Running shoes?

BrianSharpe wrote: »

Dawnog wrote: »

I don't think I gave what you call terrible advice advising to go to a specialist running store to enable someone to get the correct running shoes, its just common sense. As was specified if you had read the ladies post, she was after shoes not too pricey, I was giving advice to save some money. My husband runs a small business so I do know how difficult it is to keep going, but I also know selling a quality product at a reasonable price keeps good customers. Sorry about the rant but I was just trying to give the advice that was asked.

So your hubby would appreciate someone getting free services and then hiring someone else? It's not common sense, it's treating a small business shabbily. If enough people do this the small businesses disappear (in scuba diving we've seen tons of shops go under, kind of hard to get your tanks filled over the internet and compressors are pretty pricey) and many running shops do a lot more than selling shoes. For example, here in Canada Running Room organizes free learn to run and group run programs (I know, good public relations for them...) and supplies pace bunnies for races.

Like I said, there's more to value than just the price.

I agree on this! I have shopped at Running Room and Runner's Choice in the last couple years only because the gear I was looking for (a flip belt) was not sold at New Balance - although I do also like Running Room and Runner's Choice as they have a great selection of clothing and gear aside from shoes. Now I don't exclusively wear NB running clothing, but I have some of it and I love it. However, for shoes I only go to NB, and the NB store at that. I'm sure I could go across the border - I'm only like an hour or so from Port Huron - and find super cheap, discounted pairs of my shoe. But I don't. When I walk into NB, they know who I am. They know what I've bought, they know what I like, they've listened to my struggles in being an overweight runner. They know me. They've helped me through various running clinic sessions . . . and more than that - I just like them. They're a good group of people, and all of the sales people I have worked with are actually runners so they can speak from experience when I ask a question. So while yes, you may pay a bit more going retail you will also get a lot more out of it, too.

I started running a couple of months ago and I just bought my first pair of proper running shoes. I was wearing my old neutral shoes and was getting painful shin splints, I was starting to think I night have to quit running! I couldn't afford to go to a specialist running shop and I didn't want to use their services and then buy elsewhere so I did all my research online and then made an educated guess. I spent a good couple of weeks researching foot type, pronation etc. I watched some videos on YouTube, examined my footprint to see what my arches were like, looked at the wear marks on the bottom of my old shoes, and researched the type of leg pain I was having etc. It all pointed to a slight overpronation so I decided I probably needed a stability shoe. I then researched what type of shoe would be best for me and ordered myself a pair online. I absolutely love them and my shin splints have completely gone!

It maybe was a bit of a gamble doing it by myself but I certainly did save myself some money doing it that way. There are some very useful resources online you just need to spend the time doing a bit of research.

stephmofo wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much about taking advantage of free shoe fittings and gait analysis, if too many people abuse it, they will charge for it. Little children are making these running shoes in poor countries, life isn't fair, it never has been. Look out for yourself first, if you like the sevice and have a little bit of extra money to spare, by all means buy the shoes at the shop, if not, don't be ashamed, find it cheaper online!

Ah good, the tragecy of the commons.

Some people will always behave like parasites and damage things for everyone else.

Got to love people recommending that being the parasite is the way ahead.

Personally I love Nike Unfree 5.0 they're really light, and have aeration built in to them. My favourite pair of shoes I've ever bought

I'm going to go against the grain here, based on my own personal experience...

Go to a department store (Kohls, Dick's Sporting Goods, whatever) and try on a bunch of shoes until you find one that feels good. Do it at your own pace, without a sales person hovering over you. Once you find a comfy model of shoe, buy that shoe in a full size larger than you normally wear. With some savvy shopping--especially this time of year with all the holiday sales--you should be able to find something decent for a reasonable price.

This is precisely what I did when I first started running, although I didn't know to size up back then. After putting 300 miles on that first pair of Asics Gel-Flux (purchased from Kohls for less than $50) and reading over and over how imperative it is to be professionally fitted, I went to 2 different specialty running stores and ended up spending a lot of cash on shoes that actually were NOT the best fit for me. I enjoy trying out different brands of shoes, but ultimately I always keep a pair of Asics Gel-Flux in my shoe rotation.

As it turned out, I knew my feet better than anyone else. The same may be true for you.

agreed. also because it feels good doesn't mean that it will serve you while you run. It might be great walking around shoes but does it have enough grip? How does the insides hold up? Are you running treadmill, track, asphalt, etc
considering the number of people that are running, i think it does show that shoe technology is preventing injuries as the rate of injury has not increased.

SparklySarah412 wrote: »

I started running a couple of months ago and I just bought my first pair of proper running shoes. I was wearing my old neutral shoes and was getting painful shin splints, I was starting to think I night have to quit running! I couldn't afford to go to a specialist running shop and I didn't want to use their services and then buy elsewhere so I did all my research online and then made an educated guess. I spent a good couple of weeks researching foot type, pronation etc. I watched some videos on YouTube, examined my footprint to see what my arches were like, looked at the wear marks on the bottom of my old shoes, and researched the type of leg pain I was having etc. It all pointed to a slight overpronation so I decided I probably needed a stability shoe. I then researched what type of shoe would be best for me and ordered myself a pair online. I absolutely love them and my shin splints have completely gone!

It maybe was a bit of a gamble doing it by myself but I certainly did save myself some money doing it that way. There are some very useful resources online you just need to spend the time doing a bit of research.

I did the exact same thing. Some trial and error too. I tried a pair of Saucony's once that were terrible right off the bat, so I gave them to my daughter, but I had a different pair of Saucony's that I bought from Famous Footwear years ago that were wonderful. Then I tried a pair of Brooks Ghost and those are great so I have had 3 pairs of those. This morning I just ordered a pair of Brooks Adrenaline's that were on sale from Running Warehouse. Ghost's are more neutral, but I want to try a support shoe so I ordered Adrenaline's.

Running Warehouse, online, has great shoe analyzer. It has great info on types of shoes and specifics on each shoe and you can even upload a video of your run and they can do the gait analysis from there, although I have never done it. I mostly run on asphalt so I'm lucky to get 3 months out of a pair anyway before the tread is completely gone.

Just start with a basic pair of shoes. If you find they aren't working, try another until you find something you like. If you find you love running then you will want to invest in a nicer pair but in the beginning just run in what you have.