26 replies to this topic

[clown]

I’m in desperate need of some help as running is becoming an extremely expensive sport at present due to going through shoes at a ridiculous rate and was hoping someone maybe to assist in some shape or form.

My last shoes lasted 40k’s Brooks Infiniti and the new ones are nearly gone at 35k Adidas Adistar. Control . Which means that I’ve gone through two pairs of shoes in a week . The shoes mentioned above have been recommended on consultation with Podiatrist after seeing treadmill analysis with current orthotics in and advising that my landing for my whole foot looks a lot better in these shoes than ones previously used which are mentioned a little later on.



Quick background re myself, I’m male, around 6ft tall and weigh 70kgs and run on average at present approx 70-75km a week, mainly on the roads, although I will get up to just over 100kms per week when full on training. I’m flat footed and wear orthotics and my main focus recently has been on getting my marathon time down. I have the normal niggles and tightness but nothing that has kept me out of action for much more than a couple of weeks, although predominantly all appear on left leg..

The problem I have is that I seem to scuff the outside heel on my left shoe and this wears down very quickly, the rest of the shoe is perfect and I have no issue with the right shoe at all. The treadmill analysis done at the podiatrist does show a heel strike but doesn’t appear over excessive.The only reason I went to the podiatrist was because of the abnormal wear in my shoes.



Previously I have run in different types of shoes such as Asics Nimbus, Brooks Glycerin and Kayanos, the range of k’s vary but normally cannot get more than 200k’s out of them before I need to either trade them in or go to the bootmaker and get the outside heel raised by them putting extra layers on.




I’m in the process of getting some new orthotics but won’t be getting these for a couple more weeks and have also booked in to see a Clinical Biomechanist to see whether they can help but this also isn’t happening for a few weeks.

If anyone can offer any suggestions in the meantime it would be much appreciated, has anyone seen a Biomechanist before and has this assisted with these types of issues?


Cheers

[tank girl]

I've found that I wear out Asics far quicker than I wear out Mizunos - but this is midsole wear more than outsole. Outsole wear is not normally as much of a problem as midsole wear, because it's the midsole that does most of the cushioning and support.

Do the shoes feel horrible once they wear down, or still okay?
Once you've worn down this patch, does it continue to wear away to nothing, or is it just "in the way" to start with, and now that you've gotten rid of that extra rubber, there's no more wear?
When your shoes have this wear, does you podiatrist say your gait is worse because of the wear, or is your gait the same as when the shoe was complete?

If the wear doesn't seem to compound the gait problem, it may not be a problem in itself - hopefully one of the podiatrists on CR will pipe up and help sort out the problem.

[Phoenix]

I would have thought it was impossible to wear out a pair of shoes on 40ks...will read this thread with interest.

[clown]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

Just to clarify a little bit further, the outsole is being worn away to nothing and then I'm hitting the midsole ie on the Asics the solyte or the white rubbery stuff. I hope I have the terminology right here :

I'm not really noticing any difference re how the shoes are feeling but was concerned re the wear patterns and was trying to get that resolved and the Pod was saying as soon as the white is being hit they should be thrown out. Note the right shoe is perfect and the rest of the left shoe is perfect as well bar that one spot

To say the sports store was shocked to see the wear was an understatement

[FrankieP]

Goodness. Get thee to a podiatrist or sports physiologist perhaps to check your gait. You're a big unit and maybe land very heavily or something, but 40kms is extreme!!! That's a week for a pair of shoes for many people!!!

[littleblackpug]

Can you post some photos for us so that people can get a better idea of exactly what you mean?

I'm with tank girl, I find the midsole of my shoes becomes all compressed, crinkled looking and dead before the outsole wears....in fact just yesterday I was looking at my favorite pair of Loco Perfectos and the outsole is really good still with just my unique spots of wear, but the midsole is really crinkled and compressed looking now, I have had them since the beginning of September 2007, 9 months, and are pushing 1000kms in this pair. I am a big believer in having a few different pairs of shoes, and have found this works for me, I run 50% trails probably, in trail shoes, then my other runs are in the Locos and another pair of NB road shoes.

Edited by littleblackpug, 04 May 2008 - 04:03 PM.

[Gentle Runner]

I'm lucky enough to have a podiatrist boarding at my place so will mention this to her and see what she thinks. 40km in one pair of shoes is far too expensive! I think getting a new pair each year is expensive enough.... I'll get back to you if I get anything that might help.

[red rover]

Easy fixed Clown,
go to the beach and train bare footed only use your shoes for racing in.

[Steeple Guy]

Whatever running shoes you have must be crap!!

I am 70 kg, wear orthotics and have run in Asics Kayano or the model down 2010-30's etc for the last 13-14 years. I have easily had 35+ pairs of Kayanos. I get at least 6 weeks of running before they start to lose their new shoe bounce. I normally get a new pair every 8-10 weeks, when training properly. At 100-130 KM per week, that's about 800-1000KM - as some of that mileage is in racing flats/spikes (speed sessions/races). At a minimum you should be getting 600 KM out of your shoes.

If you don't have any foot problems to massacre the shoes so quickly - you must have bought a pair of knock-off fake lemons from a cheap market etc. I have never heard of a pair of running shoes lasting only 40 KM - that's 2 runs!!! That's crazy...

Two words - ASICS KAYANO. You get what you pay for.

[wombatoutofhell]

Steeple Guy, I agree you get what you pay for but the kayano's dont suit everyone. I am pretty much the same as clown in that I am flat footed and roll in as well as wear orthotics and they dont suit me at all. He actually says he's tried kayanos as well. In fact all the shoes he's listed are quality shoes with good reputations.
I am wearing out the outside of the heel on my shoes as well but not as quick. Currently I'm running in Brooks Trance, but I think I'll try something else soon. My pod gave me a list of shoes-I'll pick one of them. Pre orthotics I was getting 550 to 600km out of a shoe. I dont know how long the Trance will last.
No answers for you clown-let us know if, when and how you resolved the problem!
Oh-the shoes on my pods list are:
Brooks Trance
Addidas Adistar Control
New Balence 1223 (from july 2008-not the current one)
Reebok Premier Trinity KFS
Nike Air Structure Triax
Nike Air Equalon 2 (the one he recomended above all others)
This is for my feet/orthotic combination but it sounds like you are similar-might be worth a shot.

Edited by wombatoutofhell, 04 May 2008 - 08:20 PM.

[Bellthorpe]

Crikey! This reminds me of the first set of (factory fitted - Bridgestone Potenza) tyres on my Clubsport. They were completely trashed at 3,000 km.

[Tuttle]

Someone is taking the piss here . . .

[BattleOn]

Bellthorpe, on May 4 2008, 08:50 PM, said:

Crikey! This reminds me of the first set of (factory fitted - Bridgestone Potenza) tyres on my Clubsport. They were completely trashed at 3,000 km.

Maybe it was the Holden Clubsport that was the problem and not the Bridgestones, Bellthorpe
You get what u pay for i suppose...

Maybe you should of fitted some addidas soles to the clubsport, probably would of got more wear & flew....

BattleOn

[Jogger]

if your shoes are trashed at 35k or 40k then its not the shoes its the way you are wearing them. orthotics may help/should help but it sounds massively severe.

Quote

scuff the outside heel on my left shoe

photos or video may help here. doing so such that it wears into the white bit in the middle of the sole looks like its hard - are you running in them or doing hip hop ?

[Kato]

clown, on May 4 2008, 10:33 AM, said:

Just to clarify a little bit further, the outsole is being worn away to nothing and then I'm hitting the midsole ie on the Asics the solyte or the white rubbery stuff. I hope I have the terminology right here :

I'm not really noticing any difference re how the shoes are feeling but was concerned re the wear patterns and was trying to get that resolved and the Pod was saying as soon as the white is being hit they should be thrown out. Note the right shoe is perfect and the rest of the left shoe is perfect as well bar that one spot

Pardon my arrogance, but the black stuff wearing away is no reason to throw the shoe out. Your shoe store must have been rubbing their hands together with glee. The white solyte (or whatever, depending on the brand) is the material that's protecting you from ground shock, and it's still there. Just buy a tube (or a carton ) of shoe goo and rebuild the worn patch of outsole.

You also might try taking to the trails, running tracks and grassed ovals a bit more - less wear and tear on the shoes.

[littleblackpug]

JoggerKev, on May 4 2008, 11:44 PM, said:

are you running in them or doing hip hop ?

Perhaps he does this type of running




gotta love a bit of Bel Biv Devoe on a Monday morning!!

Edited by littleblackpug, 05 May 2008 - 08:13 AM.

[littleblackpug]

Tuttle, on May 4 2008, 09:20 PM, said:

Someone is taking the piss here . . .

So I'll post some more Running Man clips

[clown]

Thanks for those that have offered some help in some of their suggestions. I unfortunately do not have photos as the Infiniti are getting repaired at bootmakers and the Adistar control are now back at the sports store.

I always look at buying good quality shoes and was shocked myself as was the sports store to the extent of the wear and to be hitting the midsole so quickly especially after these shoes have been recommended and am wearing orthotics. I'm obviously a lot more severe on the roads than what is showing up on the treadmill

For those that are doubters, I wish it was a hoax as I love my running and am getting very frustrated at present and am willing to try anything to get it sorted.

Fingers crossed, my new orthotics and or visit to the biomechanist will help me with the issue and I'll keep you posted

[littleblackpug]

clown, on May 5 2008, 02:35 PM, said:

For those that are doubters

well with a name like 'clown'

but seriously, all the best with it!

[SportsFeet]

Hi mate

One of the possible causes of your excessive wearing of the lateral side of you running shoe is the fact that your heel may sit in a varus position (tilted in). Your running gait is slightly different on a tradmill as you more than likely heel strike more on the road and thus have more wear and tear on the lateral heel of your shoe.

I would look into shoes which have a beveled lateral heel ie nikes (as your pod if unsure). If you do try this type of shoe you should inform your pod as he/ she may have to make an adjustment to your orthotics.

Good luck

Peter
sports Feet
www.sportsfeet.com.au

[THE KEG]

Sounds like a hungry dog is chewing on them.

[chookrunner]

red rover, on May 4 2008, 03:11 AM, said:

Easy fixed Clown,
go to the beach and train bare footed only use your shoes for racing in.

Preferably stay on Perth beaches. Don't want you destroying our beaches

[chookrunner]

Just had a vision of Clown turning up for a marathon with a bag of shoes as Roger Federer would with a bag of racquets. And then having them taken to the drinks stations throughout the race.

[thomo]

That clown hasn't posted his results

[clown]

The latest from my end is that I have my new orthotics which are going pretty well. The Infiniti that had heel surface replaced, lasted another 90k before excessive wear got them to the white stuff again. I've taken them back and they are having the heel built up again, this is all being done for free so far.

I was at the pod on Wed as he wanted to see how the new orthotics were going and I mentioned that I always run on the road towards the traffic and he thought that with the camber on the roads this may cause the issue and suggested I find flat paths to run on. I tried this on my adistar control that I got back yesterday after being heel replaced and did an 18k run, wear is still excessive on that side, so I'll just have to see how it goes.

In the meantime I'm just running in all my shoes that have been built up and just see how I go there, if I get them continually resurfaced for free I'm not too bothered. I'm also going to at some stage try the beveled lateral heel shoes that sports feet suggested but will just go through the shoes I've got at the moment first.

[thomo]

Great posting results.

Started to worry that it was a gee up.

[Mars]

Hi I get at least 5,000km from each pair of shoes - Asics Gel Nimbus.

Give them a try i use orthotics in them and at racing fit I weigh 78 - 82 kgs (currently 102 kgs and shoes going great even with extra weight). Height 6 ft 3.

Regards Mars