Help - choosing shoes for running treadmill

ShyWolf

ShyWolf

Cathlete
Hi All-

I am in need of a good running shoe - I only use my treadmill atm.

I have a very old pair of Asics and well its just time for me to get some new shoes specifically for when I use my treadmill (eventually I am aiming to start taking myself and run outside)

I think I am a normal pronator based on how my shoes wear - I went to the mall today and although we have a Hibbets and Foot Locker the staff there didn't seem knowledgeable in helping me find a good shoe for me :(

Plus it didn't help the I was with my very impatient husband who is not into fitness and doesn't understand why I would need to buy new shoes since my old 8 yr old pair seem fine to him :/ (another story)

So any recommendations on a good brand of shoe that has great cushioning?

I was looking at a Nike's Pegasus and Shox shoe can't remember the shox style name

Thanks for any tips.
 
Hi Vilma.

You should really go to a running store and get fitted by a person who knows what they are doing. They will analyze your gait and should bring out a few pairs of shoes for you to choose from. Most running stores will also have a money back garuntee. They will take WORN running shoes back if you are not satisfied! It really is the best way to go!

Good Luck~:)
 
It's probably best to go to a store like Fleet Feet if you have one in your area.

I have the Nike Pegasus and they work really well for me, but again, it's best to have yourself fitted by a professional.
 
Another vote for the Nike Pegasus. My gf that works for Nike has a boss that runs 60 miles a week - and swears by them. She has tried many many others - but always comes back to the pegasus...
 
Thanks so far for your replies - unfortunately I live in a small town - most of the shoe stores here in town cater to the ones who will buy a pair of shoes that match their jeans or 'look' - more into style than function.

The closest city is a 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive from me

Which chain of stores are geared specifically for runners just so I can google them and see if I actually have any on my area.

I'm really interested in doing more running and working myself out to run outside, so a good pair of shoes is a must for me.

Thanks to any more replies as I'm looking forward to educating myself more about this.
 
It is a very individual thing with shoes...that being said, I put another vote in for Nike Pegasus. Got mine at a running store and have not been disappointed at ALL.

Heidi
 
I just went out yesterday - I have started "dabbling" in running, on my TM also. Am hoping to go outside soon when there is enough light when I have time to run and when I feel like I can make the "loop" where I like to run.

I visited Runner's World and went to their tab for running shoes. Sounds like you have some experience with the fitting terminology, but I found it helpful.

They also have articles listing the Top Shoes for the seasons. I checked out those on the Fall 2007 list.

Next I searched here for "shoes" to see what some of the runners here recommended.

Then I visited Asics, New Balance, Reebok and Nike websites. They will have information for their individual shoes there.

I was interested in Asics and they had their sight set up by types of shoes so I just printed and went off to Sports Authority to see what they had to offer. Took with me the printouts for New Balance since we have a store here, and also the Fall 2007 picks from Runner's World.

Bought a pair of Asics but haven't used them yet. I tried on Nike's and Asics but liked the gel support best.

Just some thoughts if you can't make it to a Fleet Feet (that was the closest shoe fitting store to me, suggested on the Asics website, but is 45 minutes away). Figured with that research, I did as much as I could by myself.

Have to LOL at your DH, my DH told me I have a shoe fettish when I told him where I was going, but my feet hurt so badly after the last two weeks, the shorter runs don't hurt, but the 7 mile runs have been pretty bad. Think I'm getting a shin splint in one leg too as it is throbbing occasionally next to my shin. x( Am hoping my new "spongy" shoes will help - I went for the max cushioning - shock absorbing. I finally took the advice of many Catheites and realized that worn out shoes really do take a toll on your body.

I am thinking if I decide I want to run any races or continue to work with a 10K or HM training program, I may just make that 45 min drive so I can take care of my legs - they have supported me for so many years and have taken a beating since I have been quite active all my 50 years. Want to make sure they will take care of me for a lot longer since I love my exercising.

:7
 
i REALLY have to agree with everyone else that says go to a specialty running store. i used to go to fleet feet (which is very good) but we have another store (only here in georgia...the big peach running store) and they actually use a treadmill and a camera to analyze your foot strike, etc. the shoes i had been running in (which gave me no real problems and i thought were great) told a whole different story on the treadmill. i was really pronating on a shoe that was supposed to help that. it's not fleet feet's fault. they have no way of watching you run in super slow motion, it's just human error. at any rate, after trying on about a hundred pairs, i found that the ones that felt most comfortable (a very small differnece but they were also about 75 dollars cheaper!) still showed some pronation. so...i got a different pair that COMPLETELY corrected my pronation (which, btw, i never knew i did). i spent about 150. i'm not saying you should spend that much if you don't run a lot and, for me, price wasn't a factor as much as how i ran in the shoe. i didn't want to pay that much, but i could actually see the evidence that that particular shoe was the best one for me.

the point is, what works for one person or what is highly rated, may not work for you. running is not much of an equipment investment but, IMO, you MUST get good shoes. they don't have to be expensive, but they do have to be fit to you and your running style personally. you can really hurt yourself and cause a lot of problems in the wrong shoe. also, running in the wrong shoe could turn you off of running altogether because you could get injured. trust me, i've been running for over 20 years and there is no single thing as important as your running shoes.

there should be a store with personnel that has some knowledge. they really have to watch you run in a basic shoe to see your style and then take it from there.

JMHO...
 
I want to stress how important it is that you get fitted for a running shoe by a running specialist shop.

On runnersworld.com and other running sites they shopw you how to take a test to see whether you have low arches, high arches, whether you are an over pronator or not, etc, with the wet foot on piece of paper test. However, this test alone is not enough to determine whether or not you pronate. A running specialist needs to see you walk and run, to see how your foot splays out when you take a step and walk through it. With the paper and wet foot test, my arches look completely normal, but with the walking test, it is clear that I have a degree of overpronation. This then determines which shoe I should wear and the degree of over pronation that needs to be corrected.

It is all well and good for someone to say they have alway had success with Nike Shox or Asics gel running shoes, but it all means diddly for your feet.

Personally, I love the look of Asics shoes, but my local running specialist store never decided on them for me: instead I have had Brooks shoes and now my latest Fila Sanctuary, which suit me perfectly.

What suits other people has absolutely no meaning for you, so please do not be swayed by their personal taste, nor by the "look" of a shoe. The shoe that works for me is, horrifyingly, bright cherry red! I would never have chosen that colour, but since it does the job and stops me from getting injured, I wear it happily.

I do all my running on the treadmill, it is not that you need a different sort of running shoe for treadmill running as opposed to road running.

Injuries that side line you are a real pain in the ***, so it is worth it to go out of your way to get fitted properly, and no, Foot Locker people are not good enough.

Clare
 
I will 2nd or 3rd or 4th the importance of getting YOUR perfect shoe. Recommendations are great, but like others have said, what works for one person may not do a thing for you. If you have a chance to get to a specialty store, do so. I ran for 5 years before I finally broke down and went to my local running store last summer and I'm here to tell you, it really does make a difference. If running is something you really want to pursue (treadmill or outdoors) it is really worth the investment (and probably will turn out less expensive in the end than doing experimenting and ending up with the wrong shoe).
Brandi
 
I'm using Nike's Air Equalon+ (I think there's a newer version: Air Equalon 2 or something) and it has done wonders for my pronation! Well fitting and comfortable.

New Balance shoes are great, too, but I don't have any experience with their running shoes - I use 854 & 855 for my workouts and stability-wise they are perfect!

Chris

:)
 
Well just wanted to mention that there is a store 2.5 hours away from me that can look at my gait and help me figure out what shoes I can use; but for the meanwhile I picked up the Nike Pegasus 2007 shoes yesterday as I have no idea when I can plan a family trip to go out to that store - I do know that if I'm ever in the area I will go visit them - sucks to live in a small town ;(

Thanks for all the advice - believe me I WILL get to that store hopefully soon!
 
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