21 replies to this topic

[MongrelRex]

Hi

I understand from reading various articles and internet posts that it is desirable to have two sets of running shoes. Rotating them on alternate days reduces the possibility of injury through: a) allowing the soles to regenerate over 48 hours thereby providing better shock absorption; and b ) slightly different running dynamics of different pairs of shoes share the stresses around the body.

My question is: should the two pairs of shoes be an identical brand/model, or is it best to have different brand/model shoes?

I currently own two pairs of Brooks Adrenalines. One pair has been on dog walking duty since new. The other pair is nearing the end of their useful running life. I also have a relatively new pair of Nike Zoom Structure Triax+, but find that I tend to under pronate (roll outwards) with my right foot and have not found the shoe lining to be comfortable. I am planning to relegate the Nikes to walking duties.

As a result, a new set of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10s is definitely on the way, but I am yet to decide on the second pair – I am considering a second pair of Adrenaline GTS 10s or perhaps Adrenaline ASR 6s or Trance 9s. Or should I consider a non-Brooks pair of shoes as my second pair?

Rex.

Edited by MongrelRex, 07 January 2010 - 04:38 PM.

[Bellthorpe]

Whatever you're comfortable with.

At any given time I usually rotate three pairs. They're always the same brand (Mizuno) and usually (not always) the same model. That doesn't mean you have to. If you're looking at changing brand/model, at some stage you have to be rotating two different pairs of shoes.

[Louise]

I usually rotate this year's and last year's shoes of the same model. ie, ASICS Nimbus 8 and Nimbus 9. I also buy last year's model on special and stick them in the cupboard for 6/12 months.

[swaggerer]

Rex. That you "roll out" with your right foot suggests an imbalance. Moreover, you say you under pronate, but Structure Triax are for over-pronators.

I think it is important to find the kind of shoe that suits your feet first. It may be worthwhile seeking professional advice from a podiatrist or a company like Active Feet.

There is some truth in the notion that shoes "regenerate". However, there is much more truth to the fact that once a shoe compresses too much it needs to be replaced. Also, I find that shoes that have compressed generally go back to their former f**kededness after a few ks anyway.

I wear my trainers for about 300 to 500k on road (depending on the shoe) and then only use them on dirt trails. Most shoes will give you 600 to 800k of service. However, after 300k be careful.

I don't think it matters what brand you wear so long as it is a quality shoe and the kind that suits your feet, gait etc. For instance, given you underpronate and are currently wearing top of the range Nike shoes, you could consider a neutral shoe like the Asics Nimbus, Mizuno Rider, Nike Pegasus or Vomero. However, having said that, I think new runners are better to opt for shoes that offer the next level of support than the propaganda suggests. So a neutral runner could play it safe and go to Asics 2140 (actually the Nimbus are very supportive everyman shoe); Mizuno Inspire; Nike Elites.

Again, having said that, a lot depends on the pace you run, your weight and a bunch of other factors. Shoes that are comfortable in the shop and at a slow pace could be all wrong for you at training pace. And conversely shoes that feel awful at a slow pace could be magic once you hit your stride.

I have ran in all the shoes mentioned above bar the Vomero (this is the only reason I used them as examples). After years in neutral shoes like the Pegasus I have switched to the more supportive shoes such as the Nike Elites. So don't get set in your choice because things may change as you get stronger, older, etc.

And Bellthorpe re: your seeming belief that all shoes are much the same. I have trained in Mizuno Precision, Mizuno Rider, Mizuno Inspire and Mizuno Nirvana. They are all very different shoes and created different niggles and feet feelings. Briefly, Precision (perfect but didn't last long); Rider (nice shoe, a sturdier version of the Precision); Inspire (too small but currently using them for slow running. The firm heel control is good for my achilles troubles. Tend to get a bit of shin soreness); Nirvana (like running in wooden shoes, shins didn't like them - gave them away after 300k). So we are all different. I'm very sensitive with my shoe needs.

Rex. In a week some runners will wear five different shoes (racers, long-run trainers, recovery-run trainers, sturdy racers for training, spikes, barefoot. Also we may run on a a variety of surfaces. So i wouldn't worry too much about changing shoes so long as they suit your feet and the training you are doing.

Running is simple. Yeah right.

Cheers,
Ronnie.

Edited by swaggerer, 07 January 2010 - 06:50 PM.

[serena]

Rex I have two pairs of Adrenalines I rotate when I remember which one is which, but its really only because I read this site regularly and thought it sounded like a cool thing to do.

I don't know for me that it makes a significant physical difference but I like it anyway. I like having running shoes falling out of my cupboard every time I open it.

If I was a Brooks director/cfo I would be very solemnly telling people that rotating shoes is essential, but I never did before and it hasn't really made much of a difference. Depends on how much and often you run I think.

[MongrelRex]

Thanks all for the comments.

swaggerer, on Jan 7 2010, 06:44 PM, said:

Rex. That you "roll out" with your right foot suggests an imbalance. Moreover, you say you under pronate, but Structure Triax are for over-pronators.

I generally over pronate, but it seems that the Structure Triax provides too much support leading to my right foot rolling out. That it doesn't happen in my left foot does indicate an imbalance which I am planning to get assessed. I have a much more even gait in the Adrenalines for some reason and do not have the same problem with my right foot rolling out.

I think your comment is pertinent that some runners wear five different pairs of shoes a week. If I am confortable in the shoe, I should keep wearing it no matter what the brand or model. And if I happen to have a few pairs in the cupboard at the same time, even better.

I like my current Brooks, so subject to the pod assessment, I will probably get another pair of Adrenalines, and perhaps a pair of Adrenaline ASRs for running in the rain (sometimes its the only way to keep cool in sunny Queensland!).

Rex.

[RNJ]

MR: I'm no expert but i do have a little bit of experience with this. I used to get shin splints all the time until i heard about the shoe rotating thing. I now rotate 2 pairs, one are nikes the other mizuno. The mizunos are lighter so i call them my "fast" run pair and the nikes are my "slow" run pair as they are heavier. I haven't had shin splints for years since i started rotating my runners. Usually i get nike and asics but thought i would try something different and got the mizunos and they are great. They are both neutral shoes.

[shark]

MR

More of the same from me. I rotate 4 pairs to achieve:

- giving the shoes a rest
- horses for courses - trail, extra cushion, racing
- using older shoes for short sessions - lets me get a few exra k's from each
- trying out new types - I usually wear certain brands & styles but if I see a bargain that fits nice then I'll try
- having a pair under the desk foe lunchtime running

However, due to injury, they are all idle.

s

[Davo83]

I usually wear 1 pair of road training shoes (pegasus) and use them till they fall apart or the cushioning is gone.
My rotation comes from using spikes for track, flats for hills and old Vapours if its raining/muddy etc.

I rarely go above 30km a week so my shoes dont get that wrecked, if i was doing high mileage then i would rotate the pegasus's.
The important thing is finding what works for you as everyone is different.

[Rico]

I went on a shoe buying spree last year, constantly trying to find the perfect pair. So now I rotate them all (except the total disasters) to try to get my money's worth.

[wozzam]

hi rex, i'm like you in that i'm a brooks adrenaline fanatic and i think its great to have 2 pair of shoes firstly so like you said that they get their spring back and secondly that if it rains your not running in wet shoes when you put them on and also i have also tried out the brooks ravenna and the brooks infiniti 2s as my other pair but every marathon i've done i have used the adrenalines because i think they are the best and i slightly prefer the infiniti over the ravenna and if you want to pay a lot less try out {wiggle.co.uk} i have a pair on order for $117.

[Victory11]

I think I might try getting a second pair of trainers to rotate with my current ones, as my last pair were good quality trainers but wore out fast (presumably because they didn't have time to regenerate very well), and even though I am averaging only like 70-80km a week I think by rotating the shoes I would get a better life out of them, while also helping me transition better between each pair as when doing so from my last pair to my current, I had a bit of trouble with my feet heating up and going numb, which took a good week and a half to resolve which although not debilitating was a little frustrating towards the end of any training run exceeding 10km, as it would be around the 8-10km mark that this would set in.

Edited by Victory11, 13 January 2010 - 11:23 PM.

[Leaf]

I rotate through a couple different pairs of runners. Mainly because I like shiny new things and I constantly want to try something new! I also like training in flats, which wear out quite quickly.

My current shoe options are: asics piranha (I love these but they wear out super quickly), some puma h-streets (which are street shoes, but I'm really comfortable running in them), some nike cross country flats (not the best choice but they were pretty), nike frees 3.0, and I just bought some loco banditos to try out!!

The shoes that I still want to try are: Adidas adizeros (rockets if I can get them, or maybe pros), K-swiss flats, maybe some Newton's flats, Brooks T6 racers.

Too bad I'm trying to be less of a consumer this year...

[Victory11]

Tiz, on Jan 14 2010, 11:39 AM, said:

I rotate through a couple different pairs of runners. Mainly because I like shiny new things and I constantly want to try something new! I also like training in flats, which wear out quite quickly.

My current shoe options are: asics piranha (I love these but they wear out super quickly), some puma h-streets (which are street shoes, but I'm really comfortable running in them), some nike cross country flats (not the best choice but they were pretty), nike frees 3.0, and I just bought some loco banditos to try out!!

The shoes that I still want to try are: Adidas adizeros (rockets if I can get them, or maybe pros), K-swiss flats, maybe some Newton's flats, Brooks T6 racers.

Too bad I'm trying to be less of a consumer this year...

I guess that's another reason (excuse ) for me wanting to start rotating shoes, as I love the change new trainers bring, and think that would also spice things up a bit and break the monotony at times.
My current trainers are the Nike Zoom Elite 4, but I wouldn't mind trying out something in the lunar range this year, like the nike lunarglide+, lunar elite+ or the lunarswift+, as I have heard good thinks about this lunar technology and would be interested in testing them out (does anyone have any input or experience with any of the trainer models using lunar technology?).

[EnduranceMachine]

Victory11, on Jan 14 2010, 01:00 PM, said:

I guess that's another reason (excuse ) for me wanting to start rotating shoes, as I love the change new trainers bring, and think that would also spice things up a bit and break the monotony at times.
My current trainers are the Nike Zoom Elite 4, but I wouldn't mind trying out something in the lunar range this year, like the nike lunarglide+, lunar elite+ or the lunarswift+, as I have heard good thinks about this lunar technology and would be interested in testing them out (does anyone have any input or experience with any of the trainer models using lunar technology?).

I have just brought the lunar elite+ their a good shoe not as heavy as you normal trainer and light enough to to some tempos in and long races maybe like 1/2 Marathon and up

[Victory11]

EnduranceMachine, on Jan 14 2010, 12:46 PM, said:

I have just brought the lunar elite+ their a good shoe not as heavy as you normal trainer and light enough to to some tempos in and long races maybe like 1/2 Marathon and up

Yeah, I have seen them and they look to be a decent shoe, I might have to get myself a pair. So, would you think they have enough support/cushioning for your easy and long runs each week, or do they sacrifice this for their light weight? Are they more like a racing flat than a trainer?

Edited by Victory11, 14 January 2010 - 01:49 PM.

[EnduranceMachine]

Victory11, on Jan 14 2010, 02:48 PM, said:

Yeah, I have seen them and they look to be a decent shoe, I might have to get myself a pair. So, would you think they have enough support/cushioning for your easy and long runs each week, or do they sacrifice this for their light weight? Are they more like a racing flat than a trainer?

There made as a tempo shoe but unless you have bad bio's then you should be fine. I don't really like heavy trainners so these are good for me.

[Victory11]

EnduranceMachine, on Jan 14 2010, 02:03 PM, said:

There made as a tempo shoe but unless you have bad bio's then you should be fine. I don't really like heavy trainners so these are good for me.

I don't like heavy trainers either, but I do over-pronate a little, so I'm not sure what to go with.

[EnduranceMachine]

Victory11, on Jan 14 2010, 03:13 PM, said:

I don't like heavy trainers either, but I do over-pronate a little, so I'm not sure what to go with.

well the lunar elite is similliar to the glide but is more narrow and one is soft and one is firm.

[Victory11]

EnduranceMachine, on Jan 14 2010, 02:15 PM, said:

well the lunar elite is similliar to the glide but is more narrow and one is soft and one is firm.

Is there any benefit in it being soft or firm, or is it all just preference? Does that translate to responsiveness too?

[EnduranceMachine]

Victory11, on Jan 14 2010, 03:19 PM, said:

Is there any benefit in it being soft or firm, or is it all just preference? Does that translate to responsiveness too?

just preference i think.

[Victory11]

EnduranceMachine, on Jan 14 2010, 02:23 PM, said:

just preference i think.

Thanks EnduranceMachine