Running question regarding shoes

raiden031

Legend
I know this is not the best forum for this question, but haven't found a good source of info for running shoes and hopefully someone here knows a thing or two.

I am trying to figure out which shoes would give me the best performance for upcoming half and full marathons. The info I found is very vague and confusing. First I understand the concept of arch height and pronation, so I don't have an issue with neutral/stability/motion control concepts. I fit in the 'stability' category.

What I do have a question about is whether I want more or less cushioning. I looked at this chart that I can't seem to find again, and it went something like this:

EDIT: Here is the chart (http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/content/popup.jsp?contentId=200092)

If you weigh more than 180lbs or run more than 25 miles/week use Stability Plus (heavier, more cushioning).

If you weigh less than 180lbs or run less than 25 miles/week use Stability (average weight and cushioning).

If you weigh less than 180lbs or race or like to run fast, use Performance Stability (light-weight, less cushioning).

I have no idea what it means to race or run fast. I am seeking the best time that I can get in an upcoming half marathon, so I'm confused. I weigh 188lbs (6'1"), I run a little less than 25 miles/week, and I like running as fast as possible (although not considered fast by elite runner standards).

I've run two halves and both of them I think I was little under-trained, resulting in 1h45m (8:00/mile) finish times in both of them. In one I wore tennis shoes and in the other I wore heavy trail-running shoes (weighing in at 14oz).

I'd like to drop down to 1h38m (7:30/mile) this time, and am wondering how a pair of performance stability shoes in the 7oz range might affect my performance. Obviously my first step is to improve my training routine over last time, but I am just curious how much difference the shoes can make. I have not had any problem with any injuries or pain from running, so I'm not too worried about that. Any advice?
 
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The issue is one of the weight of the shoe.

Adding in more cushioning and support adds to the weight of the shoe.

Even just an extra ounce or two can slow you down over 13 to 26 miles.

But don't cheat yourself on getting too light a shoe that skimps on cushioning and support. The shock absorbtion affects more than your feet, as your knees and hips will feel the extra shock as well. And then suffering an overuse injury will knock you out of running for awhile and could shorten your overall athletic career of running and tennis if you develop all-to-common joint problems.

What a lot of runners do is have a heavier "trainor" shoe for almost all of their running, and then use a lighter race day shoe for the occasional races they run. Others figure that the added minute to their times is worth it to lessen the chance of injury on that race day when they probably will push too much anyway and expose themselves to even greater forces.

At 188 pounds, I'd recommend going for all the cushioning you can get, and then modifying your next shoe choice if you have dropped some weight.
 
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dbernie41

New User
I bought some running shoes at a running store and also was curious about the Vibrams Five Fingers which are basically little sleeves for your foot that have a very small sole. It is to train for running barefoot and my oh my is it easier to run in the five fingers. You reallllllly notice the weight difference immediately. The Five Fingers arent always as comfortable but the first time I ran in them I could tell how bad my running form was because I could feel how my foot was landing. So... I guess in a roundabout way I would say go as light as possible.
 

mike53

Professional
I've run two halves and both of them I think I was little under-trained, resulting in 1h45m (8:00/mile) finish times in both of them. In one I wore tennis shoes and in the other I wore heavy trail-running shoes (weighing in at 14oz).

I'd like to drop down to 1h38m (7:30/mile) this time, and am wondering how a pair of performance stability shoes in the 7oz range might affect my performance. Obviously my first step is to improve my training routine over last time, but I am just curious how much difference the shoes can make. I have not had any problem with any injuries or pain from running, so I'm not too worried about that. Any advice?

That's pretty good!! A lot of people including myself use a heavier, more cushioned shoe for high mileage road training and a lighter shoe for racing. The lighter shoe will definitely improve your time. I train in a 12oz shoe and race in a 6oz shoe. I'm 145lbs. At 188 you may need a little more beef in your shoes.
 
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raiden031

Legend
That's pretty good!! A lot of people including myself use a heavier, more cushioned shoe for high mileage road training and a lighter shoe for racing. The lighter shoe will definitely improve your time. I train in a 12oz shoe and race in a 6oz shoe. I'm 145lbs. At 188 you may need a little more beef in your shoes.

So I decided to go performance and purchased a pair of these:

http://www.runningwarehouse.com/descpageMRS-SFT4M1.html

I got a size 12.5 and they are the same length as my size 12 in other shoes, go figure. I've run 3 times in them, the longest being 6 miles. They feel very light (I weighed them at about 8oz on my food scale). The one thing I wasn't used to is the breeze my feet got because I'm used to buying low-end running shoes like the kind you find at Sears, as opposed to *real* running shoes. So far I haven't had any problems with them, so we'll see how I feel after a long run this weekend (10 miles).
 

mike53

Professional
Yeah, I use the Grid A3 for racing myself and the Shadow 6000 for training. These are pro quality shoes.
 

Tennis_Monk

Hall of Fame
I know this is not the best forum for this question, but haven't found a good source of info for running shoes and hopefully someone here knows a thing or two.

I am trying to figure out which shoes would give me the best performance for upcoming half and full marathons. The info I found is very vague and confusing. First I understand the concept of arch height and pronation, so I don't have an issue with neutral/stability/motion control concepts. I fit in the 'stability' category.

What I do have a question about is whether I want more or less cushioning. I looked at this chart that I can't seem to find again, and it went something like this:

EDIT: Here is the chart (http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/content/popup.jsp?contentId=200092)

If you weigh more than 180lbs or run more than 25 miles/week use Stability Plus (heavier, more cushioning).

If you weigh less than 180lbs or run less than 25 miles/week use Stability (average weight and cushioning).

If you weigh less than 180lbs or race or like to run fast, use Performance Stability (light-weight, less cushioning).

I have no idea what it means to race or run fast. I am seeking the best time that I can get in an upcoming half marathon, so I'm confused. I weigh 188lbs (6'1"), I run a little less than 25 miles/week, and I like running as fast as possible (although not considered fast by elite runner standards).

I've run two halves and both of them I think I was little under-trained, resulting in 1h45m (8:00/mile) finish times in both of them. In one I wore tennis shoes and in the other I wore heavy trail-running shoes (weighing in at 14oz).

I'd like to drop down to 1h38m (7:30/mile) this time, and am wondering how a pair of performance stability shoes in the 7oz range might affect my performance. Obviously my first step is to improve my training routine over last time, but I am just curious how much difference the shoes can make. I have not had any problem with any injuries or pain from running, so I'm not too worried about that. Any advice?

What is your take on Tennis Shoes vs Running shoes based on what you did by running two halves with different shoes?
 

raiden031

Legend
What is your take on Tennis Shoes vs Running shoes based on what you did by running two halves with different shoes?

There wasn't much difference. I actually felt better in the first race with tennis shoes, but it was because I started off slower and finished faster. In the second race I started too fast (I was at 7:00 pace for about 7 miles), then I got burned out and really dragged the last couple miles.

In both cases the shoes were very heavy (trail shoes at 14oz, tennis shoes at 15oz), so they probably slowed me down a little. I also ran a full marathon with the trail shoes and my feet and legs felt fine, but I fell apart in the second half because of under-training as well.
 

raiden031

Legend
Yeah, I use the Grid A3 for racing myself and the Shadow 6000 for training. These are pro quality shoes.

Thats a big difference in weight between the two. Do you notice a difference in performance between the two shoes? Also have you attempted to train in your racing shoes and if so, did you suffer any pain or injury?
 

Blask

Semi-Pro
I used to run a decent amount of 10K's, half marathons and full marathons and found that having multiple pairs of shoes really helps. Also, from doing a lot of reading in running mags, forums and books, a lot of people subscribe to this method. The cushioning in running shoes take a ton of abuse and especially on long runs, they don't spring back to form right away.

I don't think lighter vs heavier shoes matter a great deal in distance runs. Maybe at the elite athlete level they do but I think the biggest benefits come during training. Lighter shoes during the shorter run can help your form, help with leg kick and also keep you a bit lighter when training on hills and doing intervals.

I would have a pair of lighter weight performance shoes for training runs during the week - anything from 3-7 mile runs or so. Then I had some that were heavier with a lot more cushioning for weekend long runs of 8+. I don't run much at all anymore but I would be interested in trying those shoes that are supposed to be close to running barefoot now. They supposedly really help with form.
 

mike53

Professional
Thats a big difference in weight between the two. Do you notice a difference in performance between the two shoes? Also have you attempted to train in your racing shoes and if so, did you suffer any pain or injury?

Yes, the racing shoes are good for about a 2 minute improvement in my 10k time which for me is about 5%. I do a lot of my daily training on concrete sidewalks. I get pain in my forefoot (first mtp joint) with the racing shoes on concrete.
 
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