LOLZletter Edition 11| How to Tell you Need New Running Shoes
Plus will the 4% and Carbon Plated Shoes Eventually Be Banned?
Welcome Back or Welcome!
Recently several people have asked how do you know it’s time to replace your running shoes. It sounds like a lot of people are putting in the mileage this Spring (more than me HA HA). Working in run specialty, I get the question asked at least 3 times a day.
How to Tell You Need New Running Shoes:
Hint: It’s not mileage.
If you run more than a few months, then chances are you’re faced the runner’s question: When do I should buy new shoes?
First, it’s not every 400 miles. That is a ballpark answer, but it differs for every single person. Thinking out loud, some people can get 1000, and some people get 200. It depends on the individual. Don’t immediately get rid of your shoes at 400 miles if you still feel good…
The Short Answer of Replacing Shoes:
If you hurt and haven’t done anything differently in your training, it’s probably the shoes.
The Long Answer:
There is no scientific proof that running shoes should be retired after 400 miles. Four hundred miles is the average, but many factors play a role such as:
Where you run (harder ground and cold can break down a shoe faster)
Your weight and how hard you hit the ground (causes the materials to break down quicker). Weight isn’t so much a factor as the weight at which you compress cushion and if you distinctly wear one part of the shoe more than the other.
Your Form: If your form hits at exact points, you’ll break down those points on the shoes much faster. For instance, I land very far on my toes, but because I put a lot of pressure in a tiny pinpointed area of a shoe, my shoes break down the quickest there. Sure half of the shoe is usable, but it’s not the half I use.
You buy your shoes from a third party source (like Amazon). Yes, there is a market for fake running shoes.
The model you purchase. Purchasing a 2+ year old model shoe won’t last the same as a brand new model. These older models get deeply discounted after two years because the cushion is rapidly deteriorating. 2+ year old models will only last about half the time as a current model. Not many people realize that running shoes do have a shelf life. If a shoe sits in a warehouse for long periods of time, it’s more likely to break down quickly.
So Here are Some Ways to Determine if you’re Running Shoes have Lost their Cushion:
First, you’re googling: have my running shoes lost their cushioning? If you’re asking the internet and unsure, then your shoes have probably lost their cushioning…
But Here are Other Ways:
You’ve Run a Lot in the Shoes:
If you’ve spent at least six months in a single pair of shoes, they are probably reaching their limit.
If you can’t remember, a good way is to write the date on the side of the shoes. It’s unnecessary to calculate the exact mileage of every pair of shoes you own. By knowing the date you bought them, you should be able to roughly estimate how many miles you’ve run in them. 401 miles versus 399 does not matter…
Your Body Hurts and You Haven’t Done Anything Differently:
As indicated earlier, if you’ve done nothing different but your body aches, and nothing feels right, your shoes are probably worn out.
You Can Visibly Twist Your Shoes:
Your running shoes shouldn’t be flexible. If you can bend and twist them; then they have probably lost their cushioning. Even brand new racing flats are hard to twist and bend.
You Flip Your Shoes Over and Visibly See Tread Worn Out:
If you flip your shoe over and see a hole in it or worn through the tread, it’s probably worn out. This is what most people envision as a “worn out shoe,” but just because you can’t visibly see wear marks doesn’t mean your shoes aren’t worn out.
So now what?
As someone who works in a running specialty store, I always recommend getting fitted for shoes. Your feet and body change. That being said, if the shoe has worked for you and the model is the same, there is no sense in changing.
Every year styles are updated and changed. This could mean shoes fit differently. Sizing is different, or they “feel” different. Updates typically work for the majority of runners, but that doesn’t mean 100%.
Hopefully, you can get as many miles out of your running shoes as possible (staying healthy of course).
Will the Nike 4% and Other Carbon Plated Shoes Be Banned?
I can’t help but wonder why this topic hasn’t been brought up more. Or why no one talks about the cushioning of these shoes lasting two marathons. If you have been a longer subscriber of the newsletter, you know I wrote about different models of the Nike series including the Turbo, 4%, and Fly. If you’re new, you can check it out back here. On my blog, I’ve written shoe reviews with the Pegasus Turbo as well as the Zoom Fly.
So anyway, I’ve begun to wonder, will carbon plate shoes be banned at some point? The technology is there that do help your time, but the question is are you willing to pay $250 for a shoe whose technology only lasts two marathons.
A similar situation happened with LZR swimsuits around 2008-2010. It was during the height of my swimming when dropping a second in a 1 mile swim could mean moving up places. These swimsuits made your body more buoyant. It was known these swimsuits would help you swim faster, but they were upwards of $500. World Records fell, and swimming was booming (more than it already was).
Ultimately they were banned because of “technology doping.” I have to wonder if this will happen with the carbon plated shoes. It would be a sticky situation because the brand On already uses carbon plates in their shoes. Would they ban the carbon plate altogether? Or the angle at which the carbon plate is put into a shoe?
Just something to think about. No one thought they would banned the LZR swim suits either and everyone from the professionals down to age groups were wearing them…but then it happened.
What is Keeping Me Entertained:
London Marathon: Big Ben runner gets stuck at finish line:
I know we should talk about Kipchoge becoming the first man to win the London Marathon four times. He ran a 2:02:37 which is second to his time of 2:01:39 at Berlin. Or the great Emily Sisson debuting at 2:23.09, on a windy day. Or Molly Huddle running a disappointing (for her) 2:26.
But I choose to talk about the man dressed as Big Ben who ran a 3:54 marathon, only to get stuck at the finish line because his costume was too tall. If you need a bit of humor to start your day, here you go.
Giveaway Winner:
Last weeks giveaway winner CEP compression socks is Vanessa N. from twitter. Thank you to all that entered and shared.
Thank you to everyone who has shared on any platform. Sharing is what keeps it free. Here is the internet link.
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