Today I am going to talk about something that I really should have talked about WAY earlier in these training posts since it is such an important subject!
SHOES!
Whenever someone tells me that they are going to start running or start training for a race - whether it's a 5k, 10k, or half marathon, my first words of advice are to go to a running store to get fitted for shoes! I am so glad that someone told me this when I got into running back in 2005. Luckily I found a great local running store that has been incredibly helpful. Everyone that works there is a runner and they also have an in store physician who can field questions for you.
So what does a shoe fitting entail? At my store, they usually have you take your shoes and socks off and then they have you walk the length of the store. By watching you walk, they are watching for pronation (inward roll of the foot) or supination (outward roll of the foot). They'll also look at your feet to see how high your arches are. Then they make a recommendation based on what they've seen during the assessment. I am a supinator - which is no surprise since I have incredibly high arches. I would show you a picture but my feet are disgusting from marathon training!
I run in Mizuno Wave Riders (pictured above) and absolutely love them. It took me awhile to realize that these were the best shoes for my feet, but now that I know how well they work, I don't even need to try on shoes; when I am due for a new pair, I just walk in, ask for my size, pay, and leave. Interestingly enough, my sister also runs in Wave Riders - just a 1/2 size smaller!
The rule of thumb is to replace your shoes every 400-600 miles. I had to get a new pair in August and was sort of bummed when I had to buy the exact same pair of shoes - I was hoping that the Wave Rider 14 had been released so I could run in a different color, and was sort of hoping for pink ones!
What shoes do you run in?
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Training Tally:
Miles ran last week: 32
Training-to-date mileage: 376
I run in those shoes too! They are heavenly! I love them :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a good post for marathoners, I like the shoes too, it's cool.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you had high arches! I am an overpronater, which is probably why Mizuno's didn't work for me when I tried them.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I always tell people GET A GOOD PAIR OF SHOES!!! Sometimes I am skeptical of people that work at running stores though. I think they are just trying to sell you the most expensive shoe.
I wear Mizzuno Wave Alchemy 9 and I love the color. I'm an overpronator. Socks are the other key factor, they help prevent the blisters!!! I always tell people the same thing you do, go get fitted for shoes!! The running store here is awesome and the price of the shoes is no more expensive then the sporting goods stores.
ReplyDeleteThose look great! It's so good to know that your feet are going to be taken care of - especially when you're going for such huge distances I can imagine that your knees and back tack a beating if you're not taking care of them!
ReplyDeleteRight now I run in.... my mind ;)
Back to back 20 milers? You are amazing and having the right shoes for training like that is a peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteI have Brooks, but the exact kind of Brooks is escaping me at the moment. I'm an overpronater and sadly do not have high arches so I also have inserts to help. (not that I have flat feet, just not pretty girly feet like I wish I had.) They cost a pretty penny but I love them and they work so we'll just go with it :)
ReplyDeleteI have insanely high arches, but with running I think they are starting to fall. Honestly I'm not complaining. They were so high before I couldn't wear any shoe that crossed my instep (maryjane, higher vamp) so I could basically only wear heels/dress shoes or sneakers. Forget boots. Weirdly, I don't suppinate. Hm. Feet are funny.
ReplyDeleteI'm blown away with how amazing you are every time I read one of these marathon posts. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never given much thought to shoes - I'm just a beginner runner, and just indoors for now - but I am using a pair of SKECHERS because I don't own any running shoes. You're right - I think proper shoes could make all the difference - it's good to be safe and looked after while you're going at it :)
I'm blown away with how amazing you are every time I read one of these marathon posts. :)
ReplyDeleteI've never given much thought to shoes - I'm just a beginner runner, and just indoors for now - but I am using a pair of SKECHERS because I don't own any running shoes. You're right - I think proper shoes could make all the difference - it's good to be safe and looked after while you're going at it :)
I run in asics! I really love having nice colored shoes. I like having the pink ones too!
ReplyDeleteMizuno Wave Riders rock my socks off. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny, I do the same thing now. There is no point in trying on other shoes, when for the past 3 years the only thing that's worked is my same Mizuno's.
Don't beat up on having not the best training week. I know this week will be a better one. Plus, you get to do Bear Water Run. I wish Tucson had something like that. That was awesome!!
I walk :) in Keens. We leave this morning for the North Shore. I'll catch up when we return! Cool running!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not even a big runner and I think shoes are the most important thing - thanks for doing this post to make people aware!
ReplyDeleteStill so impressed that you talk about running 12 or 20 miles like it's no big deal!
ReplyDeleteI think I've tried those on before but they didn't seem like they were for me. I'm doing most of my running in Saucony Ride 2 right now...scared to try anything else until after the marathon but I'll probably try something else after it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a pronator and wear Brooks Adrenaline. They are working great for me. I highly agree that the running store who watches you run/walk will be more helpful than a big box sportswear store. My running store also watches us run barefoot on the treadmill and video tapes it. Then they do the same thing if they're trying to choose between one shoe or another. Very cool. I'm so happy I'm busting out a new pair of shoes for this last month of training!
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to put aside money to buy a good pair of shoes. We have a great running store where they can fit you for shoes. You run on a treadmill and I guess that tells them what your stride is like/how your foot hits the treadmill. I want to go there & have them fit me for the right pair because I know I have high arches and I always have pain on my inner arches if I walk on them too long.
ReplyDeleteYou are SO right, though. Shoes are the biggest investment you can make in running. The ones I have I also wear to work so they are FALLING APART! So, yeah, definitely need new shoes PRONTO!
I haven't yet, but really want to make it to a running store to get analyzed! I have no idea what i do or how i do it lol... I have no idea if im running in the right shoes or not... but i have an obsession with nikes and they feel good, so...
ReplyDeleteHaha that is so like me to want pink shoes haha. And even beyond that I always want different colors each time I get new shoes, just to change it up ahha
ReplyDeleteThat is great advice. I need to go get some new shoes. I'm joining a walking club....who knows what might happen!
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what shoes I run in, because it has been a while. I have been meaning to start the C25K program again, and haven't gotten into it yet.
ReplyDeleteI am a New Balance whore ... have been wearing them for years, mostly because they tend to have larger toe boxes and I hate running when my toes feel constricted. I think the last pair of NB's I bought were the 760s ... love them.
ReplyDeleteI just came across your blog, and I'll be following it for sure!
ReplyDeleteThis is great advice!
I wear Saucony and after losing two toe nails after my first marathon, I now go up a 1/2-full size.