Running Shoes

[Audryb]

So, I know that there is no "best" shoe, and it's a matter of what works for a person's individual foot. However, I am having a lot of trouble finding running shoes that work for me, so I thought maybe if I describe my feet someone on the board might say "hey,she sounds just like me" and tell me what works for you.... And I'll at least have some ideas to try on.

My feet are wide at the ball and narrow at the heel. My arches aren't super high, but thbome on top of my foot sticks up quite high. I don't over-pronate at all. When I run, I get awful pains along the outside bottom edge of my feet. I found a pair of new-balance cross trainers that solved the problem for step workouts, but they are worn out and discontinued. I have been to a running specialty store and run on a treadmill, the whole 9 yards, and the shoes they recommended (another model NB) had to be returned after one day due to the pain I just described.

I went to a foot specialist a couple of years ago and stood on his cool pressure-sensitive mat, and he was beside himself over the way my weight is distributed throughy feet. I never realized before that that most people hold their weight in their heels- when I am standing in a neutral position, most of my weight is on the balls of my feet. I think this is where my problems stem from. The shoes recommended by most manufacturers for normal to high arch and neutral gait are very cushioned, especially in the heel, and tend to push my weight even farther forward, which really stresses the outside edge of my foot.

Is there anyone out there with similar issues who's found a shoe that works for them? I know the obvious answer is custom orthotics, but I can't afford them right now. I either find a shoe that works, or I don't run (or do much step or other cardio)

Thanks!

 

[cindi1]

I'm no expert but I understand your frustration with feet and shoes. I have normal to high arches and was a forefoot runner. Since something like 75% of runners heelstrike, there are a lot of very cushy heels out there in running shoes.

I also have a bony part on the top of my foot which had given me problems in the past.

So a few things to think about and play with...
- for the bony part on the top of your foot, if that is causing pain for you, play around with how you are lacing your shoe. RunnersWorld.com has an article on how to lace your shoes around pressure points.
- Look for a less cushioned but still neurtral shoe. For example - I wear a Mizuno Wave Creation and Wave Rider. The Wave Rider has less heel and I can run in that for shorter runs while the Creations have more heel and overall cusion and are good for longer runs.
- Contact the shoe manufacturer (NB) tell them what shoe was working and ask them what is closest to that shoe. Or the running store may be able to tell you.
- Work on your stride. It sounds like you are landing no your forefoot and jamming your foot forward. Pick up a book like ChiRunning and work on midfoot striking.
- Switch to a minimalist shoe (racing flat) or shoe designed for non-heel strikers (Newton brand and NB has a model as well, the 800)

Just some ideas. I hope you can work out the solution!

 

[Kathy G]

Argh, I feel for ya....I've tried every brand of running shoe out there and as soon as I find a brand/model I like....they discontinue it or try to "improve it" somehow.

I'm not a heel striker but a mid-foot striker (which means I sound like a horse coming up behind you, lol). The shoes that came to mind when you described your feet were Rykas which have a more narrow heel and wider toe box. Neutral shoes are meant for people who's feet strike evenly, Stability shoes are meant for people who pronate inward slightly, and Motion Control are for people who pronate outward (or severely pronate either way). So you don't really perfectly fit into any category. I'd give Stability shoes a shot because they have less cushioning in the heels and more toward the forefoot.

Right now I'm wearing three different models:

Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 - everyday (less cushioning overall)
Saucony Progrid Guide 2 - everyday/treadmill (lots of cushioning on the forefoot)
Mizuno Ascend - Trailrunning or dirt (medium cushioning but good traction)

HTH, it's tough to find the right shoe and a lot of times it's trial and error. I've been fitted at a specialty running store where they measured my feet, how I stand, how I run, etc. and I've still walked out with a pair that initially felt good but turned out to be totally wrong for me.

Kathy

 

[janie1234]

Argh, I feel for ya....I've tried every brand of running shoe out there and as soon as I find a brand/model I like....they discontinue it or try to "improve it" somehow.

Me too, . . unfortunately it is trial and error. I went from Asics Nimbus, to Saucony, now I'm back in a pair of Nike Pegasus, which is what I ran in when I was in high school! A long, long, long, time ago. What I have learned is that when you find the shoe that is right for you buy 3-4 pairs if you can. Every year they change and supposidly improve a shoe that was fine before.
Try a store with a forgiving return policy and run a few miles on a treadmill or a well paved side walk to give them a whirl. Do that a few times because they sorta change a bit after the first run.

 

[Audryb]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. You've given me quite a few directions to explore.

About my stride: the thing is, I do strike with my heel, but I think I have a problem with rolling forward onto the front of my foot. I feel an excruciating tension/ pain along the bottom outside of my foot as my foot is on the ground. Yesterday (what prompted this post) I was running in a new pair of sneakers after about a mile and a half I actually stopped and took the shoes off and walked home barefoot because it hurt too much to even walk in them. I've heard a little about ChiRunning and I'll definitely check it out.

I'm thinking the suggestions of a minimalist or stability shoe are probably good ones. I've always avoided stability shoes because I've heard they're for over-pronators, but I just looked at my old NB cross trainers which were so perfect when they were new, and noticed that they say "stability" on them in tiny letters. And I don't have this problem running around the yard barefoot, so something minimal might be the ticket too. I've also written down all the suggested models so I can try them out as well.

Thanks again!

 

[mspina]

My initial thought was to try a very minimalist shoe. Any of the Nike's that have Waffle in the name are generally racing flats - others that say something like XC racing (spikeless, of course) would do as well. Nike Frees are another option - they would offer a bit more "shoe" but not a whole lot. There are other brands that make racing flats if Nike's don't work for you.

Zoots have a pretty minimalist shoe - I happen to love these myself.

Or, you can go totally hard core and look into the Vibram 5-Fingers, which are essentially toe socks with a spray of rubber on the bottom so you don't cut yourself if you run on glass.