running shoes

[stillrunning]

i used to hate running when i was a kid. but when i got into sports like basketball and volleyball when i was in high school, i got the hold of it. I only stopped running/jogging when i started working. but i'm trying to get back on it now.

gonna buy a new pair of running shoes this weekend! any suggestions for good running shoes?

[sg516]

if you have a sports authority or dicks sporting goods near you you should go to their shoes department and see if they have one of those machines that analyzes your feet. they have them around here. you just walk across it striking with the left than walk across it strike with the right and tell it what activities you do and how often and it will bring up a list of shoes that best match your feet in different price ranges. then take that list to your local running store and buy the shoes there. Support local businesses!

[emartin10]

I'm lucky, Boulder Running Company is my local running shop, but I would suggest getting a proper shoe fit. It will ward off a LOT of potential injuries. Good luck!

E

[UpNorth]

Originally Posted by emartin10

I would suggest getting a proper shoe fit. It will ward off a LOT of potential injuries

Absolutely! To add to that your best bet for getting the right shoe for you is to go to a local running store.

[Barrett]

Totally agree with emartin, shoes are the only thing you need to run, but if you get a wrong pair you will be paying for it for a long time.

[sg516]

i only suggest the machine to try to eliminate human error. i bought my first pair of shoes from a local running shop that has a great reputation and the shoes i got hurt my knees and ankles like crazy. i used the machine to help pick the next pair and they are awesome. i still know the shop i went to initially is a good store but the guy just must have made a mistake.

[emartin10]

I think a lot of those shops have certain shoes they make more money on, so they push them. Boulder Running Company takes all commissions, and pools them (from my understanding) so there isn't a big push by each sales person to sell a specific shoe. Most good shops will set you up pretty good (most!!!) - so see if you can find a running specific shop. They may be a bit more pricey, but get fit, buy a pair there, and do the rest of your shopping online...

E

[Run4Fun]

Depends what kind of feet you have, but dont be afraid to dish out some dough. Good shoes are worth it. For stability I like to use Saucony, which is pretty much all I use.

[sg516]

i am using brooks at the moment and i like them. but i have always been a fan of asics. i just like the way they fit my feet and they seem to offer good support. unfortunately they didnt have the shoe i wanted in wide so i got brooks. but i have no complaints with them. i tried mizuno but was not very happy with them. they actually seemed to support too much if that makes sense. it felt like they never 'broke in' even though i ran in them a lot.

[Run4Fun]

Well if the Brooks are working for you stick with them.

[NorthernWisco]

IZUMIs are the only shoe that has not given me shin splints running longer than a 400

[emartin10]

Is that the Pearl Izumi shoe? I've worked with them a lot, they're great.

E

[sg516]

what do you all think of nike free? and does anyone know of a company that makes the same kind of shoe but isn't nike.

[Karen P]

The best I've found are the New Balance running shoes, but shoes fit everybody differently. It really just depends on your foot, but the new balance have the perfect amount of cushion for me. We have a store in my home town that will look at a pair of your old shoes and determine whether you under pronate or over pronate, and then they recommend the best shoes for your walking/running style. I might try that next time I buy a pair.

[misstenacity]

Originally Posted by sg516

what do you all think of nike free? and does anyone know of a company that makes the same kind of shoe but isn't nike.

Boy, I'm gonna sound biased here.

I adore my Frees, from my 5.0 v2's (4 pairs) to my 3.0's all the way up to my newest 7.0 (for gnarly stuff). So.... does any company other than Nike make something like them? Nope.

Do other companies make minimalist shoes? Sure. Vibram Five Fingers is a barefoot-y model. Road running friends of mine love the NB 790s (a minimal trail shoe that works on pavement if you are light), and also I'm a fan of the lighter Fila models, if you can still find them, as many are discontinued. I ran my first marathon in Fila Corsa Otto racers - VERY smooth ride, much more comfort than Asics racers.

IMO, Nike Frees have no competitor. I hope they do not get discontinued any time soon.

[Phaedrus49er]

I'm immediately skeptical of anyone looking for "cushion" in a running shoe. That tells me that their stride mechanics are lacking.

+1 for the Frees, which will be my next running shoe; I currently have some Asics that are pretty flat/unsupported as well.

[twixxi]

so what exactly is the difference between the Nike 7.0 and 3.0?? I have a pair of 7.0 training shoes that I teach my mixed martial arts class in and they are great. Not sure I would run in them though. I've always been an Asics fan. Was considering ordering another pair (since no stores in my area have Nike Frees) but the running shoe and not the training shoe.

[Phaedrus49er]

Originally Posted by twixxi

so what exactly is the difference between the Nike 7.0 and 3.0?? I have a pair of 7.0 training shoes that I teach my mixed martial arts class in and they are great. Not sure I would run in them though. I've always been an Asics fan. Was considering ordering another pair (since no stores in my area have Nike Frees) but the running shoe and not the training shoe.

The lower the number, the closer to "barefoot" you get, meaning less and less cushioning/support and more of just a flat surface inside the shoe, the idea being to strengthen your feet naturally rather than over-supporting them and thus promoting inherent weaknesses.

[twixxi]

Gotcha thanks! I'll stick with the 7.0's for now and see how I make out once I get a new pair. They are so hard to come by in this area I don't understand why no stores carry them