Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Quick note about SHOES
In the last few weeks, I've learned a valuable lesson about the "heel to toe drop" in shoes... specifically running shoes. H-T drop is how low your toes are in comparison to your heel. I am a heel-striker, so I do better in shoes with a higher drop because I'm used to absorbing more of the shock in my bones. If you are a mid-foot striker, a lower drop is better because you absorb most of the shock in the muscle. For reference, barefoot = zero drop. Got it?
I have been running in the Asics GT-2000s and absolutely love them. I was bad & ran well over 300 miles in them before switching, but still never experienced a problem. I decided on the Asics Gel Lyte 33s for my next pair, because to me, Asics = Asics.
The GT-2000s have a 10-12mm drop and the Gel Lytes have a 4mm drop. I was about 60 miles in on the Gels and started having really bad calf pain and shin splints. I couldn't figure out if this was happening because of the increased mileage or continuous training, but when my coach found out about my shoe change, he told me the reason for all the pain was because the two shoes were so different. The lower drop was causing more strain on my achilles and calf muscles.
I wish I would've known about this before I invested in a new pair of running shoes. If you are not an avid runner, I don't think that this would make a huge difference. However.... if you are doing track/speed work and running 25+ miles/week, changing to very different shoes is a great way to get injured and frustrated. It is possible to change your stride and the way you run, but I don't recommend it when you're training for a big race... like an Ironman. :)
I'm now back in the GT-2000s and there is a bit of residual pain (because shin splints take for freakin ever to go away), but my legs are so much happier with a bigger drop and my running is almost back to normal. So relieving and frustrating to know that shoes were the culprit. I've very happy that there isn't a bigger underlying issue and that I don't have to ice & stretch like a maniac every time I go for a run now.
Lesson learned: know your shoes before you buy them and/or stick with what you know and what works for you!
Happy Running!
PS - still working on getting my new site up & running in all my "free time"
I have been running in the Asics GT-2000s and absolutely love them. I was bad & ran well over 300 miles in them before switching, but still never experienced a problem. I decided on the Asics Gel Lyte 33s for my next pair, because to me, Asics = Asics.
NOT TRUE.
The GT-2000s have a 10-12mm drop and the Gel Lytes have a 4mm drop. I was about 60 miles in on the Gels and started having really bad calf pain and shin splints. I couldn't figure out if this was happening because of the increased mileage or continuous training, but when my coach found out about my shoe change, he told me the reason for all the pain was because the two shoes were so different. The lower drop was causing more strain on my achilles and calf muscles.
I wish I would've known about this before I invested in a new pair of running shoes. If you are not an avid runner, I don't think that this would make a huge difference. However.... if you are doing track/speed work and running 25+ miles/week, changing to very different shoes is a great way to get injured and frustrated. It is possible to change your stride and the way you run, but I don't recommend it when you're training for a big race... like an Ironman. :)
I'm now back in the GT-2000s and there is a bit of residual pain (because shin splints take for freakin ever to go away), but my legs are so much happier with a bigger drop and my running is almost back to normal. So relieving and frustrating to know that shoes were the culprit. I've very happy that there isn't a bigger underlying issue and that I don't have to ice & stretch like a maniac every time I go for a run now.
Lesson learned: know your shoes before you buy them and/or stick with what you know and what works for you!
Happy Running!
PS - still working on getting my new site up & running in all my "free time"
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