discounts when the 1.5 were released, and I think I'll probably be running through these still for the rest of this year, maybe part of next! I have 1 pair @ 135.7 miles, 1 pair @ 10.5 miles (just started rotating these in because the 135 mile pair are purple and the other 2 are grey, and I have some SparkleSkirts that purple sneakers would look better with so I want to preserve the purple ones as long as I can ), and one pair new in the box. I don't have any plans to change from Altra at this time... I did a lot of experimenting with New Balance, Brooks, and Asics, before landing here. I have a wide foot and it's often hard to find D width ladies sneakers. The shape of the Altras fits me perfectly.

I need a D width as well, and feel so limited because of that! I have been in Asics 2000 for a few years now (just replacing after 300 miles or so), but I think I need something even wider than that one. Since I've heard that New Balance runs wider I'm wondering if their D will feel better. I just ordered the new shoe Fresh Foam 1080- hopefully I like it! I'm also interested in trying out some Brooks. I like to order a ton of shoes from Zappos because of their free returns. I can just keep the one I like best after doing some treadmill tests.

I ate a kind bar this morning and then tried to run. Big mistake. I remembered why I run on an empty stomach!

Haha I am the opposite. I was running on my treadmill this morning and after two miles I felt so weak and shaky, I hopped off to eat 1/2 of a Kind bar really quick. I felt so much better and stronger and finished a great workout!

 

[FFigawi]

You're running a 1/2 Ironman this weekend and you say you are out of shape? I think anyone that could consider attempting one, and finishing one, has to be in pretty good shape.

That's very true, but two weeks of no training and lots of eating and drinking while on vacation has me less in shape than I should be.

QOTD: Todays QOTD is a request. I think we may have touched on the subject matter before, however with new folks coming to the thread, I think some topics can/should be discussed more than once. How often people replace their running shoes? And how often they try out completely new ones or if they stay with same model and style always?

I replace mine when I can feel them getting worn out. When they hit 250 miles, I begin rotating in a new pair. By the time they hit 300 or 350 or even 400 once in a while, I can tell the cushioning and support are worn out by the soreness in my feet and knees after a run. I always use the same brand and shoe - Asics Kayano. I don't always use each new model, though, because some of the tinkering they do each year doesn't agree with me. I try and stick with a model that works for me as long as I can. In the past several years, I went through 6 pairs of the Kayano-17, skipped the 18, used 3 of the 19s, and am now on my 3rd pair of the 20s with another 2 in my closet. I stock up at expos and online whenever possible.

 

[preciouspups]

Why do they ALWAYS have to mess with the style of a perfectly fine shoe? Why, shoe manufacturers, why??? My go to local running store quit carrying them and switched to some other Saucony model. I liked having them in the store for these style changes so I could easily try them on the decide on the changes and if it required a size change. Then after one pair I'd usually buy them online until the version changed again. My current ones are 6s, so I haven't tried the 7s yet. I really hope they didn't shrink down the toe box too much.

Same reason that Victoria's Secret changes out a perfectly good bra and makes us try on a hundred pairs to get the right one!

 

[croach]

ATTQOTD: I really should do a better job of keep track of miles on my shoes but I just end is doing it by feel. Not a great way to do it but I forget to track it since I'm always rotating at least a couple pairs of shoes. Read that as being lazy.

 

[roxymama]

Keeping track of my mileage on my shoes is going to be 100% better on whatever my next pair is. This year I hopped around from Couch 2 5k app, to Nike+ app to my garmin watch app (while still using Nike+ occasionally) + my treadmill log. All over the place. I'm going to be more organized with this next pair!

 

[Waiting2goback]

My husband used to feel this way about yoga. I think a lot of the traditional videos and instructors just didn't connect with him and left him feeling very frustrated. He swears by DDP Yoga now in case that's something you want to try. DDP is Diamond Dallas Page and he used to be a wrestler. He kind of markets it as yoga for guys. But the other thing my husband really like s about it is that he often jokes about himself and he's very transparent about his journey. He'll say things like when he started, he couldn't even touch his toes. He really emphasizes that wherever you are in your journey is where you're supposed to be. It's ok to fall, not be able to reach, etc. Just keep doing it.

Anyway, just a tip on what ended up working for my husband after he expressed a lot of the same feelings you did

I know who exactly who DDP is and I saw him on Shark Tank as well. I have heard good things about his program but I never think of it when I am thinking of yoga. The video I bought was targeted at runners and after doing 1/2 of it and watching the other 1/2 I can see that it will work perfectly for what I need it to do. It stretches out whole lower body, and works on the top a little as well. BUT, I am going to go check out DDP's program after I am done with this site because you can never have enough resources.

I'll get there eventually, and yoga will most likely never be my strong suit. But working on your weaknesses is what makes you stronger!!! Thanks for the suggestion.

That's very true, but two weeks of no training and lots of eating and drinking while on vacation has me less in shape than I should be.

I was just teasing you. It just shows how high the bar is for us in our own minds. I have felt out of shape the last month or two because my mileage is lower than I wanted and I am sore now from my cross training but compared to most of the country I am in excellent shape. I just ran a marathon in January, how out of shape can I be? I am sure you will do fine, just do your best and have fun while doing it and it's a success.

 

[Miranda]

I need a D width as well, and feel so limited because of that!

I hate that even if they make multiple widths at all in a model, the shoe manufacturers advertise that they are available, but then you find out that they only carry D in like one color of 4-5.

 

[Princess_Nikki]

QOTD: Todays QOTD is a request. I think we may have touched on the subject matter before, however with new folks coming to the thread, I think some topics can/should be discussed more than once. How often people replace their running shoes? And how often they try out completely new ones or if they stay with same model and style always?

.

I do 350 miles too. I have it stored in my RunKeeper app. Although, I'm a total New Balance hoarder. I, honestly, became a fan of new balance even long before I realized they were the official sponsor for the run Disney races and made the Disney sneakers. I was running in a pair of quite expensive Nikes and they just weren't cutting it for me. I had found a pair of new balance sneakers at my local TJ Max & I decided to give them a try. I found them to work so well for me and I fell in love with them. I've never had a problem with any of their sneakers for running. I'm 100% hooked. I am one of those people that when I find something that works for me I have a tendency to stick with it.

Right now I am using the new balance fresh foam Zante's for running every day and I absolutely love them. I will be buying a new pair this summer just to take turns switching them out to see how they feel. They just released a whole bunch of new running sneakers on their website so I'll be trying out another pair here soon. But today I think I'm up to about 10 pairs of new balance sneakers!!! Lol. I may have a problem. Lol.

 

[Slogger]

BTW, in MK and just had a dole whip. Life is good.

Hard to beat that! I have yet to try a dole whip (shhhh......don't tell @Keels.....she told me how great they are and then I totally forgot to try one at DL. )

 

[MommaoffherRocker]

ATTQOTD: I am still trying to learn about replacing shoes. I replaced my first pair after getting tendonitis in my ankle, now I rotate between two pairs. I wanted to stay in the same shoes to make life simpler but when I switched from the Ghost 7s to the 8s they had much less give to them. So I picked up a pair of the Brooks launch 2s and I love them. I hope they don't change them!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. DW thinks I am crazy even discussing a trip to Disney with our upcoming move which will add additional monthly cost. Her exact statement was "two trips to Disney in one year?" I was like, and the problem with that is... She also mentioned, well it would be a nice trip to take as a family of 3 for the last time. Looks like the summer could get interesting. So the next question is, any folks take a trip to WDW while pregnant (or spouse)? Technically she is not at the moment, but it looks like she has a want to become that way.

I have been many times while pregnant and have always had a great time. (other than not being able to ride 7D for what felt like an eternity!) BUT I never went in the first trimester because I have horrible morning sickness and that would have not been fun.

 

[Slogger]

How do you like the Triumph ISOs? Those and Brooks Glycerin are what I was recently fitted for, though I slightly preferred the Triumph ISOs in store.

I have the Glycerins (3 generations) and liked them but curious about the Triumphs. What made you like them better than the Brooks?

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD: I'm 6'0, 180#. I bought first two pair of shoes by size without even trying them on. Talk about STUPID! About ruined my feet as they ended up being too small.
Next came my first pair of Brooks Glycerin 10s and they felt amazing. I got the new pair of Glycerin 11s but they didn't feel the same and I ended up sticking with the 10s even through Dopey 2015 which means I ran in them for almost 3 years and about 1600 miles. They are now "retired" but definitely served their purpose. Now I have Glycerin 12s (450 miles) and a pair of New Balance (180 miles) that get rotated.

Next pair I find that I like I'm buying 3 pairs so I don't have to go through manufacturer changes.

 

[Slogger]

ATTQOTD: Hobbies?

We are also busy with two teenagers, and 5 pets but I do enjoy trying to read a book each month, watching movies, traveling with family, going to the lake for waterskiing and sailing, working on model trains with my son and playing piano with my daughter.

Participating in this forum has to count too, right?

 

[surfde22]

I have the Glycerins (3 generations) and liked them but curious about the Triumphs. What made you like them better than the Brooks?

They had a little more cushion, but that was also based only on a 2-3 minute trial run on the store's treadmill. They were also a little wider in the toebox, which I need

 

[DOOM1001]

They had a little more cushion, but that was also based only on a 2-3 minute trial run on the store's treadmill. They were also a little wider in the toebox, which I need

I've been trying to figure out what shoes to buy next and I've tried both those shoes out,the ISO Triumph and the Glycerins and I would totally agree with you,they both had super comfortable uppers but the midsole cushioning I felt on the Triumph just wasn't there on the Glycerin's.

 

[SunDial]

QOTD: What other hobbies do you have other than running?

Like @cavepig said the new Disney Magic Kingdoms is game addicting. Watching all motorsports racing, even drag raced a few years ago. Kayaking is fun although it has been a few years. I also like photography. Buying new good glass and camera bodies gets very expensive.

QOTD: How often people replace their running shoes? And how often they try out completely new ones or if they stay with same model and style always?

I will go by feel or when I see a hole almost forming in the ball area

 

[keahgirl8]

Football ( big Dallas Cowboys fan!) and running are more or less my hobbies. I'm also a big fan of Usain Bolt and cannot wait for the summer Oylmpics! I do carpentry stuff around the house and spend a good chuck of time doing stuff with my boys and wife( sports, school, travel, etc).

Football is definitely a hobby! The NFl Red Zone is one of my favorite things, but I am primarily a college football fan (Boomer Sooner!). I am ridiculously excited about the summer Olympics! We should have a chat thread for it once it starts!

I did P90X day 2 yesterday and 3 today in addition to my run today. I am sore from these P90X workouts. It's eye opening when you think you are in good shape and then you do some different exercises and feel how many muscles you don't normally use.

I have all the respect in the world for you! P90X looks SO hard!

I'm a pin hoarder/collector- I've collected since 2000 and refuse to count how many I own (let's just go with 22 large cork boards, one large cabinet, 6 large trading bags full..)

I also love photography (well until my camera died an untimely death so waiting for the $$$ replacement)

-em

I have just recently started collecting pins. I am really trying to only get ones that have significance to me, or I would just go crazy with them.

QOTD: Todays QOTD is a request. I think we may have touched on the subject matter before, however with new folks coming to the thread, I think some topics can/should be discussed more than once. How often people replace their running shoes? And how often they try out completely new ones or if they stay with same model and style always?

ATTQOTD: I change mine around 350 miles. I am big in terms of running at 6'-5" 210lbs, so I don't get as many miles out of the shoes as someone who weighs 170. I try out new shoes in the spring/summer if I am having problems with the ones I have been running in. This year I have been pleased with the pair I have been using, so I am just going to keep using them for now.

I usually go to around 250-300 miles, but I can tell by feel most of the time. My shoes work for me, so I won't change unless they do a version that is no longer comfortable. I wear Brooks Adrenaline GTS.

I haven't really replaced any shoes yet. I have mixed in new ones though. So far I've only used Nike and new balance. I've never been properly fitted either so that's probably something I should do.

You absolutely should get fitted. It changed my life, even before I was a runner!

Similar to others, I use 350 miles as my expected life, but I sometimes retire shoes early or keep them longer based on the feel. Most shoes last between 300-450 miles for me.

Same here! I have a very specific way that I wear my shoes out, so I can usually tell when it's time.

My husband used to feel this way about yoga. I think a lot of the traditional videos and instructors just didn't connect with him and left him feeling very frustrated. He swears by DDP Yoga now in case that's something you want to try. DDP is Diamond Dallas Page and he used to be a wrestler. He kind of markets it as yoga for guys. But the other thing my husband really like s about it is that he often jokes about himself and he's very transparent about his journey. He'll say things like when he started, he couldn't even touch his toes. He really emphasizes that wherever you are in your journey is where you're supposed to be. It's ok to fall, not be able to reach, etc. Just keep doing it.

Anyway, just a tip on what ended up working for my husband after he expressed a lot of the same feelings you did

I LOVE yoga! Love...even though I'm not flexible at all. For anyone who wants something beyond just stretching and bending into a pretzel, I would suggest either of Jillian Michaels' yoga DVDs. They are really challenging and incorporate interval training.

 

[DopeyBadger]

I rented it last night and we started the movie at 9. Had no idea it was that long of a movie. It was great! I WANT MORE!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. DW thinks I am crazy even discussing a trip to Disney with our upcoming move which will add additional monthly cost. Her exact statement was "two trips to Disney in one year?" I was like, and the problem with that is... She also mentioned, well it would be a nice trip to take as a family of 3 for the last time. Looks like the summer could get interesting. So the next question is, any folks take a trip to WDW while pregnant (or spouse)? Technically she is not at the moment, but it looks like she has a want to become that way.

My wife was pregnant during out trip to WDW in January 2014. The only thing she regretted was the airplane. She was about 40ish days out, and she didn't eat enough food prior to the flight. It made her very sick. Otherwise, everything at WDW was a lot of fun, including lots of servings of Mickey Bars and Dole Whip.

 

[croach]

I've been trying to figure out what shoes to buy next and I've tried both those shoes out,the ISO Triumph and the Glycerins and I would totally agree with you,they both had super comfortable uppers but the midsole cushioning I felt on the Triumph just wasn't there on the Glycerin's.

Check out the Asics Nimbus. They should be in the same class as those two, at least they are with the Glycerins. I only ran in Glycerins for a long time but switched over to Asics and really like them. Running in the 17's now but they do have a newer version out.