The Shoe Guide For Runners

Earlier this week I listened to one of my single friends talk about some of the dates she had gone on and how after one date, she could tell that she wasn't really into him, but thought that maybe she should give it another try.  As she was talking about her dating experience, I kept thinking about my running shoes ( even though I WAS listening to what she had to say). I thought how my experience or relationship with my running shoes has been very similar to her dating stories.  

Even though you don't want to judge something ( or someone) on the outward appearance, it is still what catches our eye first.  There are several shoes that I just wanted to like so badly because of how they looked, but the feel was just off so I had to admit to myself that it just wasn't "The One".

I've taken a few shoes out for a run and with in the first four miles I knew that they weren't for me. Yet I felt bad about making that decision only after the first run and thought that I ought to give them another try. But really if they weren't comfy after the first 4 miles, did I really think things would change?

  I have to admit that when I first started running I never had a problem with shoes and each one that I tried on was a good fit.  Since I've started running longer distances, I've had such a problem finding the perfect shoe. I blame this on knowing a little bit more about running shoes now then I did back then. Perhaps I am over analyzing things a bit too much.  One thing that has been helpful for me is that I am an Ambassador for the Altra running shoe brand, therefore I've been able to test out different styles of their shoes.


You may have seen the campaign going around Social media called "Embrace the Space".

This is to show how unique the toe box is in the Altra shoes and how it gives your toes room to "Spread Out". This is my favorite feature of all the Altras and the one thing that has made it hard for me to find another brand of shoe that I like.

I believe that each of these shoes may be the perfect shoe for someone out there but not all of them were the perfect shoe for me. I am just giving you a brief description of what I thought of them......Here goes!

1. The Intuition 1.5:  This was the first Altra shoe that I tried. This was the first time I experience the wide toe box and I loved it. It is a neutral shoe that is flexible and I felt it really moved with my foot. it has moderate cushioning. I realized that these shoes do run small. I got a half size larger than my normal shoe size. After getting a blister under my toe nail after the Princess Half Marathon I realized I should had got a full size larger. I still wear them for training runs though.

2. The Olympus:  Thick shoe? Odd looking? Yes and Yes. This shoe is made for trail and road running which I thought would be perfect for me since half my training runs are on trails.  I was a little taken back about the odd look. I was hesitant to where them in public at first because of that so I was going to make them my treadmill shoes. All this extra cushioning was like Heaven on the tread mill. I couldn't just feel like that on the mill so I decided to start taking them outside to run.  I love how this shoe has a wide foot bed and its shape gives me a great "push off". Something I need since I struggle with a flared out knee and ITBS.  I got this shoe in a full size larger than my normal size. It's a keeper for sure!

3. The Intuition 2.0 has arrived.  I have been wanting a pair of blue running shoes for over year but could not find ones in my size or that fir properly. Since I was a fan of the Intuition 1.5 I was excited to get these.  After wearing them to a running clinic I was told that these shoes did nothing to help my form and that they were too "flat" for me.  I agreed. the fit was good, but I didn't really "feel good" when I ran in them.   I needed a shoe that gave me a better "push off"

4. The Torin- These were the shoe that were suggested to me for that "push off" motion I needed. I found this model to be more of a sleek and fitted shoe.  I thought the foot bed seemed too narrow for me and the arch was a bit high. I felt like I was running on the side of my foot. In an effort to "want" to like them I think I may have taken them on 2 runs. I'm wondering if this contributed to that foot pain I had in my arch for a few days?

5. The Paradigm was another shoe that was suggested to me that would give me the "push off" motion I needed. It is said to be similar to the Olympus, which I loved.  I REALLY liked the look of these shoes ( loved the color combo). They were cushiony as I liked and had a wide foot bed. They are the lightest in weight of all the Altras I have tried yet when I ran in them they felt heavy.  I thought maybe I was just having an "off" run. Later that week I walked the trail in them and felt the same way. It almost felt like I was just "clomp, clomping" along. ( Like I was trying to walk in shoes that were too big for me).  Later that month I read the review of them in Runner's World and they confirmed what I was thinking. These shoes didn't have the flexibility or the motion I was seeking. I do not think they are like the Olympus.

                                               (Review from Runner's World Magazine)


So my verdict is that the Olympus are my favorite. Although things are not all perfect in Shoe land with me right now. I received another pair of Olympus in the mail this week , same style, same size, just a different color. And guess what, these seem too small. The foot bed is perfect but I feel my toes are hitting the edge. I just can't seem to get this shoe thing down!

                                        What has your shoe dilemma been lately?

 

5 Shoes that might help with your knee and foot problems

Do you all remember when I was going to physical therapy and my PT told me that I run with a flare ( and not a good flare). My right leg and knee flare out and I don't know how to control it. You would think it would be as easy as JUST DONT DO IT. But its not.  Sometimes I really think about it on my runs and I try to straighten it out but to be honest, unless you told me I was doing it, I would never know that's what I was doing.

So anyway, when I had the opportunity to go to a running seminar at my local running store, I went.
After the seminar I stuck around and got some individual attention from the owner. She watched me walk and run. I didn't even have to tell her what my problem was because she spotted it right away.

In an effort to keep my knee straight when I run, she suggested a shoe with more of a rocking motion, something that can help with my initial "push off".  She had me try on several pairs that she thought would work for me. She had me run up and down the sidewalk outside of her shop. At this point I was letting the shoe decision entirely up to her. Which shoes did she think helped my form the best?

So, we decided on what pair she thought was best. I was actually surprised that the price was reasonable to.   I wore these new shoes around the house all weekend, and then took them for a 4 mile run that Monday.  After the first mile, I just wasn't feeling the comfort in these shoes. They were feeling a little too narrow for me and by mile 3 I knew a blister was starting to form.

My initial thought on these shoes was that they weren't going to work for me. They just didn't make me excited to want to lace them up and go run. I felt bad at first and thought that maybe I should give them another try but honestly, if I didn't like them after 4 miles, I didn't see the need to get them any more dirty than I had already got them if I was going to return them anyway.

So, they went back to the store and I did find another pair I am currently trying out.

If you find yourself in the same situation as me and have one foot or knee that flares out more, you might want to try one of these shoes that gives you a better lift off and therefore puts your knee in a straighter position.

1. Brooks Ghost

2. Altra Torin

3. Altra Paradigm

4. Adidas Energy Boost

5. Saucony Ride

After speaking with a shoe brand representative who is also a medical student studying in bio mechanics, he told me that this type of shoe can help with my problem but it would merely just be a band-aid for what is really wrong. He suggested that my flare out had something to do with a pelvic problem. Since then I had got X-rays done in that area and everything is fine so I don't really know what my flare problem is stemming from, but I hope the shoes do help straighten it out.   ~M

Anyone else have a problem with their knee or foot flaring out?  have you found a pair of shoes that help your running form?