dlakey

I was hoping someone could give me some advice for a good pair of Running shoes to purchase. I am planning to start doing some jogging now that winter is here and it is going to be somewhat chilly to ride my bike much.

Please bear in mind, I don't plan on running any marathons or running any 4 minute miles. I'm well over 200 pounds, my primary reason for the running is to improve my fitness and to maintain my cardiovascular gains I have made from biking this summer. I'm not even going to try to fool myself by saying that I am going to be running, I will be JOGGING.

I am looking at two primary concerns for a pair of shoes.

1. Shoes which would give my feet adequate protection. I suppose this primarily means shoes which have adequate support in the sole area ie. a thick sole. Remember I already told you I was a pretty heavy old boy, therefore adequate padding is important. Weight is certainly not a consideration, as in reduction in the weight of the shoe.

2. Secondly, I am not rich and after I just spent over $1000.00 for a new bike a couple months ago, I'm afraid my wife might just kill me if she found out I spent over $100.00 for a pair of running shoes. So cost is certainly a concern. I definitely don't want to spend over $100.00, and I would like to spend down around $50.00, if anything in this price range is available which would suit my needs.


Brands models and approximate prices would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance


Dan

jacob

for $50 I'm doubtful I can pinpoint a certain shoe

I like Asics

NB is higher in price but maybe better for your situation

Jacob

blaine

You don't have to spend 100.00, but 50 bucks is tough, too. Somewhere in the middle and you will find plenty of choices. These are your FEET and they need alll the love you can give 'em. Shoes are the one item of clothing type stuff I buy the best that I can afford. Go to a store that specializes in Running shoes and tell them what you told us...you will do your feet a favor.

I like Asics, too. Usually I go for last yrs models at closeout. Currently I run in 2070 while the enw model is 2080

The Van

Your best bet is to go to a speciality runner store. They should have a good staff that will point you in the right direction. (kinda like a LBS).

Having said that, based on your body type and what you want these shoes for I would look at New Balance. They are very good cushioning shoes.

Running shoes are in these basic categories: cushion, support, motion control, and light weight.

Cushion: more cushion and shock absorbsion. Better for heavier runners
Support: more support for foot (i.e. arch, heel cup, etc)
motion control: helps control over and under-pronation
light weight: reduced weight, for light effienct runners

They also make shoes that combine the above features.

One thing to remember is to change your shoes out every 300-400 miles or 4 months. This is very important to avoid injury. Even though the shoe may still look good, with mileage and wear the cushioning and supports breakdown.

roadbuzz

I pretty much second what Rob says. Whatever premium you pay for going to the running store will be well worth it over the life of the shoes. Someone your size probably want to look at cushioning and control. I agree New Balance, and maybe look at Brooks, too.

Markedoc

Ask 100 different people and you will get 100 different answers. Personally, I like Asics best. You can get a sense for what's out there by going to www.roadrunnersports.com where they have tons of advice and fitment tools. Road Runner also has a decent clearance section - believe it or not, these makers phase a shoe out after about a year and intorduce something "new and improved". But on that note, until you know what fits and what is comfortable, you have to try them on. Re: stores, you really should go to a specialty running store too for good advice. Too many "sporting goods" stores have pimply-faced kids running around getting whatever shoe you ask them for.

I'd also look at shoes in various categories - even though I am a "heavy runner" defined by over 180 lbs or something, I don't like the heavily cushioned shoes for heavy runners, not do I have a heavy heel strike.

SipperPhoto

I just bought a pair of New Balance 716's for $52 at JCPenney's dept. store... I dig them... very cushy, and fit great... I tend to overpronate (meaning I wear out the inner part of my shoes faster that the outside) and these help correct this... just like a bike.. fit is everything... it also helps to know if you over or under pronate... look at the sole of an older pair of shoes, you should be able to tell what you do by where it is worn the most... if it is worn by the ball of your foot towards your big toe, you overpronate. If it is worn on the outside by your small toe, you underpronate... most good manufactures, NB, Asics, Saucony, Brooks, etc. make shoes especially for these problems, as well as for people with neutral feet....

hope this helps, and didn;t make it more confusing

jeff

ljbike

Brooks, Saucony, New Balance, Asics... there's a dozen brands to choose from, but you probably won't find them except in a Sports Store with a good running section, but at 200# you need shoes with the most amount of heel cushioning and foot support to help absorb the repeated pounding and shock that your ankles, knees and hips will be subjected to.
Cheap, flimsy shoes are an invitation for eventual disaster. You can buy prevention now, or you can pay the Dr. later.

deliriou5

everyone runs differently, everyone has a different stride, everyone pronates differently. so all the reccomendations above aren't really worth anything, except for the guy who said to go to the running store. there they will analyze your stride and point you to the right shoes.

and let me tell you... having the right shoes is CRUCIAL to avoid injury...

I actually am stopping running now, because my knees are getting really messed up. I've trained for a marathon for 3 years in a row now, and every year I've had to pull out because of my knees.

Markedoc

Good point - I don't run on pavement anymore - it's either trails or treadmills for me.

Guest

If you have a Fleet Feet or a Vertel's in the area, they both specialize in running shoes. Fleet Feet will go as far as to analyze your running and pick a shoe based on how you run. It's pretty good- I still have the running shoes they recommended for me, but then again, I don't run much to begin with either.

Koffee

OctoberBlue

I'm with Rob. Go to your local running specialty shop.
Those kinds of places will let you test-run shoes in the
neighborhood like an LBS allows test-rides of bikes. Plus,
they can analyze your stride.

I happen to prefer Saucony, not only because of the cushioning
(varying types of cushion, depending on the shoe), but
because they just fit my feet well. I agree that you probably
won't find what you need for $50. A more realistic amount
would be $80, unless you're lucky enough to stumble upon
a season end sale.

BTW, I am another trail runner, except for the 5k road
races that I do a few times a year. I really wish there
were more cross-country 5k's around here!

Good luck in your quest!

jedi_rider

Go to a specialty running store to get your running gait and foot type analyzed. Also, if you have an old pair of running shoes, bring that with you. They can tell a lot by how the the shoe has been worn out.

MichaelW

Just how cold does is get in Arkansas? Check out the winter forum and icebike.com, and you'll see that riding when its cold is no big deal.

Phatman

Hate to say, this, and be a "shoe snob" The comfort and durability of your shoes is directly proportional to the amount you spend. The good news is that runnig shoes are realtivly cheap, compared with a lot of cycling apparel. I would say that you should buy as much shoe as you can afford, and be leery of going a whole lot lower then $80 MSRP. My current running shoes are asics numbus V's, which run about 110. I have had 5 pairs, and they usually wear out around 400-500 miles. Cheap shoes will only hurt you, especially if you are big. The cushion will wear out before the sole, and you will say, "oh, these shoes have plenty of life left" ( by looking at the sole) but you will really be destryoing your knees. I must repeat, do not cheap out, please. you WILL get injured if you do any type of milage, on cheap shoes, and then you will hate running and say, "My joints just can't hold up"


If you have gotten injured three years in a row, isn't it time to try something different? like getting a different pair of shoes, or spacing your milage better?

deliriou5

i run very reasonably, Phatman... I just have very weak knees. It runs in my family *sigh*

I have really good form (according to my friend), and speedwise I run at a pretty decent clip.

I did buy new running shoes back in Feburary, which completely abolished the knee pain.... maybe the pain is coming back cuz the cushioning is dead? I'll get myself some new shoes over the winter... we'll see how it goes.

Markedoc

Re: knee problems, I am by no means an expert, but I try to combine some weight training with running in order to keep the muscles on either side of the knee strong.

djbowen1

you are supposed to repace running shoes every 100 miles of running.

deliriou5

100 miles!!???

no, that can't be right... my marathon training schedule calls for 100 miles a month.... that's crazy talk.

("no really, that's Crazy Talk, he's my brother")

yikes

You should replace running shoes every 300-400 miles. 100 miles is crazy.....I would be buying new shoes every two weeks!!!

F1_Fan

Marathon friend of mine told me the bounce in new shoes is reduced after 100km of running. I don't replace that often though. Once I retire shoes from running they become my walking shoes then lawn mowing shoes after 8-12 months or so.

Anyway, nothing beats getting fitted at a quality store. The guys I deal with know what shoe you need after watching me walk barefoot. I once spent an hour trying shoes until they found me the right one (I'm hyper-sensitive to a small toe-box and ankle rubbing). I've been using that model of shoe for three years now.