Ugh, running shoes

[mrsjthompson]

Let me take you on a little walk down mrsjthompson's Memory Lane of Running Shoe Frustration:

Pair 1. Newton Lady Isaacs – too much stability = knee pain (and stress fractures)

Pair 2. Newton Gravity – BROKE MY FOOT

Pair 3. Brooks PureCadence – love them, but not padded enough for half marathon mileage

Pair 4. Brooks Transcend – LOVE them, but too much stability = knee pain

Pair 5. Brooks Ravenna – shin discomfort. I think the insoles are just too stiff.  Gonna be returning these this weekend

The kicker is, I've been fitted in each and every pair of these shoes at one of 4 running stores.  I'm starting to think these people don't really know what they're doing after all.

SO, I've gotta find some new shoes this weekend.  I'm going to try on Glycerins for starters.  Recommend your favorite neutral, non-minimalist shoes with pretty good arch support.  My goal is to finally wear a pair of shoes out at some point.

[Susie]

Maybe try a different brand? Mizuno, Asics, Saucony, Adidas, New Balance...? Seems like you are falling between the cracks on the Brooks shoes.

I am not a great source of suggestions though because I still run in Asics Nimbus 14s. Um, the 17s are out now. I'm on my last hoarded pair of 14s; I didn't like the 15s, and didn't try the 16s. When these kick it, I'm going back to square one.  The Nimbuses are neutral and offer reasonable support (more than Cumulus).  I also wear inserts in mine.

[sweetptater]

I feel your pain. I was fitted for, bought, and returned 5 separate pairs of running shoes before I finally found some that felt right. I swear the shoe store just sighed when they saw me walk through the door. In the end I got Asics Kayanos. Now that I've found them, I'm sticking with them. I actually ordered my last pair off Amazon. I just bought Superfeet inserts a few weeks ago too and LOVE them.

[katyintx]

I use the Brooks Defyance. They are actually advertised by Brooks too as a neutral shoe, whereas the Ravennas and Transcends are advertised as more support. Maybe that one will work? I use the PureFlows for shorter runs and the Defyance for my longer runs and I love them. They also have a 12mm drop so not a minimalist shoe.

I hope you finally find a pair!

[mrsjthompson]

Susie, yes, I'm open to other brands.  My sister recommended the Nimbus to me so I'm trying that one too.  I just don't know anything about other brands' models.

@vtcupcake: The Transcends forced my feet to the outside to the point they rubbed the ground on the outside along my heel and shaved off the outsole!  


It's too bad too.  I loved running in those shoes otherwise.  Like running on a cloud.

I'm going to ask the running store about insoles when I take the Ravennas back.  Believe it or not no store has ever suggested insoles.  Better arch support seems to help with the shin issues I have.

[labbie]

What about the purecadence plus some insoles for extra cushioning? It's such a crapshoot finding the perfect shoe and then they end up changing it. Ugh. Good luck!

[taratru]

I loved glycerins for a realllllly long time. Cushiony neutral goodness.

[foundmylazybum]

Um. What PT or strengthening are you doing? This isn't a shoe issue.

[hannahb]

I'm going to go with foundmylazybum and recommend seeing a PT. You've tried stability shoes, neutral, and low drop and still have issues somewhere with all. There may be something else (cough weak hips cough) that are contributing to your issues. Many of the running stores know what to look at in regards to your feet but fail to look higher up the chain.

[foundmylazybum]

Mar 21, 2015 12:47:45 GMT -5 hannahb said:

I'm going to go with foundmylazybum and recommend seeing a PT. You've tried stability shoes, neutral, and low drop and still have issues somewhere with all. There may be something else (cough weak hips cough) that are contributing to your issues. Many of the running stores know what to look at in regards to your feet but fail to look higher up the chain.

#nottheirjob #knowyourlane lol.

[Deleted]

Brooks Launch!!!

[mrsjthompson]

Thanks everyone. I went with Asics Gel Nimbus, but I might get a pair of glycerins as a back up.

foundmylazybum and hannahb, oh absolutely there's an imbalance! My whole left side is weaker than my right with some nerve damage resulting from my back surgery, and because of the spinal fusion and hardware, I basically have only one plane of motion in my hips. I do have a sports chiro-prescribed hip stretching routine and a set of hip strengthening exercises that I do several times a week, and things are improving, but it's likely that the imbalances will never be fully corrected. But I just don't want my knees to hurt. They didn't in all the shoes, just the really corrective ones, the Lady Isaacs and Transcends.