OH! And Jogging Shoes!

Updated on August 03, 2012
J.M. asks from Cleveland, TN
7 answers

I want to start running... To do so I will need to buy new shoes. (currently, I wear flats that are worn down with holes in them... so I need new shoes anyway!)

I am extremely prone to shin-splints though... I have some issue in my ankles that doesn't allow my feet to 'roll' when running, so my feet slap the pavement, which is no good. So I was thinking about getting the kind with the curved sole, hoping that it will force my foot to behave. (It CAN roll, it just won't when I'm running... I had to wear corrective shoes as a child, and I'm wondering if that's what has caused this, or if they didn't fix my feet enough before I stopped wearing them)

Soo... Question 1. Are the shoes with the curved soles good for running, and do they seem to reduce the amount of impact?
and... Question 2. What brand would you recommend? My budget will only allow me to spend $20-$25... MAAAAYBE $50 if I can find a few small things to cut this week....

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More Answers

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Ditto the other responses about getting fitted. Particularly in light of the fact that you already have some issues with your feet. And you know you are prone to shin splints.
Regarding the shin splints specifically, there is a runner's rule called the 10% rule. Be sure to follow it, or you can very easily find yourself injured, and that will probably include shin splints. Do not increase your mileage more than 10% per week. Go slowly, especially in the beginning.
If you are only able to go a mile, then don't push further until you have been doing a mile for a week. Then only go to 1.1 miles. After another week, move up some more (not more than 10% though).

Your body needs time to adjust to the physical strain of impact when you run. Give it the time it needs and increase slowly.

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A.K.

answers from Bloomington on

Go to specialty running store. They will help find the perfect shoe. If can't afford the specialty store price, take that info & shop around on line. I live in
Saucony(?sp) but that may not be the shoe, for you.

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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Curved like the Skechers and Reebok kind that are supposed to lift you butt? Not for beginner running (and not in your budget).

Find a running store in your area and get fitted. They have expert staff who can analyze your gait, foot structure etc. and make a recommendation. Even if you can't buy your shoe there, you can at least get an idea of what brands and models and size would be right for you and you can get them on sale elsewhere. Running shoes should generally be 1/2 size bigger than your regular shoes.

Honestly, $25 or even $50 won't get you a decent running shoe. My current ones were $120 when I bought them last year but because they were the newest model but now that they "old" they're down to about $70. You can get good deals at outlets or on line once you know the brand and size. Although it sounds expensive, it's the biggest expense that you'll incur running. Better to save up and get the right pair (in the right size) vs. spend money, get shin splints or other injuries and then have to buy a better pair later after you're in pain. The right shoe for me took care of Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. The first pair were nothing but misery and waste of money.

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

If you have a strange gait when running get the good shoes NOW. I've been exercising every day for a few years and I have an incessant recurring case of plantar fasciitis because i over pronate on my heels. I really wish I had prevented it with the right shoes.

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

oh hon, save up and go get fitted. i too was pretty horrified to be spending $100 for shoes but your health is worth it. my brookes are amazing, so much better than cheap shoes. i have to buy a couple of pairs a year (ouch!!!!) but i want to run for decades to come so i need my hoofs.
khairete
S.

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

The curved soles are dangerous for running. You need a shoe that is higher in the back than in the front so it throws your momentum forward. Other than that, you should definately get fitted. Finds a brand/style you like and then go somewhere like Famous Footwear and buy last year's color for $30 - $50.:) That is how I buy my Asics.

Kudos to you for starting a running program! Keep it up.

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

I buy my gym shoes second hand. I know many people will recommend against this, but I find expensive shoes such as Asics and Adidas in fantastic condition all the time, and I pay only $5-$10 a pair. I think really serious athletes replace their shoes very regularly, and only wear them in the gym, so that is why I find them second hand.

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