Recommend running shoes for a beginner

[Anonymous]

Agree with all recs to get fitted and also want to add: always buy at least 1-2 sizes up. They’ll feel like clown shoes at first, but you’ll get used to it. Took me many years and many busted up toenails to learn this, thankfully from a helpful employee at a running store.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good luck with your fitting! I recently started running in my 40s after not doing it for 15 years, and I was amazed at how much sneaker technology has changed. I wound up with a pair of Brooks (Revel 3, if anyone is interested) with knit uppers, and they are great. I've always avoided running because I have some knee stability issues dating back to high school. But I was desperate for a way to get exercise during this era of closed gyms and few group workout options, plus I wanted an excuse to get out of the house and away from my (lovely) family. Well, I'm three months in and after having to make a gait adjustment after the first couple times out, I'm feeling great and my knees have had no issues at all.

I will say, the trend now is toward tons of cushioning, which I was skeptical about at first because the last time I ran the trend was the opposite. But I'm sold. The cushioning on my shoes is ridiculous (which is why I had to adjust my gait) but I think it's saving my knees. I also haven't had any shin splints, which used to plague me.

Basically, running shoes have come a long way and I hope your experience is as good as mine has been.

And I’m a long term runner, and the extra cushioning screws up my gait and I end up with ITB issues. I was happy with the minimalist trend, and even ran happily in the Vibram 5 fingers, which so many people hated and thought were weird.

Every runner is different.

FWIW, PP, if you have knee stability issues and want to continue running, you need cross training, not more cushioning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with all recs to get fitted and also want to add: always buy at least 1-2 sizes up. They’ll feel like clown shoes at first, but you’ll get used to it. Took me many years and many busted up toenails to learn this, thankfully from a helpful employee at a running store.

Again, not true for everyone. A size up can cause the flex in the shoe to bend in the wrong place, or a strangely placed arch support, or the lateral stability to fall in the wrong place, and lead to Injuries like PF. Sliding forward in the shoe can lead to blisters, or bruised toenails when the toe slides forward. You may be in between sizes, Or actually need a size up (Dress shoe size and running shoe size are not necessarily the same thing), and the size up is beneficial. While sizing up worked for you, you may have also benefitted from a wider toe box.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good luck with your fitting! I recently started running in my 40s after not doing it for 15 years, and I was amazed at how much sneaker technology has changed. I wound up with a pair of Brooks (Revel 3, if anyone is interested) with knit uppers, and they are great. I've always avoided running because I have some knee stability issues dating back to high school. But I was desperate for a way to get exercise during this era of closed gyms and few group workout options, plus I wanted an excuse to get out of the house and away from my (lovely) family. Well, I'm three months in and after having to make a gait adjustment after the first couple times out, I'm feeling great and my knees have had no issues at all.

I will say, the trend now is toward tons of cushioning, which I was skeptical about at first because the last time I ran the trend was the opposite. But I'm sold. The cushioning on my shoes is ridiculous (which is why I had to adjust my gait) but I think it's saving my knees. I also haven't had any shin splints, which used to plague me.

Basically, running shoes have come a long way and I hope your experience is as good as mine has been.

And I’m a long term runner, and the extra cushioning screws up my gait and I end up with ITB issues. I was happy with the minimalist trend, and even ran happily in the Vibram 5 fingers, which so many people hated and thought were weird.

Every runner is different.

FWIW, PP, if you have knee stability issues and want to continue running, you need cross training, not more cushioning.

PP here. I do PT for my knee issues, and have for the last decade. I talked to my ortho before I started running again and he's the one who recommended a shoe with more cushioning (I too used to prefer minimalist shoes and ran with a toe-heel gait that was great for speed, but my body and priorities are different now), and he was right. Every runner is different and so is their body -- my knee issues might not look like the next person's. Heck, my knee issues don't look like they did 15 years ago! PT really helps with the stability problems I was born with, but age and wear has caused other problems. All I know is that when I first looked at the huge cushion on my sneakers, I was skeptical, but now I'm sold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with all recs to get fitted and also want to add: always buy at least 1-2 sizes up. They’ll feel like clown shoes at first, but you’ll get used to it. Took me many years and many busted up toenails to learn this, thankfully from a helpful employee at a running store.

Again, not true for everyone. A size up can cause the flex in the shoe to bend in the wrong place, or a strangely placed arch support, or the lateral stability to fall in the wrong place, and lead to Injuries like PF. Sliding forward in the shoe can lead to blisters, or bruised toenails when the toe slides forward. You may be in between sizes, Or actually need a size up (Dress shoe size and running shoe size are not necessarily the same thing), and the size up is beneficial. While sizing up worked for you, you may have also benefitted from a wider toe box.

Interesting, ok, my mistake! I have to size way up, but I have really long toes. I also need a wider toe box or I get blisters on the sides. So yes, an individualized approach is best!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with all recs to get fitted and also want to add: always buy at least 1-2 sizes up. They’ll feel like clown shoes at first, but you’ll get used to it. Took me many years and many busted up toenails to learn this, thankfully from a helpful employee at a running store.

Again, not true for everyone. A size up can cause the flex in the shoe to bend in the wrong place, or a strangely placed arch support, or the lateral stability to fall in the wrong place, and lead to Injuries like PF. Sliding forward in the shoe can lead to blisters, or bruised toenails when the toe slides forward. You may be in between sizes, Or actually need a size up (Dress shoe size and running shoe size are not necessarily the same thing), and the size up is beneficial. While sizing up worked for you, you may have also benefitted from a wider toe box.

Agree with this, but it depends on the specific shoe. For example, I am a solid women's 7.5 in most shoes. A 7.5 in the Brooks Launch style is perfect for me. I need to size DOWN to a 7 in the Brooks Ghost. It was slightly snug at first, but it stretches w/ movement and the 7 is plenty generous after a month. But I have pretty boring, average feet. Not wide, not narrow. Don't over/under pronate. Boring, mundane feet (and am still a pretty slow runner!)

Definitely do not automatically size up - get fitted. And then from then on, you can (for the most part) just by the same shoe even though they usually update models yearly.

[Anonymous]

You probably need to make an appointment to be fitted—call ahead or see if you can book a time online.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I went to Fleet Feet and got fitted for shoes. I went for my first run tonight. My toenails are throbbing. I thought the point of the fitting was to take care of things like this....

I'm upset. I'm not giving up, but I don't think my toenails should hurt after a run in the right shoes for my feet, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I went to Fleet Feet and got fitted for shoes. I went for my first run tonight. My toenails are throbbing. I thought the point of the fitting was to take care of things like this....

I'm upset. I'm not giving up, but I don't think my toenails should hurt after a run in the right shoes for my feet, right?

How long are your toenails? Do you need to cut them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I went to Fleet Feet and got fitted for shoes. I went for my first run tonight. My toenails are throbbing. I thought the point of the fitting was to take care of things like this....

I'm upset. I'm not giving up, but I don't think my toenails should hurt after a run in the right shoes for my feet, right?

1. As PP mentioned, toenails

2. How are you laced in? Are you using the very top, back hole? There is a technique called “heel lock”, where you use the top two lace holes to create a secondary loop, and then thread your lace through that. It helps pull your heel back into the heel counter of the shoe (the rigid back part of the shoe), and prevents your foot from sliding forward into the toe cap.

FWIW: Fitting only does so much. The person fitting you isn’t you and isn’t IN the shoe, so can’t tell what it is what you feel, like seams, tightness, etc. This is why a fitting is actually important, as it affords you some time in each shoe to see if you like how it feels. This comes back to “each runner is different”. PP above who wears a larger sized shoe sounds like their style needs lots of space in the toebox to prevent injury. Conversely, I need a really snug shoe or I slide around and get injured. There’s no malice answer.

Did you run Or walk around inside with the shoes? That’s usually the recommendation, so you can return them if they don’t work in the initial use.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PPs above. I'm going to cut my nails and also check out the laces tip. Also my boobs are killing me. Would appreciate a sports bra brand recommendation -- but I'm guessing that is an individual thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PPs above. I'm going to cut my nails and also check out the laces tip. Also my boobs are killing me. Would appreciate a sports bra brand recommendation -- but I'm guessing that is an individual thing.

It depends on your size and preference. Most As and Bs can get away with a non-sized compression style sports bra type top. Larger sizes should be a more fitted /bra style, which will offer more support and proper fitting. Champion, New Balance offer some great Sized (cup) options. I know some runners who need two high compression bras to be comfortable, Especially for long runs.

Again, go and try on. Jump up and down in the change room. Looks for areas of chafing and bad fit - shoulders, under arm pits, at the back. Some women tolerate “bouncing” more than others, and like the shoes, there’s nothing right or wrong in the options. This may be one time that swing a cup down may help if you prefer less bounce.

[Anonymous]

Moving Comfort or SweatyBetty for high impact sports bras, Asics GEL-Kayano or HokaONE for shoes for a beginner with knee challenges. I've been going to Baltimore's Holabird Sports for years now every time I need new shoes. IMO worth the trip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Moving Comfort or SweatyBetty for high impact sports bras, Asics GEL-Kayano or HokaONE for shoes for a beginner with knee challenges. I've been going to Baltimore's Holabird Sports for years now every time I need new shoes. IMO worth the trip.

“Knee challenges” can come from different things, and the Kayano is a pretty high stability shoe, designed for those with a a fair amount of over pronation. Wearing it if you’re a normal pronates or supinator could cause worse problems. The neutral version would be the Nimbus.