Running Shoes

So. I have a pair of Asics that I got as a Christmas gift. They're nice shoes, but I don't think they're actually running shoes. (I suspect they're walking shoes, but I don't have them here at work to verify that.)

I've been wanting to splurge on a pair of really good shoes. There's a running store downtown that I'd like to visit, but what exactly do I say? "Hey, fit me for some new shoes"? Will they know what I mean, or do I need to be more detailed? How much am I going to drop, and is there a fee for fitting? Should I call ahead and possibly schedule an appointment?

Obviously, I've never done this before. I've always just bought cross trainers or whatever straight off the shelf. I'm running more now than...well, pretty much ever, so I'd like to have some excellent shoes.



The second part of this: what kind of running shoes do you have? Do you prefer a certain brand or style? Do you run barefoot, or use a specialty "alternative" shoe? What works for you?

 

Running Store? Oh, they'll know what you mean and suck you in and offer you some really expensive shoes that'll fit your tootsies like a glove. They totally know more about your foot than you do. It'll open your eyes.

...

I typically wear cheap New Balance trail runners with aftermarket insoles. I tend to buy them with a thumb width of toe room while standing and often replace the laces with bungee cords for hot-hot stretchy comfort.

Barefoot running is for weirdos. Given that I live in a world where all sorts of sharp, loose shit is on the ground, I'd rather have some padding. And traction. And the ability to kick stuff with my heel sans crippling injury.

 

Yes, you say "I'd like to buy some new shoes and get fitted." They'll ask some follow-up questions and show you what they think will work best. There's usually no fee for getting fitted, but good shoes will probably run between $75 and $150. You don't need to schedule an appointment.

I've been very brand-loyal to New Balance for training shoes over the years. However, when it comes to racing, I like adidas (stupid auto-correct thinks that should be capitalized, but it's wrong). There are reasons for the racing shoes, but you don't care about those. New Balance, however, has options for people with narrow feet like me (as well as wide feet, if that's a problem). They also have a wide range of shoes for different running styles and distances (that said, most major brands do too).

You should wear socks similar to what you'll run in and something to move comfortably in. Good running stores will send you out for a jog to test the shoes (a few tens of meters and back).

 

Dude. Brooks. and only BROOKS. !@#$%^ Nikes made me lose toe-nails.

I like Brooks PureCadence shoes. Nikes always gave me problems. I used to use Brooks Beasts (for my flat feet) but they caused me to develop severe plantar fascilitis.

Brooks Running Shoes - The Perfect Ride for Every Stride

Your shoe will depend on your gait and foot construction.

A lot of fit guys I met in the Army used the PureCadence, but that'll depend on your feet again.

 

Brooks. I second. One of the important things is how wide your feet are. Most nikes I have worn have a fairly narrow toe box, but my feet aren't wide. My soon to be ex wife has feet that are thick and wide as a shovel blade. Plus her toes didn't flex or bend. So she eventually found sauconys which gave her the room her defective and misshapen feet needed. I have been to a couple places now that will also videotape you on a treadmill so you can see your stride.

 

Excellent advice here, people, thank you.

Strangely enough, as I was standing in line at the store yesterday, my eyes wandered over the magazine racks. Someone had stuck a Runner's World issue in one of the typical women's magazine racks. It just so happened to have a "shoe buyer's guide" article. Excellent.

 

I swear by Mizunos for my super-high arches. I went to a running shoe store and had my feet, stance, and gait analyzed. The cracked up and called each other over to see how very little of my feet touch the ground other than the ball and heel. I tried on nearly every shoe for supinators (my ankles roll out) in the store and end up with these every time. Keep in mind that women's feet can be very different from men's... Especially in ball-to-heel width ratio. I have a broad ball to my foot with a pretty narrow heel, so my feet are quite difficult to fit. Gait is different, too. So be prepared to try on a LOT of shoes to find what feels good. But, 99% of the time, you'll have a great experience, if you give it the time and find the experts to sit down with you.

 

Throw out brand preferences - as you can see here every brand can cater to different feet differently. The brand you think you want may not be the most appropriate for your foot for running.

A reputable store should give you the option to return the shoes/or trade for another pair within a few weeks/30 days. Running down the block and back in them is different than pounding 10 miles in them.

There is also the option to get fitted in store, and then buy the shoe online, if you are trying to be budget conscious. I wouldn't recommend this for your first purchase though, for the reason above.

Also remember that running in your shoes wears them out significantly faster than walking. I was told to replace running shoes every 250-300 miles. I would let others more experienced in running confirm that.