Three months ago, before I began training for my half marathon, I went to Athletic Annex to get fitted for shoes. I walked for the salesperson, I ran for the salesperson, and after trying on three pairs of shoes, and I bought one. I thought that I was all set.
Two weeks later, my shin pain appeared. It was the first time I’d ever had shin pain so severe, and I assumed it was because of overtraining — I’d be better once my body adapted, or so I thought. Though Athletic Annex does allow you to return the shoes if they’ve only been used on a treadmill, I had already run in mine outside, and I did not think that my shin pain was caused by my shoes. I continued to run.
For the first seven weeks of my training plan, I ran through some pretty severe shin pain, thinking that I could overcome it. I bought a foam roller, I bought compression sleeves (running gets expensive), I iced, and when none of that worked, I rested.
After resting for nearly two weeks, I went for a four mile run with my dad on Mackinac Island, and I felt really good. My shins were a little sore afterwards, but they were fine during my run, and fine the day after. I thought that I was healed.
I ran a couple of times after my run in Mackinac, and I felt okay, but each time I had to cut it short because of shin pain. Then Saturday’s 5k happened, and it hurt.
I chose to run the 5k without music, and it gave me a lot of time to think. I focused on my stride and the way my foot was striking the ground. I thought about how my feet felt in my shoes. I focused on where I was feeling the pain. When I got home later that night, I did my research. As it turns out, I am a little bit of a underpronator, meaning I tend to run on the outsides of my feet. I also tend to scrunch my toes, which in turn, makes my calves tighten. Of course, I was wishing that I had noticed this three months ago, when I had just started training, but sometimes you have to live and learn.
On Sunday, I went back to the shoe store, and this time, I was prepared. I brought my Brooks Adrenalines (the shoes they chose for me last time), and explained where I was feeling my pain. The first thing the salesperson noticed? My shoes were too small. She apologized quite a few times, saying that could’ve been a simple fix had the guy that helped me last time checked them. As it turns out, I needed to go up a half size. I have been scrunching my toes, therefore creating extra tension in my calves, because my shoes weren’t big enough. Had I realized this 12 weeks ago, I probably could’ve saved myself some pain.
I also learned that my Brooks were supporting my feet in all of the wrong places. After trying on many different pairs of shoes, and running up and down the sidewalk of the shoe store multiple times, I finally found a pair that felt good to me.
This time, I’m giving New Balance a shot. Thank goodness for my very helpful, patient saleslady. She was very honest as she watched me run, letting me know when my stride looked good and when it didn’t. She told me to rotate between ice and heat this week, and break in my shoes with short runs, sticking to the treadmill, just in case I need to make an exchange before my race.
I know that it’s crazy to buy a new pair of shoes the week of a race, but I just couldn’t stand to think that I’d be running 13.1 miles with my toes all scrunched up. My shoes won’t be a quick fix, of course, but it’s one step to feeling better.
If you’re ever in the market for new running shoes, do your research. I thought that I’d be fine since I went out of my way to get fitted at a specialty store, but sometimes they make mistakes too (I know that it’s partially my own fault — I should’ve been more educated). Though it was too late to exchange my Brooks, the woman was nice enough to give me 25% off my new shoes because of the problems I had. In the future, I know that I need to listen to my pain and act sooner when I notice a problem — I could’ve saved myself quite a bit of money, and possibly an injury!
With all of that being said, I am on the road to recovery, and I only have four more days until my race!
Time to hit the treadmill.
Have you ever been fitted for running shoes?
Do you do your research before buying new shoes?
I am glad you found a better pair of shoes and figured out the main cause. I have never found another person who is also an underpronator. I don’t buy new shoes, I continuously actually buy the same pair. I used to try and switch it but why fix something you haven’t broken LOL?
I don’t blame you, once I find a pair that I love, I’ll stop switching!
I ended up getting new shoes this week too. I think my old ones had too many miles on them and were causing my IT band pain. I should’ve realized it weeks ago too! I just bought my 2nd pair of Brooks and am trying to walk more to break them in before Saturday! I hope these are better shoes for you!
I hope that your new shoes help your IT band!
Shin splints are such a pain! I haven’t been running for super long but that is one thing I know for sure. I think the most important thing I took away from this post was that you really listened to your body. You took it easy and rested when other treatments weren’t working. Like you said early on in your training, even if you have to walk part of the race… You will finish!
After this weekend it will all be in the past and you can decide where, what levels to take your running to next!
Oh man that was nice of that lady to give you a discount! Running places are usually pretty helpful, it stinks they didn’t advise you in the first place. I wore NB shoes my entire track career and I loved them! I hope they work for you and good luck with your race!
Thank you!
I actually think it is smarter to get a new pair before the race. You could get even more injured in the old pair. I am surprised they put you in adrenaline’s – if you get more stability than needed you get get even more injuries. I hope these new ones feel better. I would go for a more neutral shoe.
Yeah, these still have a lot of support, but she was afraid to change the shoes too drastically since I’d been training in Adrenalines. They don’t feel as heavy, though, so I’m hoping that they’ll be okay.
I’m so glad you got new shoes, I hope this helps! I never realized before I started racing how important they can be!
WOW! I had almost an identical problem to yours! I got fitted for running shoes at a speciality store for the first time in July 2011. I overpronate, so they put me in a pair of Brooks Ravennas for the added stability. The Ravennas had waaaaay more arch support than the shoes I had been wearing. I took them on an easy 2 miler with no problems. The second time I ran with them, I had a strange pain in my lower back about 800m into the run. I figured it was just because I had taken too much time off, or I tweaked something, or whatever. I kept running in those shoes for a week or two, but my back pain just got worse, so I went back to another location of the same speciality store and was like, “So here’s the deal. I’ve run and run and run in these old-as-dirt Asics with zero problems, but once I started running in these Ravennas, I started having back problems. I don’t know if it’s the shoes or if it’s me, but fix me please?” The salesperson at that location was like, “Wow, I don’t know why on EARTH they put you in these shoes if you’ve been running in those Asics. That was dumb. Let’s get you in new shoes.” I switched to New Balance 890s (v1) and haven’t really had back problems since. I did have to take time off to heal from the back injury, but the New Balances have never hurt me (aside from like 11 mile runs, but I don’t know if it’s the shoes to blame for my hip pain on those runs or the fact that I was, you know, running 11 miles haha). The sales guy at the second location of the speciality store was INCREDIBLE. I didn’t have the receipt for my shoes, I didn’t have the original box, and I had put probably 6-8 miles on them outside, and they took them back, no questions asked, and credited the price I had paid for the Ravennas to the 890s. It was amazing. I’ll never buy running shoes from a box store when I know I can get that kind of service at my hometown speciality store.
Wow, that was very nice of them to do that!! I’m glad that you figured out the problem!
i’ve never been fitted for running shoes, but i’ve never really ran (former elliptical addict) until right after i bought my current shoes. i’m due another pair in the next couple months, and i’m totally planning on doing it then. it’s great to hear about your actual experience, other than just “i got fitted for shoes.”
Oh man, that’s horrible to think that your shoes could have caused you your running pains. I hope you feel better with your new shoes! That’s why I love Road Runner Sports, if the shoes don’t work for you you get to exchange them for free for 90 days, no questions asked.
So glad to hear you got better shoes–They really do make a world of a difference, and hopefully you’ll notice it right away…I’m already excited to hear about how your race goes!!
I’m so glad that you went back in and got refitted! I can’t believe we were both in too small of shoes!
I know, you think we’d realize it
!
oh my goodness, i’m SO sorry you learned the hard way just how important the right shoes for ur foottype are!! aww, i’m slightly mad (okay a lot!) at the salesperson for not fitting u right, i used to work in a running shoe store! also, they should have a better return policy.
that said, i’m glad u at least NOW are set with the right shoes and off to running pain free…good for u for being diligent!
Yeah, I’m a little bit upset too! Thank you!
I went through a slightly similar thing when I tried Under Armour shoes for the first time — I’ve always loved their products, so I tried their shoes. They caused me patellar fasciitis, peroneal tendonitis, and swelling in my knee before I realized that it was the shoes and not overtraining. I’ve fallen in love with (2 pairs!) of Mizunos and my UA’s have been exchanged.
Definitely going to be doing my research from here on out!!
Oh my gosh! I’m glad that you like your Mizunos!
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