When I first started running, I was incredibly naive about shoes. In the years leading up to my running days, I pretty much stuck to non impact cardio activities like the stair stepper and the elliptical trainer. I would usually buy a pair of shoes on sale that looked cool… like the pair of Nike’s with the pink swoosh – loved them! I rarely replaced these stylish sneakers – usually only every few years when another cute pair in the sale section caught my eye.
It was in this same vein that I picked up my first set of real running shoes. I suffered all kinds of various pains in those early days… swollen Achilles, aching hip flexors, stiff knees. I started to think that running was something I was just not made to do. Fast forward about 18 months, numerous conversations with runners, and consultations with the shoe guy at Boulder Running Company , I finally found a winning combination:
the green Superfeet inserts
My gait analysis showed that I overpronate – my foot rolls inward when I run. The Asics Gel Kayano provide great stability for my particular running style. I added the Superfeet recently for additional stability and impact absorption…
I have heard people say they are too old or just not meant for running because of pain – in particular knee pain. In some cases, this may be true. But many times, the pain is a direct result of not running in the right shoe. It is also important to keep track of the miles you’re putting on your shoes. Usually a pair of shoes will last up to approximately 500 miles. For me, I start experiencing familiar pains when my shoes reach about 400 miles… so I try to overlap a new pair with my old pair once the older pair hits 300 miles. It takes some effort to get it right. I went through a lot trial and error… but it was worth it to keep me running.
