4 replies to this topic

[Ms TM38]

Hi all.
My question is a kind of shoe fit/right sock question.

I put the sales assistants at Athletes Foot through their paces in February when I went looking for the right running shoe.
In the first store, I did that foot test by walking over the pad and saw the way my feet roll through when I walk.
(Don't we run differently though?)

Tried about 4 different shoe styles, finally found one that seemed ideal (after all the foot anat and phys descriptions you could possibly desire to explain why the chosen shoe was soo perfect for me.)

Anyway I came out with what seemed an ok shoe, it helped that a different sole insert was placed in it.
(This was all before I had to be fitted by my chiropractor with a 5mm heel lift to my left foot).
The shoes were New Balance.

I walked in the new shoes around the house for 4 hours and within 3hrs noticed pain across the top of my right foot. Persisted for another hour after loosening laces, but this didn't solve the problem.

Significant enough pain that I took the shoes back and put a different assistant through another 7 pairs of shoes.
I came out with Brooks - and yes, I found the perfect shoe for my foot.

EXCEPT:
(and I post this thread here because I have to wonder if this is just a "me" problem or a universal "people who wear running shoes" problem!)

I find that with my left foot slightly larger, the shoes are always fitted to it.
Then I find I am always tying the right shoe REALLY tight... or at least very firm...
using the lace-lock technique - I couldn't explain it here... hope you know what I mean.)

I still then find that when I am doing any kind of exercise - be it warm up stretches before walking, or even light jogging - my right foot feels like it just doesn't quite hold in the shoe.
I wonder if there are some top-quality socks that would create better thicker more hugging support inside the shoe, and not feel like my foot is slipping around even minutely...
it never happens with the left shoe.

I'm convinced it must a 'sock' thing, too... and it's psyching me out!!! :)

What is a good solution for making a shoe fit when it automatically is going to be 5-10mm too big inside the shoe...?
(minus suffocating strangulation by tight shoelacing!!?!??)

All sock recommendations highly regarded!
(I'm a couch-potato by force at the moment, due to old injury niggles, so there is plenty of time for offers of advice.... I'm not yet back in training for the 2007 sydney half-marathon.)

Thanks a mill!

kindest regards
Terri
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[Rudolf]

I think, that somewhere I read about the internet shop-service, where You can buy different size shoe for each leg, it was from certain manufacturer only, could not remember.

Socks - or 2 socks. Lots of ultrarunners are wearing 2 oair of socks, as a blister prevention strategy, often the first one is tinner and tight fitting, outside pair is cushionninh thick one.
In Your case You can have 2 pairs on just one smaller foot, to make up the size, and find the correct thicknes.
Good thick socks are coolmax from Target and similar from Aldi, more expensive socks are Thorlos from running or outdoors,hicking stores etc.
You can have a pair thin tight fitting ryunning socks and on the smaller foot an extra coolmax or Thorlo or similar one.

[comadi]

I have a foot size difference, but it does not cause the sort of problem that you are having. It sounds like you have a slightly larger than normal foot size discrepancy.
Depending on the size of your feet, you may have to buy 2 pairs of shoes; a half size different.
Then you can wear the larger left and the smaller right.
This is not a unique experience; I have heard of this being done before.

Then all you have to do is find a buyer for the small left and big right who is your size in transverse. Which could be a long shot.
Good Luck.

[Steve 'The Footman']

Have you tried wearing two socks on the smaller right foot? It is certainly worth a try for one run.

You said the chiro was putting a lift in one shoe. Hopefully the right leg is the shorter one. Why not put in a full length lift which could fill out the shoe and make it fit better? For running a heel lift is close to useless for a leg length difference anyway as it is irrelevant during the propulsive phase once the heel is off the ground.

Adidas have the mi-adidas program that travels around the country. You can order one foot wider or longer than the other foot. This is certainly the best option if your problem is strickly one of fit. I would not discount other issues possibly causing your problems.

[joey]

Sounds like your left foot is wedged so snug in your shoe (heel lift + being bigger) that it is making your right foot feel comparatively loose. Maybe the heel lift is too big and going up .5 size in left foot to make the feet feel more even is worth a trial? If they measured your feet right the shoe fit shouldn't be a problem, Athlete's Foot will supply differing shoe sizes if need be. Everytime I have bought my shoes there they measure me and give me size 9.5 right and size 9 left.