Running Shoes, advice needed.
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prdavies1949
Posts: 326 Member
Hi all, I am fairly new at running long distances so am looking for some advice. When I started running last winter I was running in ordinary store bought trainers. I had a lot of problems with joint pain as you might expect. I read here on MFP that I needed to get to a specialist shop which I did. They were great. I was checked out on a running machine and my gait analysed and a pair of trainers were produced. I was told that these would suit me down to the ground. They were £100 ($150), well if these will do the job I thought I will pay for them. I ran in them and was amazed, so comfortable and the aches and pains gradually disappeared.
Now 6 months later, lots of training and 2 10ks and a half marathon under my belt I read that after just 300 miles in them I need to throw them away and spend another £100. Is this correct and will I be spending £200 or maybe £300 a year from now on?
Now 6 months later, lots of training and 2 10ks and a half marathon under my belt I read that after just 300 miles in them I need to throw them away and spend another £100. Is this correct and will I be spending £200 or maybe £300 a year from now on?
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Replies
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Tossing them out after a strict 300 miles isn't necessarily true. That's probably a good time to integrate a new pair, but if the worn pair has good fit, form, and function, then keep running in them. However, you can expect to shell out money for shoes on a regular basis, and you'll know when they start to feel different (splints, aches, loss of support). You wouldn't drive safely on bald/rotting tires, so why would you do the same for your feet?0
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Depends on the shoes. Mine are good for about 500 miles. I have heard others say they use theirs to 700 miles. But you will have to replace them eventually. They wear out.0
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I always can feel it in my knees when it's time to replace my shoes. I am always on the lookout for last years model or someone having a sale so I can buy them a little cheaper. As much as I like to support my local running store it can get expensive, so I usually buy my first pair of the year there then scour the internet when I need to replace them.0
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Hi all, I am fairly new at running long distances so am looking for some advice. When I started running last winter I was running in ordinary store bought trainers. I had a lot of problems with joint pain as you might expect. I read here on MFP that I needed to get to a specialist shop which I did. They were great. I was checked out on a running machine and my gait analysed and a pair of trainers were produced. I was told that these would suit me down to the ground. They were £100 ($150), well if these will do the job I thought I will pay for them. I ran in them and was amazed, so comfortable and the aches and pains gradually disappeared.
Now 6 months later, lots of training and 2 10ks and a half marathon under my belt I read that after just 300 miles in them I need to throw them away and spend another £100. Is this correct and will I be spending £200 or maybe £300 a year from now on?
Not necessarily.
A recent study demonstrated that the running shoes do not lose their cushioning at a linear rate. The loss of cushion is quick (something like 35% in the first 100k or so) and then the foam gradually loses the ability to absorb shock at a linear rate (I do not have a link for you, sorry).
Another good development is that you may not need expensive shoes or insoles. As a new runner, I bought into the idea that I needed insoles and stability shoes. After about a year of running, I switch to a "neutral performance" shoe and my insoles are gone. An important factor is that as we run we improve not only out muscular strength but we also improve our structural strength and we improve how we run. Unless you're a heel striker, you may well find that you have no need for insoles and you can run in a "neutral" shoe ("stability" shoes are, generally speaking, more expensive than a neutral shoe).
Wearing shoes out is just a fact of life for runners. Running is not a cheap hobby but the health benefits are amazing!0 -
Depends on the shoe and your weight and gait.
I wear Vibram Five Fingers and am a light runner (5'6" and 119 lbs). I replaced my last pair after 70 miles. Would have still been running in them, but got a hole in the toe and ripped a seam. (I'm also a klutzy runner)0 -
Thanks for the advice, I will get another pair and run them in tandem for a few more miles then ditch the old ones. Who would have thought that extending my life could turn out so expensive.0
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Thanks for the advice, I will get another pair and run them in tandem for a few more miles then ditch the old ones. Who would have thought that extending my life could turn out so expensive.
On the one hand, yes you will need to shell out cash regularly. However that will depend on how much you use them. One trick you might want to try is going in after a long run and try a new pair out on their treadmill. If you notice a big difference it is time to buy a new pair, if not no big deal. I like to try new shoes right after a long run because I have found my body gives me very honest feedback very quickly without having to think about it.0 -
Thanks for the advice, I will get another pair and run them in tandem for a few more miles then ditch the old ones. Who would have thought that extending my life could turn out so expensive.
Oh, and just think about how much money you are saving on meds and junk food! ;-)0 -
Thanks for the advice, I will get another pair and run them in tandem for a few more miles then ditch the old ones. Who would have thought that extending my life could turn out so expensive.
Oh, and just think about how much money you are saving on meds and junk food! ;-)
Ha ha. Not just the junk, before I started my new life I was spending up to £1000 a year on fine wine.0 -
Find a pair you like, then buy them online when they are on sale. I rarely pay more than $60 for shoes, and I don't wear cheap ones.0
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I go through a pair every three to four months. Good advice on stocking up when they're on sale.0
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I go through about 6 to 8 pair a year. Be glad you are just getting started.
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