marathoners - shoe advice

[Anonymous]

I'm getting ready for MCM at the end of the month - my first post-baby marathon, and really need to get new shoes this week so that I can break them in for the big day.

I'm having pain in my forefoot with my regular shoes when I do the long runs, and need something soft to help ensure that I actually finish the race without pain.

TIA

[Anonymous]

Have you been fit properly? Go to Fleet Street or RnJ and get yourself fit for the proper shoe. It will make a huge difference. And replace your shoes every 3-4 months depending on your mileage. Best of Luck!!!

[Anonymous]

surprised you don't have a few pairs you rotate so you don't have to run in wet shoes or worn out shoes.

If you are hurt now, you will probally feel the paiin in race. Go to a real running show store like fleet feet and bring your current shoes with you

good luck in the race

[Anonymous]

I do have a few pairs that I rotate, but the problem is with the long runs - I only hurt when I run more than 13 miles, otherwise, I'm fine. I think I need more cushioning, but don't know what shoe is best. Looking for advice from somebody who has recently run a marathon and chose a soft shoe like Nike Pegasus, for example.

[Anonymous]

NO -- please go get fitted professionally!
Personally I run in the Air Pegasus +27 and I love them. But I've been fitted for them. A lot of my runner friends hate Nike. Whether you run 3 miles every day or are truly training for a marathon -- be an adult and go get fitted. You truly cannot buy running shoes "off the rack" at DSW.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PPs to get fitted. All feet are different and by going and having them fitted, you'll be able to find the shoe that is right for you. Way to go with the MCM!

[Anonymous]

Go to a running store and get properly fitted. It's been years since I ran anything more than 10 miles, but after market insoles have worked wonders for me in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to a running store and get properly fitted. It's been years since I ran anything more than 10 miles, but after market insoles have worked wonders for me in the past.

Which ones? (Not OP)

[Anonymous]

I would def get fitted as the pp's have mentioned. I also just wanted to say that I experienced the same kind of pain at around 8 miles... I eventually went to a Podiatrist and found out I had neuroma's. If you still have pain after the marathon- I would check in with a doctor. Hang in there and best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Do you pronate or supinate? Are you heavier or lighter? Do you have high, low or normal arches? Is your foot wide or regular? What is your footstrike -- heel or midfoot?

Point being, every foot is different, and your feet change over time. For years I wore Brooks, until they no longer worked for me. Then I wore Asics for about 5yrs. Two years ago, I ended up back in Brooks. I'm due for my first post-baby pair of new shoes and will get fitted again since no doubt my foot and my footstrike have again evolved.

I personally swear by the folks at Potomac River Running. Pacers is great too.

[Anonymous]

This won't help you now, but if you do another marathon, it's worth a try.

I got fitted professionally several times, so I figured out which shoes worked for me. (and i keep buying the new models until they dont' work anymore.) In my case, I need stability shoes and when marathoning, I need good cushioning in my stability shoes. For me, that meant Asics Kayanos, Nike Triax (i now use equalons) and Brooks Trance. I bought 3 pairs at the beginning of the race training season (which for me is a six-month slow buildup) and rotated my shoes so that I only wore each shoe once a week, maybe twice. I made sure to alternate long runs in them to see which was best for long runs. I came to the conclusions that the Nike were best under 16 miles, the Asics were good up until somewhere near 20, but the Brooks made my feet the happiest in the longest distances. (I went up to 24 miles in training.) About a month before each marathon, I bought a new pair of the "best" long run shoes and put about 50 miles on them before the race. (start with a couple of short runs in each, then do a long run or two in them.)

I keep a record of how many miles are on each shoe and when each hits about 300-350 miles, I won't use them for long runs anymore. Usually I can run shorter distances in them till about 400 miles. I used to go through 5-6 pairs a year. I also buy most of my shoes a full size larger than my street shoe size, and i've lost fewer toenails as a result.

good luck with the race. (get thee to a running store, ASAP.)