FAQ
Q: I want to start running. Where do I start? What shoes should I try?
A: The advice I give most complete beginners is to go to a local specialty running store and ask for their best fitter to give you a gait analysis. At a minimum, this will keep you from getting shoes that actually hurt you. I had quite a bit of tendonitis when I first started running, mostly due to running in shoes that over-supported my feet when I needed no artificial pronation aid. I made the mistake of going for the most cushioned and expensive shoe I could find, and any good running store would have told me I was buying the wrong shoe for my gait and arches.
Q: Did recommended shoes work best for you?
A: Honestly, I found what works best for me through trial and error, and a bit of research on my own. I have high arches and naturally have a very neutral gait (no extreme pronation), and I’ve developed a mid/forefoot strike naturally as I’ve picked up speed over the years. I probably have to say I fall into the less-is-more camp, favoring shoes that protect my feet just enough. With a bit of attention to technique I try to let the natural design of my feet do their thing.
Q: You are a shoe nerd. What shoes are your favorites?
A: The heaviest trainer I can stand is the Asics Gel-Landreth. It’s a nice cushy shoe, and is a reasonably durable workhorse. I started with the Asics Gel-Nimbus, but they seem far to bulky for my tastes. My racing shoes for the past few years have been the Asics Gel-Speedstar, and while they don’t have much cushioning in the forefoot I still haven’t found a light shoe I like better. I have recently tried the Newton Gravity trainer; despite their price Newtons may completely win me over in the coming months. All of my shoes are size 13.
Q: I thought you were a trail runner? What gives?
A: When I lived in Raleigh I ran almost exclusively on trails, and I favored heavier shoes (Gel-Nimbus) for the increased protection from rocks. Since I have lived in Charlotte I have run more on roads and greenways. I enjoyed the increased grip of the Brooks Cascadia trail shoes for about a year, but I generally find trail shoes to be too bulky. Balancing grip and protection in a trail shoe is a problem I have yet to solve.
Q: When did you start running?
A: I ran some when I was in high school and college, but never very seriously. After some major weight loss from gym and elliptical work, I started running again when I was 29. I ran my first 10 miler on my 30th birthday.
Q: What races have you run? What times?
A: Over the years I have run quite a few. I’m most proud of my first Boston Qualifying time, and of my first sub-3 hour marathon.
Q: What marathon is your favorite (so far)?
A: Boston, by far. The course is brutal, but the combined energy of the runners and the crowd is unmatched. To me there is something special about having to earn one’s place in the race. There are larger races and faster courses, but I doubt any other will renew my enthusiasm for running like Boston.
2 Responses to “FAQ”
bojordan.com » Newton Gravity shoe review - June 8, 2009
[...] FAQ [...]
Another Real Person Review | The Running Front - June 9, 2009
[...] shoe companies often over-engineer their shoes, producing something akin to a cushioned foot brace. I’ve actually been hurt by over-supportive shoes. I currently train mostly in the Asics Gel-Landreth 4, and I race in the Asics Gel-Speedstar 3. [...]
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