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Help! My feet are officially weird! (Read 1064 times)


TRIing to beat the heat!

    I Had my running gait taped today and also had iStep analysis (which spits out a computerized blueprint of your foot). The iStep reported that I have very high arches (no surprise to me there) with a lot of pressure at the ball and heel of each foot (no surprise there either). The surprise came when I had my running gait videotaped. I have mild overpronation of BOTH feet... more so on the right foot than the left. I have been running in neutral cushioned shoes for 250 miles now (Asics Nimbus IX) with no real issues, so this surprised me quite a bit. Normally I believe high arches = supination or neutral gait; not overpronation; but darn, I saw it right there on the video with my own two eyes. My feet... are officially... weird! Anyway, so out comes the sales associate with stability shoes. I tried on about 7 or 8 different pair-- none of which felt anywhere near as nice as my Nimbus IX's (or the new Nimbus X's... which are heaven, by the way). Still, home I went with a pair of Mizuno Wave Nirvanas (which felt the best out of all the stability shoes that they provided me with to try). I ran 4.5 miles in them on the t-mill this evening and ugh... clip-clop, heavy, noisy, felt like I was running ON and WITH bricks! I have a 30-day test-run guarantee with the store that I purchased them at, so I can take them back; however, what do I do now? What would you do? Should I just go back to the Nimbus? Maybe stick an arch insert in there for extra stability? There isn't one company out there who markets their running shoes towards people with very high arches AND overpronation! Egads! I feel lost!

    2012 Goals

    Sub-1:42 for half marathon √ (1:41 at Disney, Jan '12)

    Sub-22 for 5k √ (21:51 in Sept '12)

    BQ for marathon- FAIL


    A Saucy Wench

      were you having any problems? If not I would stick to your old neutral cushioned. Usually what feels right is right.

      I have become Death, the destroyer of electronic gadgets

       

      "When I got too tired to run anymore I just pretended I wasnt tired and kept running anyway" - dd, age 7

      zoom-zoom


      rectumdamnnearkilledem

        There isn't one company out there who markets their running shoes towards people with very high arches AND overpronation! Egads! I feel lost!
        I hear you on weird feet...I have wide, bordering on flat feet and I'm starting to suspect that I should be in a neutral shoe (kind of the opposite of what you're dealing with). I currently run in lightweight, mild stability shoes, but I'm starting to have mild peroneal tendonitis and knee issues on my right side--last time I had this problem all that solved it was going down a degree in stability. The only thing less stable than what I currently wear is neutral. I've done a few shorter runs in the past in neutral shoes and had no discomfort issues. When I look at my legs from behind my ankles go pretty much straight up, not tilting inwards like overpronators typically do, so I guess I'm not too surprised. What I would recommend doing is finding an insole that adds no additional pronation control. Even though my feet are more on the flat side, I like a shoe with a higher arch "bump." I think because it helps keep my foot from bottoming out so much when I'm bearing weight (that motion seems to make the tendonitis issues worse). I've been very happy with the Sof Sole "Athlete" and "Arch" models of insoles. They are a firm, flexible gel. Not super lightweight, but definitely nicer than the flimsy stock insoles in most shoes.

        Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

        remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

             ~ Sarah Kay

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        rectumdamnnearkilledem

          were you having any problems? If not I would stick to your old neutral cushioned. Usually what feels right is right.
          And that, too. If you've been happy with what you're wearing and have no injuries, I wouldn't mess too much.

          Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

          remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

               ~ Sarah Kay


          TRIing to beat the heat!

            were you having any problems? If not I would stick to your old neutral cushioned. Usually what feels right is right.
            None at all... other than the fact that my current pair of Nimbus feel deflated (approx. 250 miles worth of running + additional walking mileage + about 30 hours of aerobics). Myabe the old adage is right: if it aint broke, don't fix it!

            2012 Goals

            Sub-1:42 for half marathon √ (1:41 at Disney, Jan '12)

            Sub-22 for 5k √ (21:51 in Sept '12)

            BQ for marathon- FAIL

            zoom-zoom


            rectumdamnnearkilledem

              None at all... other than the fact that my current pair of Nimbus feel deflated (approx. 250 miles worth of running + additional walking mileage + about 30 hours of aerobics). Myabe the old adage is right: if it aint broke, don't fix it!
              Totally is. And don't use your running shoes for walking and aerobics--that counts towards mileage (and they offer no lateral protection which will help keep you from turning an ankle during aerobics--a cross-trainer of some sort would be better for that). So they probably are shot.

              Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to

              remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.    

                   ~ Sarah Kay


              TRIing to beat the heat!

                And don't use your running shoes for walking and aerobics--that counts towards mileage (and they offer no lateral protection which will help keep you from turning an ankle during aerobics--a cross-trainer of some sort would be better for that). So they probably are shot.
                Yep! I learned about that little fact too late. I have cross-trainers for all of those wonky gym classes now. Yes

                2012 Goals

                Sub-1:42 for half marathon √ (1:41 at Disney, Jan '12)

                Sub-22 for 5k √ (21:51 in Sept '12)

                BQ for marathon- FAIL

                  I'm still a newbie, so what do I know...but, I finally got fitted for running shoes at a running store, and they said I needed stability shoes versus the neutral shoes I was wearing. I must say I thought something was up, since I was getting some knee pain. Anyway, first two runs in the new shoes were just as you described. I felt like I was learning to run. I was CLOMPING not running. However, by my third run, and every run since then, I have felt great! No knee pain, and I don't feel like I'm clomping anymore. I had no problems in the old shoes until I started upping my mileage. Maybe try out a couple more runs in the new ones to see how you feel...

                  http://www.runningnotes.net


                  TRIing to beat the heat!

                    I'm still a newbie, so what do I know...but, I finally got fitted for running shoes at a running store, and they said I needed stability shoes versus the neutral shoes I was wearing. I must say I thought something was up, since I was getting some knee pain. Anyway, first two runs in the new shoes were just as you described. I felt like I was learning to run. I was CLOMPING not running. However, by my third run, and every run since then, I have felt great! No knee pain, and I don't feel like I'm clomping anymore. I had no problems in the old shoes until I started upping my mileage. Maybe try out a couple more runs in the new ones to see how you feel...
                    Definite food for thought! I was also thinking that maybe I just need to try some more models. I typically gravitate towards Asics, but the only Asics shoe that the salesgirl brought out were the Gel-3000's. I wonder why she didn't bring out the Kayanos or any of the other gazillions "structured cushioning" that Asics offers (at least accoridng to their website)?

                    2012 Goals

                    Sub-1:42 for half marathon √ (1:41 at Disney, Jan '12)

                    Sub-22 for 5k √ (21:51 in Sept '12)

                    BQ for marathon- FAIL


                    jules2

                      Who can you trust ? A friend of mine who's a physio says most running shop assistants don't know what they are doing and if I owned a running shop I'd be tempted to push shoes that make the biggest profit or to clear stock. I was lucky and got some othdontics made by the sports injury clinic at my local hospital and since then have had no real problem, despite my advanced age! I seriously wonder how much of shoe technology is b**l s**t and that maybe a set of decent othdontics is all you need. As I read recently considering all the "advances" in shoe design how come so many runners still get injured? My advice is if you find a pair of shoes that work buy several pairs.

                      Old age is when you move from illegal to prescribed drugs.

                      sdewan


                      2010 Goofy Trainee

                        I Had my running gait taped today and also had iStep analysis (which spits out a computerized blueprint of your foot). The iStep reported that I have very high arches (no surprise to me there) with a lot of pressure at the ball and heel of each foot (no surprise there either). The surprise came when I had my running gait videotaped. I have mild overpronation of BOTH feet... more so on the right foot than the left. I have been running in neutral cushioned shoes for 250 miles now (Asics Nimbus IX) with no real issues, so this surprised me quite a bit. Normally I believe high arches = supination or neutral gait...
                        Welcome to the club. I have very high arches coupled with severe over-pronation. I've been trying to find the right combination of orthotic + shoe for almost a year now, but still no luck. Walking I have a perfectly neutral gait. But there are at least two reasons why I pronate when I run: 1) My hip joints have limited range of motion, with my toes pointed outward normally. When I run, my foot doesn't roll from the heel to the toe, but partially rolls from the outside to the inside because of this. 2) My ankles have limited range of motion. Whereas most people can dorsiflex their feet making an acute angle between their foot and calf, my ankle is bone-on-bone at about 90 degrees. This causes me to favor running on the balls of my feet allowing my foot to pronate. The supposed solution for this is heel lifts. In theory with a proper orthotic to counter the pronation, I should be able to run in neutral shoes. But so far that is not the case. If your current neutral shoes are working for, consider yourself lucky and continue to use what works. But be careful if you start upping your mileage. Things can change when you get into the 30mpw range.

                        Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream...

                        AnneCA


                          Just piling on to say that I am also a high-arched overpronator. By "high arches," I mean that when I do the wet footprint test, I basically don't have any line connecting my heel and forefoot. Anyway, I run with an orthotic (courtesy of an orthopedist) in a neutral shoe. That worked fine for quite a while (esp. as my mileage was low), but as some minor aches and pains are starting to appear, I'm thinking maybe my geometry has changed enough with age and children that I should get reevaluated. That's the only reason I'd change, though -- I completely agree with the other comments -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
                            Slight OP is normal, dont let the sales guy talk you into more ($$$$) expensive shoes. Your ankles will strengthen, they'll adapt over time. The goal is to not injure yourself doin it. I'm a big, heavy distance runner, but run faster marathons for my age and weight. But also have high arches and did at one time OP and the gait specialists wanted me in Brooks Beast. I knew in my heart that lighter stability shoes were the the way to go 15 years ago. I have been in light performance neutral shoes for awhile. Lighter shoes woithout injuries is the way to go.