New Shoes Part 2

After a visit to Solefit to solve the issues around the pain in my left big toe, I had a list of 5 shoes recommended by Neil to help fix my issues. I took the list to Sports4 - they have a reputation as arguably the best running store in the city and I've bought from them before. They also have no issues with you buying multiple pairs, trying them out on a treadmill, and returning whichever ones don't make the cut. So list in hand, that's where I went.

They didn't have 2 of the 5 shoes in stock, so it was down to the New Balance 1500, Mizuno Wave Catalyst, and Saucony Fastwitch. All lightweight shoes with mild stability control. I gave each model a few tries in the store going back and forth between each pair. In the end I left the 1500s - they seemed to fit pretty much the same as the 1400s I've been running in, and those shoes are a little tight in the toebox and have been part of the problem for me. I loved the way they hug my foot - it really seems like the shoe isn't there it just fit super well, but the other two shoes had noticeably roomier toe boxes and that was a priority for me.

So back home with the Catalysts and Fastwitches. I'll take them in to have Neil film me on the treadmill at SoleFit and see what he has to say about which ones are better for me, but for now I wanted to get some time in on my own and see how they compared.

I started with 5 minutes of barefoot running, did a dynamic warmup, then ran for 8 minutes each in my NB1400s, the Mizunos, then the Sauconys. The 1400s felt great as they always do, light and nimble, almost like running in nicely padded socks. Feet felt fine, as they always do.

On to the Mizunos. Two things were apparent immediately. 1: These soles are stiff and 2: These shoes are loud. It was like a horse on cobbles. The shoes also seemed heavy - they're a pretty lightweight shoe overall, so it could be the stiff soles just made them seem heavy, I don't really know. Pretty comfortable, though I did get a bit of soreness along the outer edge of my foot by the end of the run. I could see myself running in them as trainers, but I feel like I'd still want my 1400s for racing.

The Saucony's were another story. An even roomier toe box than the Mizunos, and they felt light and flexy - much closer to my 1400s. They didn't seem to hold my foot quite as securely as the Mizunos, but I could probably figure that out with lacing. Overall though they were much more enjoyable to run in than the Mizunos were.

So if it were up to me alone I would definitely go with the Fastwitch, but I'll be interested to see what Neil says. It's not all about what feels best - the most comfortable shoe in the world isn't going to do me any favours if it results in more foot pain down the road. So while I'm pulling for the Sauconys, I'm keeping an open mind.

Now it's off to Solefit for the final verdict.

New Shoes Part 1

Running injuries were a big problem for me 2 years ago. Seemed like I couldn't go more than a few weeks without one problem or another sidelining me for a while. Last year I really committed to staying injury free by incorporating strength work, stretching, foam rolling, and being very cautious about adding run volume gradually. It worked out well - I managed to avoid any real injuries all of last season and keep my training/racing on track.

However, over the past few months I've gradually been developing some pain in my left foot. Pain/numbness along the medial side of my big toe, but also some pain along my sesamoids. I've also noticed that I have limited dorsiflexion in my left big toe compared to my right. The left toe also seems to be angling in a little - not really a bunion yet but heading in that direction.

In looking for ways to treat this problem I found CorrectToes, which helps your toes splay out and can treat a variety of conditions (including all of my complaints in the left foot). The place to get them locally is SoleFit, which among other things does gait analysis. I've done the Retul fit on the bike, and have had my swim stroke analyzed using underwater video, so it seemed logical for me to try something similar with my run. Indeed, given that the run has been where virtually all of my injuries have occurred, a proper gait analysis probably should have been the first thing I did.

So I picked up the CorrectToes and made an appointment to get my running assessed. It's too early to say whether the CorrectToes are having any real effect, but they haven't been causing any discomfort, so we'll see.

As for the gait analysis, it started with an interview with Neil about my background, history of injuries, and what my training looked like. We then did a series of tests around strength, flexibility, etc. and Neil looked at my shoes (I brought in both my ready-to-retire trainers and my newer racing flats) to see what they could tell us about my running style. Afterwards, I ran on the treadmill in both shoes with video from the front, back, and side.
Based on the initial assessment (wear pattern on my trainers, flexibility issues, and injury history - particularly my torn hip flexor) I could already tell what some of the issues were and the root cause of my toe pain. The video evidence confirmed this - I overpronate in my left foot, and tend to overstride. My feet are landing too far in front of me, but they aren't extended far enough behind me. On top of this, turns out I'm a heel striker. I thought for sure I was a midfoot striker but the video was pretty clear on that. Shortening up my stride, upping my cadence, and working flexibility in my hips and calves/ankles will go a long way towards improving my efficiency and reducing the risk of injury I have. Incorporating barefoot running and doing a dynamic warmup before all runs (not just speedwork) would also help.

So I left with a list of stretches and warmups I should be doing, and things to work on in terms of my run form. What I was most interested in, however, was new shoe recommendations. I knew the trainers were due to be replaced, and I wanted to make sure I was getting the right shoe. Interestingly enough, the video showed my running form was much better in my racing flats (NB1400) than the trainers. So we knew I should be in something pretty light without being too cushy. The overpronation thing also showed I should have some mild stability control built into the shoe. Neil gave me a list of 5 shoes that would work, so next up is to go and try some on, buy a few different pairs and go back to SoleFit for another video session to see what works best.

Now it's off to Sports4 to pick up some shoes.