The Right Running Shoe

Today I ventured out to my favorite running store: Skinny Raven Sports. These guys are soooo knowledgable and helpful in finding the right running shoe.

I have been running in a stability shoe because of a recommendation during a PT evaluation several months ago. I love the comfort of the shoe I am running in, but the platform seems a bit too stiff. While running, I feel like I am jarring my whole body into the ground. It is kind of a weird feeling that is hard to describe. Also, I have never had knee problems and since I have been wearing these stability type shoes, my knees ache a little while running. I was also running with heel inserts due to my Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy, but once I removed them I had less pain in my knees. Anyway, I wasn’t 100% convinced I needed a stability shoe.

And the Skinny Raven shoe expert (in my opinion) helping me agreed.  But not without an evaluation. He put me in a neutral shoe to evaluate how my foot naturally hit while running on the treadmill.  After analyzing the video that he took, he identified a very mild over pronation but he didn’t think it was enough to require a stability shoe.

So, he gave me a few different options of shoes to try. One of the problems I have with some of the latest models is that they are being made so that the shoe really hugs the heel. I need a shoe that doesn’t put pressure on the insertion site of my achilles.  I actually cut out the stiff backing of the shoe I am currently using so that it wouldn’t rub against my achilles and that worked out pretty well.

I ended up choosing the Saucony Zealot ISO because it didn’t rub against my heel (at least while running on the treadmill) and it felt very cushioned in the mid foot but also felt very light.  One of the most important features for me is that the shoe doesn’t hug my heel tightly ( wow…did I get that message across yet lol) although this particular shoe is advertised as a foot hugging ISOFIT. The back of the shoe is more rounded and roomy compared to the stability shoe I was wearing. Plus, it was soft and very pliable.

I am pretty excited about trying it out on my run this week-end! I hope it works out!

As for my running, all has been going pretty good. I had a nasty cold last week that kept me off the trails for a couple of days, but I have been able to stick to the training schedule pretty closely. I am in the second week of Hal Higdon’s spring training. I get occasional tenderness in my heel, but not enough to keep me from running. I am worried a little about what the impact of increasing mileage is going to have, but for now all is well. I am continuing with the eccentric heel drop exercises twice a day (with weights and on a flat surface) and still sleeping in the boot. I am also foam rolling nightly.

 

I am just so happy to be running again!!  It was a beautiful day to be on the trails.

Happy Running 🙂