Running Shoes
Running on the right shoes for your foot is critical.Running on the wrong shoe (size, style, too old) can cause all kinds of problems:
- Sore feet
- Sore shins
- Sore knees
- Sore hips
- Blisters
- Plantar Fasciitis
- IT band problems
- Sore lower back
- This list could go on, and on, and on…
Our bodies are all different, and therefore we all run differently. Running shoes are specifically made for our feet based on whether we have normal, flat or medium arches. Our arches determine whether our feet are neutral, pronate, or supinate, respectively. And thus, shoes are categorized as neutral, motion control, and stability, respectively again.
For years, I was running on the wrong shoe. I didn’t think this was a problem until I ran 26.2 miles. My feet felt broken. I probably did get mild stress fractures. Being the (new) problem solver that I am, I decided to fix this problem. My solution? Have a professional tell me which shoe I should be running on.
This is what I discovered:
Goodbye Asics, Hello Brooks
I finally got around to doing something today that I have been trying to do since I ran the marathon: I went to Road Runner Sports and got fitted for a running shoe that is the correct shoe for my foot. I had my foot measured (I was running on a shoe 1/2 size too small), I was videoed running on the treadmill (I have a very slight pronation on my right foot, which might be why my Achilles is STILL bothering me), my left foot is normal, though, the shoe I was running on is made for over pronators, which explains why my feet felt broken at mile 24 of the marathon.I was also fitted for insoles.
Next came the trying-on of shoes. My feet wanted shoes in the “neutral” category. I was running on a shoe from the “stability” category. No good.
First shoe I tried on was the Brooks Ghost 4. I have heard great things about Brooks. I tried the shoe on. It felt good. I ran on the treadmill with it, and it still felt good. Then…the sales guy put in the insole, which had been formed to my foot. It felt REALLY good. So much more support. But, I hadn’t made my decision quite yet.
The second shoe I tried on was the Mizuno Wave Runner. This shoe felt like it gave a tad more support, but my right toe hit the top of the shoe, and I was already battling one black toenail, I didn’t want another. I don’t think my toe was hitting because the shoe was too small, I think it was just not designed for my toes.
The third shoe he brought out, I didn’t even try on. It was a Nike, and it was UGLY. Also, I ran on Nikes before I switched to Asics, and I wasn’t too happy with them.
So, I decided to go with the Brooks. They were only $89.95, and I got 30% off today. I also got the insoles, which I will need to replace every 3rd time I get new shoes. They give my feet so much more support, and with all the miles I am going to be putting on my feet, and the problems I had during the last part of the marathon, I want to take care of my feet.
This was June 2010. I have gone through three pairs of Ghost 4′s since then, and I am on my fourth pair now, but the current shoe is a bit different than the one I have been running on.
You will read about Brooks a lot here.
- I am a big fan of the company.
- They are local, based out of Bothell, WA.
- My friend is a fit model for them, so I get the “friends and family” discount.
- I have loved every product of theirs I have tried.
- My dream is to be sponsored by them.
- I am currently part of the Brooks Footwear Test Program. It’s a pretty cool program that will allow me to test Brooks shoes, and keep them for free. (Unfortunately, I cannot reveal any of the information on the product I am testing).
My Current Shoe:
Ghost 4 GTX.
Same shoe as the Ghost 4, just in Gore-tex. Pretty much a necessity for a Seattle-based runner. After too many long runs in the rain (hard to avoid living in Seattle) resulting in soggy feet, and subsequent blisters, I decided to research “waterproof” shoes. Lo and behold, Brooks makes a Gore-tex shoe, and it just so happens to be the shoe I was currently running in! I was excited. So, I ordered those shoes, and they arrived…the day after I ran 14 miles in the pouring rain. And of course they arrived on a day that is filled with sunshine in a week that is forecasted to not have any rain. But, unfortunately (or fortunately because I wanted to try out my shoes!) the rain did come and left some nasty (or nice, depending on how you look at it) puddles for me to try out the shoes. I felt like a kid with new rain boots dying to try them out in some puddles!
First run:
Pros:
- Solid shoe. My foot felt secure.
- Springy
- Good tread
- Waterproof
Cons:
- Not a fan of the color: black. They remind me of “workout” shoes.
- Seemed to not breathe as much, probably due to the Gore-Tex. Feet seemed to sweat more.
I had read good reviews on the shoe. The only con people wrote about was the shoelaces had a tendency to come untied. I always, always double knot my shoes, so this wasn’t a problem at all for me. Also something to note: the shoe seemed a bit larger then the Ghost 4. I ordered the same size, but probably would have been better off with a half size smaller. Not a huge problem since I would rather have my shoe too big to avoid black toenails, but I just have to lace a bit tighter.
