I finally got my new running shoes. Going with comfort has been a great way for me to assess what shoe I should be in. Pronation is a consideration, but it is not the be all/end all in what we should be wearing as once was thought.

New Balance 1080 version 7

I have been using the New Balance 1080 v7’s since last Summer, after a bout with plantar fasciitis. I immediately felt relief using the shoes together with Super Feet inserts.

UPDATE Summer 2019- New Balance 1080’s are still my go-to shoe. The v8’s are now what I’m in and I have found them to be just as bouncy and they have taken me through another marathon.

Pronation and Running

The shoe is a “neutral” shoe, which means it is good for people who have normal pronation (usually associated with people who have a more normal arch) and under-pronators (high arches).

In normal (neutral) pronation, your foot lands and takes off in what is considered a “normal” manner… off the heel and rolling to the front of the foot, with a somewhat evenly distributed toe push. The first and second toe handles a bit more of the load.

Under-pronators show wear on the outside of the soles and it is recommended they use a neutral shoe that has lots of cushioning.

Runners who are flat-footed usually over-pronate (well, anyone…not just runners). They have wear on the inside of the heel and sometimes on the ball of the foot.

Common wisdom said they needed to wear a stability shoe with a firm middle. Running shoe stores everywhere tout the different kinds of shoes, and even have exercises (like running on a treadmill or water tests) to see what kind of pronator you are and what kind of shoe you need.

Below is a YouTube video that describes the wet test, and talks about some of the wear patterns you may see on your shoes and what that means for your foot pronation.

This CAN be helpful.

BUT a recent study concluded that in new runners, wearing a neutral shoe no matter what your pronation did not contribute to running-related injuries.

This is actually a very interesting study, as there has been a TON of advice to the contrary. The good news is it can take the mystery out of shoe buying for new runners…provided they stick to neutral shoes.

What is comfortable to me, may cause a painful run to you. Never pick a shoe because it’s the trendy one, the pretty one, the one your best friend wears.

I’ve finally learned that when it comes to running, looks/trends/cool factor doesn’t matter.

The shoe that is going to keep me on my feet out on the road is what I will pay for.

Find a Good Running Store

You can do individual research on what kind of shoe is best for your feet and what kind of pronator you are until the cows come home, but if a shoe is not comfortable you won’t wear them (at least for running).

Do your research on which running stores in your area are reputable and go there. If you are new to running, do not be intimidated by the idea of going to a store especially for the sport and feel like you don’t belong there.

A good store has sales people that are runners, and deal with every type from newbie to experienced marathoners.

You should feel very comfortable. Tell them you are new to running and the things that affect the kind of running shoe  you should wear (more cushion, if you have flat feet or high arches, budget, etc.)

They should have you try on several pairs and allow you to run in them (a quick jog outside).

The salesperson should direct you into a shoe that ticks off the boxes for you.

If you feel pressured in any way to spend more than you wanted to or they try to tell you a shoe that feels uncomfortable will “break in”, or you are made to feel like you don’t belong there…you are not in a good running store that deserves your money.

A note about breaking in- there may be a few runs that you can tell you are in a new shoe, and they may even feel a little “stiff”…when I say a shoe is uncomfortable in the store, I mean you feel pain or that it is forcing your foot to bend in a way it doesn’t want to.

My running store allows me to bring back shoes within 30 days, so ask about the return policy. Even if you love a shoe, if after a few runs you decide it isn’t right for you… take it back!

Shoe Inserts

Many runners use inserts in their shoes, me included.

After a bout with plantar fasciitis, I decided to try some Superfeet

I noticed a difference immediately, and have been wearing them ever since.

They last for two shoe rotations, which for me means I replace them every 6 months.

Remember, you should be replacing your shoes after at least every 500 miles and sometimes sooner.

Because of a stress fracture a few years ago, my orthopedic guy told me to replace shoes every 300 miles.

This is a good reason to have a shoe log in your running journal, or at the very least note in your phone or on your calendar when you started wearing a new shoe so you know when to replace them.

The running store will probably have some inserts that you can try. There are different types for different issues. As with shoes, make sure they are comfortable and don’t wait to stop using them if you feel they aren’t working.

Yes, they can be expensive, but continuing to use something (especially on your feet) that is harmful to you may cause injury.

Back to the Old Neighborhood

In my initial long run with the New Balance 1080’s, I was very happy with what I was feeling.

I ran 7 miles out from my house and past the first apartment my husband and I lived in as a newly married couple back in 1987.

Crazy what you think something looked like vs. what it actually looks like!

Running around a wide area is so rewarding when you get to find new routes, old haunts and spaces you would never notice otherwise.

Buffalo is amazing with its little parks and cute neighborhoods that most people miss while in their cars.

Sweet Potato Energy

I cooked a sweet potato as my fuel, and packed it in my handy-dandy re-usable squeeze packs. I like the skin on a sweet potato, so I used my blender to make it smooshy.

The peel did not grind up quite as smooth as I wanted it to, so I did have to pick out some of the bigger pieces of skin so the potato would come out of the top.

The sweet potato was really good…not too sweet and didn’t feel gross in my mouth while running. I’m going to use that as my fuel for the 21 miles I have to do next week and hope this will be my fueling answer for the marathon!

UPDATE Summer 2019- Nope. I didn’t end up using sweet potato in the marathon. While I really liked it for “shorter” long runs, I did get flavor fatigue on longer ones. I like variety, so use a few different fueling strategies now.