Best Running Shoes for a Heavy New Runner?

2»

Replies

  • jsj024519
    jsj024519 Posts: 400 Member
    Too many variables. Go to your local running shoe store and ask the sales rep. W/O seeing your stride, if you pronate/over-pronate, I cant make a recommendation.
  • texnurse
    texnurse Posts: 33 Member
    I started out a heavy runner too, wore Reeboks Realflex through my C25K training and now run 3-4 miles a day, lost 28lbs so far! Definitely go to a running store let them fit you, you don't have to buy shoes there, go find a place with the same or similar shoes on sale. I love reebok or brooks. Get a good playlist going, a good app to track your progress (highly recommend ease to 5K or C25K) focus on your time first, then distance :) Have fun! Nothing like a runner's high!
  • rwhawkes
    rwhawkes Posts: 117 Member
    Agree with the advice to go to a running store for personal service, gait analysis etc.

    I have been using Brooks Beast for years now. It's one of the models that has lasted forever and is supposed to be made for the heavy overpronator which is me. I don't have any felt need to change models once I find one that works, and so I continue to buy the Beast.
  • naner61
    naner61 Posts: 85
    Awesome info! Thanks everyone!
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    Go to a store if you can. Marathon Sports in Boston hooked me up with Brooks Beasts and I ran the Boston Marathon in them in 2000. I am 6'3 and was about 235-240lbs when I ran it.

    Striving to get back to that weight now!
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
    Of course the flip side of this advice is to go minimal and wear one of the barefoot style shoes. This requires some getting used to as it forces you to toe-strike instead of heel-strike but I have several friends who swear by it and have had no injuries resulting from the change.
  • 78Phoenix
    78Phoenix Posts: 12 Member
    Holy cow! That is wonderful information, and so inspirational! :) Thank you!
  • Otterluv
    Otterluv Posts: 9,083 Member
    Look for the belts that have a pouch for your phone, etc. & with water bottles that clip on. My skinny friends can run without drinking water, but because of my weight, my water needs are different.

    I don't doubt that your water needs are different, but they might not be because of your weight. I am still over 200, but if I am running a few miles I don't drink anything. Of course, with me I tend to avoid drinking anything right before I leave the house otherwise I would be searching for a restroom a mile into my run, lol! So maybe it's me that's different :-)

    Or, maybe it's just me ;) I generally run for 45-90 minutes (I'm super slow, so I'm still not getting far). For me, I'd be seriously parched. I don't drink a ton, but the bit I do drink does help.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    So I'm about 260 lbs, and I want to start running. This already sounds crazy. Anyhow, does anyone have any suggestions for a good running shoe for a heavy first-time runner? Also, anything you had to learn the hard way or whatever can save me some headache or some money would be greatly appreciated. :smile: Thanks!

    Here is an article that tells you about pronation. Important to know for getting the correct shoes.
    http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-319-327-7727-0,00.html

    They make some shoes specifically designed for heavier runners (I used to wear them). You will want research the various models, try some on, then shop around for the best price.
  • mjterp
    mjterp Posts: 650 Member
    WELL worth going to a real running shoe store and having them evaluate your gate. I had a gal spend well over an hour with me. I am 247 pounds (more than that when I started). Before I bought the shoes, I was running c25k barefoot on my treadmill. (yeah....yeah....I can't imagine the heat I'm going to get for this one! My feet hurt in shoes...I hate wearing shoes...they are the last thing on when I walk out the door in the morning and the first thing off when I walk in the door at night...and sometimes they come off before I even get in the door)

    Like I said, she watched me walk around, measured my feet (both of them), then asked me about where I would be doing my running. I let her know I"m barefootin' at home, but my first 5k is coming up (this Sunday morning) and I felt I needed shoes for on the course.
    I let her know that I have had issues with heal spurs. She set me up GREAT! I tried on about 8 pair of shoes. And though I measured at an 8 and a half borderline for d (wide) width...I ended up purchasing a size 10D (wide width.) Because I spend so much time barefoot, I needed the broader toebox.

    MY POINT is that running big is SO doable. I have been inspired by other big runners. I have seen inches come off of my thighs and hips (though not much movement on the scale...so don't get discouraged. Losing muscle and gaining fat...the fat takes up more space but muscle weighs more, too!) But the SHOES are so great that I actually use them on my treadmill at home, too! WELL worth the investment. Mine are Brooks navigators, but I tried on several brands (several nikes...which were comfortable...and I LOVED the color of the one pair...but they didn't feel right across my toes...pout)

    Let them guide you. Let them pamper you. Let them try on shoe after shoe...and you walk around and tell them what feels right and what doesn't. They will watch you walk in them and possibly make more suggestions.

    WELL WORTH IT!!!
  • sheddingmyfatsuit
    sheddingmyfatsuit Posts: 28 Member
    I started running in January at 265. It can be done. I followed a C25K training program although it took me til just last weekend to actually finish an entire 5K running. I am now down to about 220.

    As others have said, go to a running store to get fitted.

    And listen to your body. If your knees or hips or ankles are sore, take it a little easier or take an extra rest day from running. Be patient with yourself. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can!!!!
  • dorianaldyn
    dorianaldyn Posts: 611 Member
    GO GET FITTED AT A RUNNING STORE!

    Like so many have said, what works for one will not necessarily work for another!

    I used to wear Mizunos and those were great. I got Asics this last time and they make half of my feet go numb - lesson learned here is to wear them for a little while in the store! Next I might go back to Mizunos or try some Brooks.

    One thing I will always have in all my shoes are the green superfeet insoles. They felt really odd at first, but once I got used to them I realized that I had been tensing my foot inside my shoe when I ran before and with the insoles, my feet can fully relax while running. LOVE THEM!

    Happy Running!
  • shadowkitty22
    shadowkitty22 Posts: 495 Member
    So I agree with everyone on the shoes and the few that have mentioned it, running in pants/capris to prevent shorts creeping. The one random thing I'd like to recommend (that doesn't cost anything as long as you already have a smart phone) is the Nike+ Running app. It keeps track of your miles (can even track the mileage on a specific pair of shoes so you know when to replace them), pace, calories burned (you enter in your gender, age and weight), has a GPS feature to track your routes for when you run outside, allows you to listen to your own music but the fun part is allowing you to get cheers from people liking/commenting on your run when you link it to Facebook. It's just kinda nice to get cheered on unexpectedly when you're running and you feel like you're struggling and someone stumbles upon your post and clicks and then you get a "stadium of cheers".

    Oh and if you're going to run outside and can't carry water with you, I've found that chewing a piece of gum tends to help keep my mouth somewhat hydrated so I'm not all cottonmouth when I finish. Also, if you're like me and have larger arms (thanks to arm jiggle) and find that the armband holders for your phone just isn't comfortable, I've found that my sports bra is a great holder with my boobs all smooshed up in there. Haha
  • 1holegrouper
    1holegrouper Posts: 323 Member
    One other thing. Actually two more things 1) I would only use your running shoes for your run/walk workout only. This saves the cushioning life and support just for your workouts. After about 300 miles or 6 months they will need to be replaced. I prefer to call it retired (I then use the 'retired' pair as my casual sneakers)
    2) After you lose 50% of your desired weight loss don't be surprised if the kind of shoe you need and even your running gait changes. Your body composition is now different and the level of fitness you have obtained is new for you. So everytime its time to buy a new pair I would have this re-evaluated- just in case. That Brook's Ghost may have been your initial pair but as you grow in your running and lose the weight the Saucony Triumph 10 may make more sense at that time, as an example.

Categories