life of running shoes
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Posts: 115
in General Chat
I can't remember how long , but someone told me once that after so many miles roughly you should throw away your running shoes ?
Any of you more seasoned runners have any ideas on this ?
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Any of you more seasoned runners have any ideas on this ?
p
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Racing flats wont last as long... Ill prob get 250-300 out of a pair....due to their lightweight make up
them to gym / general use.
If you forefoot strike the compression of foam is less of a problem and research shows it can even be a benefit. Also there is little likelyhood of collapse. As I've only been running forefoot this year I've not yet had to replace any shoes - probably will do so when the sole wears out or the uppers wear through. And before you ask I've had my most injury free year yet. Perhaps others can comment here.
In the same way we "listen to our bodies" when training we perhaps should try and find our what our legs are saying about our shoes. 500 miles may be correct but it could also be 250 or 1,000 miles. A standard distance is bound to be wrong and cost you pounds in replacing shoes too early or injuries if too late.
Remember at all times that shoe shops and manufacturers are there to sell shoes.
When I stated running 30 years ago all these fancy shoes were just comming onto the market and the advice was for 1,000 miles. Even then the black outersoles could be replaced, or patched up with Shoo Goo for another stint. So after 30 years of progress we are down to 500 miles and runners reporting injuries are up from 66% to 85%. I don't think I'm the cynical one here.
I remember him talking about these flash new Onitsukas, now Asics, and he didn't reckon much to them and was once persuaded to get a pair of Ron Hill (I think) running shoes that cost him £60 back in the late 70's or 80's and ditched them as they crippled him.
Having said that still have a piar of the Silver Shadows in the shed just put them on - nah - no way could I run in them now, I'll stick with my Asics.
I forefoot strike and am I right in thinking that Newtons encourage forefoot strike?
I agree with HarryD that shops are there to sell and even though the advice I got at a local store fairly recently was good, ultimately they were more than happy to try to sell me a soon to be discontinued trainer 40 quid more expensive than I eventually got online a week later so the mileage you should be changing at is a bit wishy washy and depends on a lot of things, running style, weight, make of trainer, etc, etc.
Like HarryD has alluded to, any sign of recurring knee and hip problems for me, not injuries just niggling aches which have been cured by new trainers, and I'll be shopping for another pair.
I understand that Newtons are supposed to encourage fore foot running but cannot comment further as have not tried them due to high cost and lack of local supply - none of that fancy Dan tosh up here in Yorkshire! Racing shoes have to be a special order at our local running shop (the original in a national chain!). I'm quite happy fore footing in Saucony Fastwitch 2s or my 5 year old pair of Pegassus from the Nike factory shop in Castleford.