Runners, a little help please

[SeaCat]

I'm looking at getting back into running and I know I'm going to need some decent running shoes. My question to you is what are you running in?

T.I.A.
Cat

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

I've loved every pair of New Balances I've ever owned, and they have that made in the USA thing going for them, too. I've never liked Mizunos, though my husband swears by them. I'm ambivalent towards Brooks and Asics; I've had both good and bad experiences.

However, it's really more about your feet, stance, pronation, etc. Go to a running store (not a sporting goods store), and make sure you bring your running socks. They'll measure you, recommend shoes, and watch you run.

Don't overtrain, and don't trust the teenaged workers.

It's funny you posted this. I spent most of my day trying to talk myself into a pair of Brooks. I'd promised myself a new pair of shoes when I reached my pre-pregnancy time; I got there yesterday, but they don't have any NB's in my size.

 

[sereneone4u]

I was going to say New Balance too...my running is so sporadic and sloppy right now.

But yes, in the fall when it cools down, I am getting fitted and running socks, getting back on track for sure.

 

[SydneyBlake]

Brooks Adrenaline. Best running shoes EVER. Of course, it depends on your foot type, too, probation, etc. Brooks Beast is supposed to be good for severe over-pronaters. New Balance is also good. Also, save your joints and use good form. Avoid heel striking. Run on a soft surface. Good luck and have fun.

 

[lovecraft68]

There is a lesser known brand of running shoe named "saucony" They are the best I have ever used.

Whatever you do stay away from those stupid Vibram things with the toes. I don't care what they say there is no support and your feet will sweat and stink to high heaven.

Although if Sydney were wearing them I would still peel them off with my mouth and kiss her feet.

 

[SydneyBlake]

Although if Sydney were wearing them I would still peel them off with my mouth and kiss her feet.

That is, by far, the SICKEST thing I have ever heard you say!

 

[SydneyBlake]

There is a lesser known brand of running shoe named "saucony" They are the best I have ever used.

Whatever you do stay away from those stupid Vibram things with the toes. I don't care what they say there is no support and your feet will sweat and stink to high heaven.:

I've never tried Saucony. Being tall, I also have big feet, and I always wear men's running shoes. But most men's shoes are too wide, so once I find one that fits, I'm pretty loyal to it.

I've seen those Vibrams. They look weird. However, I tend to think "support" is overrated and misunderstood. A lot of runners look for a thick, cushioned heel. Why? Because they don't run correctly. Landing on the heel is like driving without shocks. (Run barefoot and you'll get a quick physics lesson on proper body mechanics.) So I wonder if those Vibrams promote a more correct running form.

That's just my theory.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

Brooks Beast is supposed to be good for severe over-pronaters.

The Beasts!

I had a pair in college. Endless confusion for my Wisconsin friends, who consistently thought I was bringing a couple of beers on my runs.

Cat, aren't you near water? I'm a big fan of water running as a way to avoid overuse injuries.

 

[lovecraft68]

I've never tried Saucony. Being tall, I also have big feet, and I always wear men's running shoes. But most men's shoes are too wide, so once I find one that fits, I'm pretty loyal to it.

I've seen those Vibrams. They look weird. However, I tend to think "support" is overrated and misunderstood. A lot of runners look for a thick, cushioned heel. Why? Because they don't run correctly. Landing on the heel is like driving without shocks. (Run barefoot and you'll get a quick physics lesson on proper body mechanics.) So I wonder if those Vibrams promote a more correct running form.

That's just my theory.

My company made displays for vibram and we all got a couple of pairs I did not like them and muy claves hurt for a couple of days afterwards. Could be just me. And I was not kidding about the sweat.

 

[lovecraft68]

That is, by far, the SICKEST thing I have ever heard you say!

Stick around the day is young. and there is nothing sick about a good foot fetish.

 

[SydneyBlake]

Stick around the day is young. and there is nothing sick about a good foot fetish.

Lol I figured you'd say something like that. I think I like you. You sick fuck.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

Stick around the day is young. and there is nothing sick about a good foot fetish.

You can come join me in the coffee shop I'm working in. The woman next to me just started trimming her toenails.

Snip, snip, snip . . . am I the only one who finds this repulsive and totally inappropriate?

I covered my coffee with a napkin to protect it from flying debris.

ETA: OK, I'm not the only one:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/...ur-private-business-and-public-transportation

 

[lovecraft68]

You can come join me in the coffee shop I'm working in. The woman next to me just started trimming her toenails.

Snip, snip, snip . . . am I the only one who finds this repulsive and totally inappropriate?

I covered my coffee with a napkin to protect it from flying debris.

ETA: OK, I'm not the only one:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/...ur-private-business-and-public-transportation

ummm no. There is nothing sexy about clipping them. And to do it in public? Little gross. In fact I am appalled.

So.... what color are her toenails?

For that matter what color are yours?

 

[R. Richard]

The best running shoes are the ones the work best with YOUR feet. Definitely go to a running shoe store and talk with someone there who knows what running shoes are all about. If you're realy serious, there are places where they have you run on a machine and then do a stride analysis.

 

[SydneyBlake]

I'm looking at getting back into running and I know I'm going to need some decent running shoes. My question to you is what are you running in?

T.I.A.
Cat

Seacat, your profile says you're in hurricane alley. Where? Texas?

 

[trysail]

Mention of the word vibram reminds me to pass along this interesting etymology.

In 1939 Italian climber Vitale Bramani devised a cleated rubber sole for climbing boots...

Can you guess what that innovation is called? ( Scroll down for the answer )















































Vitale Bramani
"Vibram"
I don't know about you, but I had no idea of this etymology.

Source:
-Maurice Isserman and Stewart Weaver
Fallen Giants: A History of Himalayan Mountaineering from the Age of Empire to the Age of Extremes
New Haven, Connecticut 2008.


I'm sure y'all know the derivation of the brand name Adidas. If not, ask.

 

[dawei]

For running on hard pavement I like Nike Air Max 360. But for running fast on the track I like Nike free 5.0. Also it's always best to try your shoes on and run around in them in the store.

 

[LettersFromTatyana]

So.... what color are her toenails?

For that matter what color are yours?

Hate to disappoint you, LC, but neither of us had/have colored toenails.

 

[lovecraft68]

Hate to disappoint you, LC, but neither of us had/have colored toenails.

Unpainted toenails in the summer? Blasphemy!!!

 

[SeaCat]

Seacat, your profile says you're in hurricane alley. Where? Texas?

South Florida.

Cat

 

[SeaCat]

LOL

I went to two different running shops and had my feet and stride checked. In both shops they shook their heads even as they recomended the same shoes. (New Balance)

The reason they shook their heads is my stride. I seem to run on the balls of my feet and keep my knees flexed at all times. It took a bit of thinking before I figured out where this style came from.

Running Cross Country with a pack.

So now I have to figure out what kind of running I'm going to be doing and then I can choose the style of New Balance to get. (Who knew there were so many types of running shoes? Hell I remember when you didn't buy Running shoes. You bught Sneakers and only had to choose between makers not styles.)

Cat

 

[trysail]

Cat,

The running shoe racket ( and make no mistake about it— it is a racket ) is frustrating for people like me who never did take these things too seriously. I know perfectly well that I'm being raped by the salespeople who babble on about the "multiple shank foam cushion and 4XT design feature provide the perfect combination of shock absorption and support."


I'm thinking, "Yeah, right! Do you want me to bend over now or later?" I know damn well they're going to try to steer me ( within reason ) to the shoe that gives them the highest commission and markup. That's just the way the world works. Sure, the machines and the questions and the pseudo-customization have some basis but don't kid yourself into thinking this is anything other than approximation and marketing.


Like you, I go back to the days of "sneakers." I am horrified at the idea of paying $100 or more for a pair of running shoes. I still use good ol' Jack Purcells ( if you don't remember, they're white canvas tops with flat bottoms that were originally designed for court sports— primarily tennis ) for a lot of things, including boats and bopping around town. Ten years ago these were relative bargains at $35.00. Unfortunately, they became fashionable as something called "retro" and, as a result, they were able to jack the price up to an unconscionable $50.00. Obviously, you can't run in 'em and I'm not suggesting that anybody would ( though we once did)— I'm simply reminiscing.


I'll never forget the first time I put on a pair of running shoes. This was back in about 1980. I'd never run cross-country or done track in school. I was aware of Phil Knight and Nike but I put all the hullabaloo down to another in a long line of fads. Boy, was I wrong! The damn things were light as a feather; it was an Ahah! moment similar to that I got the first time I saw somebody rolling a suitcase on wheels— why on earth hadn't somebody thought of that before? Those trusty Adidas got me through my first long distance events.


Three years ago, I did something right— I waited until January to buy a replacement pair of running shoes. While the timing was more a matter of luck than conscious self-discipline, I got a real bargain for "buying my straw hat in winter" paying something like $75.00.


I wasn't so disciplined last go-round; I bought a pair last September that set me back something like $105.00. So it goes.


Good luck and enjoy your running!

 

[HartMann]

No point to your question

Hi, I have been running a lot, have worn Sauconny, Asics, and a couple of other brands depending on my weight and shape.
But that is besides the point:

If you are serious about running, you owe it to your body to get specialist advice. Noone here can help you by just recommending a brand he likes or uses.
Otherwise (unless you are very lucky) you might do dammage to your knees, shins,ankles, back and about every ligament, muscle and bone in your body.

Please note, this is if you want to seriously start running, i.e. torun 2 or 3 times a week for 30 Minutes or more over a longer period of. If you just need the shoes for once or twice, just put on what fits best.

If serious, go to a runners shop where they really know what they are doing, most of them don't, even specialist shops. Good ones will let you run 100 yards in front of the building, will look at how you run and then recommend a shoe depending on your weight, the surface you will run on, the miles per week and whether you are suppronator, an overpronator or a neutral runner (no that is nothing undecent, it says whether your ankle after your forefoot touches the ground tilts inward, outward or stays straight until the back of the foot comes (nearly) down to the ground.

This might sound a bit extreme, but I several times took a trip of 200 miles, because I did not find a decent shop in my region.

Start slow and then enjoy running, the glow afterwards when you proudly can say: " I did it". Good look.