Forums >Gears and Wears>Shoe help please!
Ball of Fury
Hey guys, I need a little shoe help from the experts. I have been running for just about a year and a half and when first assessed, was placed in stability shoes. Have run in Brooks Adrenaline, Ravenna, and recently Nike LunarGlide4 (which I loved but gave me huge blisters) and Saucony Guide 5. However, I went to my LRS this weekend and had them reassess my gait because I really didn't think I needed stability shoes and they agreed with me. I am naturally a forefoot striker and I do not overpronate. So, I purchased a pair of Brooks Pure Flow and so far I love them! I actually ran my 16-miler in them Sunday and it felt fantastic (yes, I realize I should have transitioned more slowly but I tried to put the Guide 5s on at mile 8 and they felt awkward and heavy). Anyway, to make this long story short, I now need at least one additional pair of shoes to run in because I just don't like the Guide 5s. So, my question is....do I just get a 2nd pair of Pure Flow or do I get maybe a little more traditional, but neutral shoe?
PRs: 5K 22:59, 10K 46:54,HM: 1:51:15
levitation specialist
I've only been running for a year, but went thru a similar shoe finding experience as you. I think trying many a shoe until you find that perfect one is part of the learning experience. What I would do(and did) was hold off a while and run with just one shoe that worked well once I found it. Figured I'd put on a few hundred miles on them before I just knew that I'd be safe buying and liking another pair. And then you just rotate a half worn pair with a brand new pair, one gets completely worn out and you then get a new pair....starting the half new and half used cycle all over again.
My reasons for this are two fold:
#1: would I still like the shoe at 100 miles, 200, 300? If not, then I'd be stuck with multiple pairs of shoes that I didn't like or didn't work.
#2: if the shoes fits well, there is no need to rotate with another pair nor do you need to break them in necessarily. The break in idea comes from when shoes were leather and stiff and needed softening up by gradual usage, shoes now are foams and plastic composites, not much break in required(it's more YOU getting used to the shoe!)
I went thru:
Nike Free
Vibram Fivefingers
Soft Star runamoc & dash models
Newton Distance & Terra
^^^^^^^^^-------------running nirvana FINALLY!
Run in your new ones for a while before deciding. I've had shoes I loved suddenly become unusable at 70 miles.
Check out the Mizuno Wave Elixir if you havent already... it's along the same lines as the shoes you have run in, a little lighter and a touch more responsive.
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