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I’ve never been a runner outside of team sport and that’s was a long time ago 😅.
A combination of injury, New Year’s resolution and “it just needed doing” has meant I’ve just completed couch to 5k with my first Park Run.
The couch to 5k was run through a runners club so for at least 1 run a week it was track based with the supplementary runs either being at the track or you were left up to your own devices.
I’ve bought two pairs of trainers back in January; Adidas Solar 5 and Nike Zoom X Terminator FK. As a previous trainer “collector” I did take a bit of time is reading up on the trainers first rather than just buying pretty colours 😂
I’ve predominantly run in the Adidas as whilst the Nike are like walking on marshmallow I think they are just too soft for my **cough** 102kg **cough** frame. I’ve used the Nike trainers between runs as a recovery(?) aid 🤷🏻♂️
Now ….. I enjoyed the Park Run honestly more than I thought I would. I’ve not been injury free since starting the journey (too corny?) so am pleased to have completed it and would now like to set 10k as a target with regular park runs but I find myself (like saddles, handlebars, tyres) looking at trainers. 🤨
The Adidas are fine for the road and track, have a decent drop but are quite heavy and I could possibly do with some more arch support. They are also not great for off road. The Nike are now for the school and coffee shop runs.
Appreciating it is as individual as saddle recommendations where should I start with looking at other options?
At a minimum I’d like some trainers that would cater better off road but retain the firm but not too firm squidgyness of the Boost soles.
All advice is very welcome 🤗
As usual, recommend what you have.
I'm a fan of altra Lone peaks.
I can highly recommend gong to a running shop and have them fit you up. Not one of this places that do fancy insoles and stuff but one rat looks, at your gait, your feet etc and let's you run on a treadmill etc.
What shoe works for me may well not work for you. I use such a shop in Sheffield (Accelerate) and they are utterly brilliant at getting you in the right shoe.
Brand is largely unimportant. Fit is everything. Went in few weeks ago for setting road shoes to do the Sheffield half marathon in and the ones I was recommended felt so good and really helped yesterday in actually getting round.
Yes you may not get a super special online discount but you'll get the right shoes for your running style. Things like heel-toe drop, how thick the sole is, how firm the cushioning is etc all make a difference and running in a shoe that really works for you is just a nice feeling.
That did if you want a recommendation I asked said running shop for pretty much exactly the shoe you describe as I like training in a 'light' trail shoe even on road and they pointed me to the Scott Kinabula Ultra RC and it's brilliant.
I'd still find a good shop though and have a chat with them 🙂
Much like yourself I'm a reluctant runner , I do park run fairly regularly and try and stay into it enough so I could do a 10k if I wanted. I currently have a pair of hokas and I think they're great but I like the cushioned feel . Before that had a couple of pairs of brooks ghost and a pair of sauconys . As above I think it's worth going to a decent shop and doing the whole treadmill analysis thing , you end up spending a bit more but I felt it was worth it .
I needed arch support. Visited local running shop, walked out with a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS. Comfiest shoes I've ever owned/worn, so I bought a second pair as my everyday trainers too. Only downside is they are expensive.
Thing is, the running shoes you already have are working so I'd be tempted to figure out how to keep replicating those, you may find a bigger arch just makes you roll the foot more which would be counterproductive..
I suspect I'm the resident running shoe geek on this site, so let me assist.
First, are you sure you have the name right of the "Nike Zoom X Terminator FK" as the Nike Terminator is a baseball shoe. I'm guessing it's a ZoomX Invincible which are super squashy, but can feel a bit unstructured.
The Solar 5 is a seriously weighty shoe, well cushioned, but seriously weighty.
I'm going to suggest a couple of shoes based on your weight (sorry!), the fact that you quite like how Adidas Boost feels and the kind of running you do.
First, for road work, I'd be looking at the Saucony Ride. It's not super soft, but is well cushioned and works well as a solid all round shoe. If you want a bit more support then look at the Guide, same stuff in the midsole but a bit more support if you pronate. Similar drop to the Solar Boost as well.
Second, for a more traily type shoe, look at the Nike Pegasus Trail 4. The midsole is Nike React that is similar in firmness to Boost. It's not a shoe for super-techy trails, but of great for general summer trail runs and is supportive enough that I've run an ultra in it.
I (re)started running at Xmas, approx. Have built up to a 5k loop, a mix of road, field border, gravel farm track and woodchipped path.
Chose the below because (a) I liked the colour and (b) they did well in all the ‘10 best road to trail shoes’ listicle things. They’ve been great, as in 3 months later I pull them on and still think ‘these are awesome!’!
Obvs all feet (and people!) are different, YMMV, etc!
https://www.inov-8.com/parkclaw-g-280-road-to-trail-running-shoe
Thank you all - lots to mooch over there.
I can see why runners have multiple trainers!
Sadly I am not aware of a local running shop but will have a google - I do appreciate the value of some good advice.
@lunge - I did indeed mean Zoom X Invincible FK - I'll go sit in the corner 🙂
Following a number of good reviews I was drawn to the Nike Pegasus Trail 4 - the GTX version - but sizing seems on the smaller side as do many of the GTX shoes. Unfortunately Nike don't do a half size up in my size.
@letmetalktomark, Unless you're constantly running in wet grass I'd just get the normal version. I like the GTX version for dog walking, but find I get sweaty feet if running.
And yes, running shoes can quickly become an addiction, I've just had a clear out of mine...I'm still left with 18 pairs...
As above - get to a decent running shop who can analyse what you need.
The running club you have been attending can probably suggest somewhere local. I use Advance Performance in Peterborough.
Dont get too caught up in shoes, and certainly dont buy the latest and greatest. You can get any shoe you need for £50-£60
Echo the above that Saucony make just good running shoes, nothing fancy just shoes that work. Being that you are heavier look to changing them more often, rather than buying an expensive pair to last.
I wouldnt buy Inov8. They are really known for arch support. Park ones have more than their other shoes, but not so much as say Saucony
Dont buy waterproof running shoes. All they do is hold in sweat and water.
Have a look at Sportshoes.com for good deals
Another Nike Pegasus Trail 4 fan here. Fantastic shoe. I use it for most of my road runs too as it's quite light and very comfortable.
Standard version, not bothered about having Gortex, as standard shoes will dry faster when wet. I did have to run through a couple of rivers that had burst their banks on my regualr road>trail. Wet feet, but wasn't a problem as only 10K (apart from the weird farting sound they made once wet)
Sportpursuit.com have good discounts on Saucony at the moment.
Most of my running is off road and I wear InoV8 Trail talon 235s.
Absolutely love them, they fit my feet perfectly, been wearing them for years.
This is all starting to feel like a non cyclist walking into a bike shop* and asking for a bike!
* A single speed, rigid, steel, 29+ selling bike shop at that!
This is all starting to feel like a non cyclist walking into a bike shop* and asking for a bike!
no - dont over think it, they are just running shoes.
The trick with running shoes is try a vast range until you find a pair that fit like a glove and in which you never get injured.
Once you are in that state of nirvana, buy the same shoe but the 'new' model and cripple yourself within 5k (I'm looking at you New Balance).
Then rinse and repeat.
I love Hoka shoes, for me they are super comfy and they do a wide version. I haven't had a pair cripple me yet and I can boast 20kg more than you on a bad day.
My tip is that once you are at a stage where you are running regularly, if you find a shoe that works for you, and you are happy with after a few months of use, then set up some alerts online, or look in physical shops for them to be discounted. If you find them for a good price buy as many pairs as you can. At times I've had at least 5-10 pairs of the same shoes sat in the loft waiting to be used. It also allows you to rotate a few pairs, so you always have a dry pair and rarely need the big jump from a knackered pair to a brand new pair.
Trainer manufacturers are annoying in launching 'updated' models every year that are marginally different, either using different materials, a different last or upper design, or something else needlessly changed to allow them to convince runners/consumers that they need, so new updated models may not fit you as well. They are also almost always more expensive.
I really think that there can't be anything new and groundbreaking in running shoe technology that could come along and make a pair of trainers designed in 2021 obsolete, or have a significant impact on the average runner's performance. So if you find a pair that works for you then stock up.
I'd agree with going to a shop and trying them on. I've never owned a shoe where it initially felt horrible and a hundred miles later it felt better, so first impressions count. I'd also be wary of other peoples recommendations as being 'the answer'. Several brands of shoes are recomeneded above that I simply cannot run in.
I can recommend Nike Pegasus tho' and think that's a good place to start. I've had something like 14 pairs over the years, but I've moved now over to Hoka Mach 4, 5's as I'm getting older. As you should be seeing, this is all very personal.
Trainer collector? Quite heavy but seemingly managing to run in neutral shoes without issue so far?
You need the new Saucony Endorphin Elite.
I raced a 10km in a demo pair last month (33m high) - I didn't like them as much as my Vaporflys, but they were super stable and my legs felt very fresh afterwards.
Dont buy waterproof running shoes. All they do is hold in sweat and water.
As a general rule this may will be true but compared to some salomans I had which were gtx a pair of altra lone peak wet weather's have been fantastic this winter for me. They use event as the waterproof layer and I find them only marginally warmer than their unlined counterparts - sometimes too cool!
Definitely recommend trying to find a shop and trying on different pairs back to back on a treadmill. In isolation a pair of shoes may feel ok, even reasonably comfortable, but when you try them against others you pick up slight variations and can differentiate between one pair over another. This is how I ended up arriving at a pair of Brooks Ghost a few years ago and now just get a new pair when they're on offer (SportPursuit had a sale recently).
Also, look on the actual manufacturer's websites which often have sales of last year's models or colours. My last 3 pairs of Nike have come direct from the Nike website all for 1/2 the price or less.
Road and offroad you say --> On Running CloudUltra