I've been exercising, and all my old sneakers were unusable/unwearable, so I got a new pair. I spent what I could, being incredibly broke.

But these shoes hurt so much I would rather try to exercise barefoot (and at lake johnson and the gym, that's not a great idea )

I thought it was maybe an arch thing, so I got a pair of arch support inserts (spring dr scholls ones), but it's still a problem.

The pain: along the outside of my foot, front half. Gradually, it spreads to be the whole area before my toes. I'd just ignore it if my feet didn't continue to hurt for a couple hours after being done. It's pretty instantaneous, too.

From what: any speedy walking or running in these shoes (if I wear them for errands, they're actually quite fine), and then, strangely, on the exercise bike.

Do I need to spend more money on a better pair of shoes? I REALLY don't want to, but if I have to, oh well.

4/8/2008 10:19:37 AM

Could you be tying them too tight? I recently got a new pair and found that if I tied them too tight it made my toes feel weird.

4/8/2008 10:27:02 AM

I don't think so


I only did that once

4/8/2008 10:29:10 AM

does it start at that joint in the ball of your foot where your pinky toe attaches?

have you had width problems in the past?

the shoes may be too narrow (width varies per manufacturer of course). i kind of had a similar problem, but with a certain shoe i had bought several pairs of over the years but none in the past year. i always bought montrail vitesse II for running/walking shoes, bought a couple of keens, went back to montrail and the same 8.5 shoe didn't fit anymore. i could barely get my foot in them. i had to go up a size to a 9 and they fit perfectly...granted within the previous year that i wasn't wearing montrail shoes, my arches collapsed and i started having some joint/arthritis problems, so my foot became wider and longer.

if you're really going to be wearing these shoes often, especially to exercise, spend the money and get a good pair that fit properly. go to somewhere like Raleigh Running Outfitters. you'll be much better off in the long run.

4/8/2008 10:33:36 AM

You may want to check out Fleet Feet (next to the Whole Foods on Wade Ave). They will look at your gait and determine what type of shoes you need, and they should be able to tell you what's wrong with your current shoes (i.e. too tight, not enough support, etc). Yes, it's expensive for a good pair, but it's worth it. I bought a pair from them (on sale) for $85 - which isn't bad for running shoes - and I have no more pain in my leg. And FWIW, Avias have never been comfortable for me.

4/8/2008 11:22:28 AM

^^ along those lines, they might just be too small -- i run in shoes a whole size bigger than all my other shoes

4/8/2008 11:38:13 AM

Sounds like a width issue to me. I have skinny feet, but my dad and brother both have to buy E+ width shoes and that sounds like the problem my brother had before he started buying wide shoes. Some brands run wider/narrower and shorter/longer than others so what you normally wear in one brand may not even be close in another.

[Edited on April 8, 2008 at 12:31 PM. Reason : good luck with all of that.]

4/8/2008 12:29:50 PM

how long have you had them? maybe they're just not broken in yet

4/8/2008 1:45:24 PM

Either you haven't broken them in, or they just aren't the shoes for you.

I have only had one "bad" pair of shoes in my life. I bought them while I was running cross country in high school, and they destroyed my shins. I ran enough to break them in, but it didn't help -- they just didn't agree with my feet.

I usually buy Brooks Beast. Expensive, but worth every penny.

4/8/2008 1:52:23 PM

Quote :

"From what: any speedy walking or running in these shoes (if I wear them for errands, they're actually quite fine), and then, strangely, on the exercise bike."

You don't want to wear your running shoes on the bike. Not only can it be painful, but it compresses the cushioning in the forefoot. In other words, you're ruining a good pair of running shoes. Either use an old pair of shoes or buy a pair of spin shoes.

For running, you should definitely go to one of the stores other people mentioned. If you just grab a random pair off the shelf from Foot Locker, you're probably not getting what you need. I suggest going to the Athlete's Foot in Cameron Village (10% off for State students), Fleet Feet, or Raleigh Run Outfitters. They'll look at your stride make a recommendation. Expect to pay around $90. Trust me, its worth it.

4/8/2008 1:58:28 PM

It does sound like a width problem or just generally poor shoe design. I've been really impressed with New Balance stuff in the <$50 range in the past. Especially if you can catch it on sale.

I know it's time to buy new shoes when my feet will start to ache after long walks (5+ miles). The shoes might look fine, but the soles are done and a new pair will make the pain stop every time.

4/8/2008 2:21:59 PM

If you want to get right down the the root of the problem, it's your weight.

4/8/2008 2:51:01 PM

sounds like a crap pair of shoes, sorry to be blunt about it, but they should be comfortable

i recommend mizuno's

but i agree with the other posters here, go to the store and have them figure out what sort of gait you have. mines pretty neutral so i sort of know what shoes to get.

[Edited on April 8, 2008 at 3:20 PM. Reason : s]

4/8/2008 3:18:54 PM

^^No shit, sherlock. Did you miss the part where I said

Quote :

"I've been exercising"

?

I'm doing the only thing there is to be done: fixing the issue. Keep that shit in chitchat.

Quote :

"have you had width problems in the past?"

Nope. But, to be fair, for the past two years and some change, it's been heels, crocs, or barefoot, for the most part.

I do think it is, after all, a width issue:
Today, since
- I was already at Crabtree
- *must* have shoes I can work out in
- have never had a problem with new balances before
I picked up a pair of New balances. No go. They were hurting my feet by the time I got home.

Quote :

"Either use an old pair of shoes"

Good call. Thanks.

Thanks for all the store recs, folks. I appreciate it!

[Edited on April 8, 2008 at 3:24 PM. Reason : thg]

4/8/2008 3:23:15 PM

mizunos and brooks are highly recommended by a lot of foot doctors and running magazines

4/8/2008 4:20:53 PM

Quote :

"mizunos and brooks are highly recommended by a lot of foot doctors and running magazines"

Yes, so are Asics, Saucony and New Balance. The point is, every one of those brands makes different types of running shoes. So its pretty dumb to say "buy X brand and your problem will be solved." With that said, avoid anything made by Nike.

When I started running, Athlete's foot recommended a shoe. By the time I wore the pair out, my stride had changed and they recommended another one. If I had just picked a shoe at random from the same brand, I would have been wasting $90.

4/8/2008 5:37:41 PM

Quote :

"So its pretty dumb to say "buy X brand and your problem will be solved." With that said, avoid anything made by Nike."

But it is OK to say the opposite!!!111

4/8/2008 5:49:31 PM

it's perfectly OK to say the opposite.

4/8/2008 9:24:46 PM

the fact that you bought a terrible pair of shoes is probably the root of your problem

4/9/2008 1:08:37 AM

Quote :

"Yes, so are Asics, Saucony and New Balance. The point is, every one of those brands makes different types of running shoes. So its pretty dumb to say "buy X brand and your problem will be solved." With that said, avoid anything made by Nike."

if you go back and reread i did not say "hey go buy THESE SHOES and all your problems will magically vanish"...

i made a simple [TRUE] statement. while i have to have shoes that fit correctly (with very good arch support and posted), what the shoe looks like is still important to me, and may be to her. knowing which brands might be recommended gives you something to look up on the internet before going in the store and gives you a chance to do some research as far as colors and prices.

i HATE while sneakers. i tried on a million different pairs of shoes, including the ones recommended by my orthopedist and the in-store shoe salespeople. i finally found a pair that fit well, and i knew that they came in a variety of colors other than what they had in the store, which was white. i ordered them online, in dark gray, for a lot cheaper.

[Edited on April 9, 2008 at 8:43 AM. Reason : ]

4/9/2008 8:41:08 AM

Quote :

"it's perfectly OK to say the opposite."

No it is not.

Brand X sneakers will solve your problems/are the best.

Brand X sneakers will cause you problems/are all bad.

Both are idiotic statements.

4/9/2008 10:16:20 AM

^Anyone who runs knows Nikes are crap. Take your trolling elsewhere.

Quote :

" if you go back and reread i did not say "hey go buy THESE SHOES and all your problems will magically vanish"... i made a simple [TRUE] statement. while i have to have shoes that fit correctly (with very good arch support and posted), what the shoe looks like is still important to me, and may be to her. knowing which brands might be recommended gives you something to look up on the internet before going in the store and gives you a chance to do some research as far as colors and prices. i HATE while sneakers. i tried on a million different pairs of shoes, including the ones recommended by my orthopedist and the in-store shoe salespeople. i finally found a pair that fit well, and i knew that they came in a variety of colors other than what they had in the store, which was white. i ordered them online, in dark gray, for a lot cheaper."

I agree with that. But the in store recommendation is FAR more important than what they look like. The point of this thread is not to recommend shoes that look cool.

[Edited on April 9, 2008 at 10:49 AM. Reason : .]

4/9/2008 10:44:56 AM

I always thought Asics and Newbalance were comfortable. I wore both during my 4 years of running track, and never had problems til i switched to adidas.

I think your shoes are just too narrow, that or you have flat feet.

4/9/2008 10:49:00 AM

YOU BOUGHT A SIZE TOO SMALL WOMAN

4/9/2008 10:52:16 AM

Quote :

"^Anyone who runs knows Nikes are crap. Take your trolling elsewhere."

I am not trolling, you are. Have you tried EVERY single model by NIKE? And even if you have and they were all crap, it says nothing.

As long as there is one person in this world who is a regular runner, and uses NIKEs (and likes them), your statement is shit. And I am sure one person like that exists.

OMFG ALL HUMANS ARE MADE DIFFERENTLY AND HAVE DIFFERENT BODIES AND MIGHT LIKE DIFFERENT THINGS.

What a concept!

4/9/2008 3:42:10 PM

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/metatarsalgia/DS00496

4/9/2008 3:48:54 PM

Quote :

"I agree with that. But the in store recommendation is FAR more important than what they look like. The point of this thread is not to recommend shoes that look cool."

you are putting words in my mouth...and contradicting yourself again. "i agree with that but not really" wtf

i ended up getting a pair recommended by my doctor, fyi, but i wanted to try on all my options.

the recommendation from your doctor is FAR more important than anything an in-store salesperson tells you.

you're only making this difficult. stop reading shit into what i'm saying.

[Edited on April 9, 2008 at 4:06 PM. Reason : jack]

4/9/2008 4:00:48 PM

Quote :

"I am not trolling, you are. Have you tried EVERY single model by NIKE? And even if you have and they were all crap, it says nothing."

If you have something to contribute to the thread, please post it. Do you run in Nikes? Do you know marathon runners or triathletes who do? I'm pretty sure that if you polled serious runners about the brands they prefer, most of them are going to name Saucony, Asics, Brooks, Mizuno, New Balance, etc. etc.

So what if a few people like Nikes. That doesn't mean they are worth a flying flip. Lots of people think their Next bike they got from Wal Mart is nice. It might be the nicest bike they ever owned. It might be shinier than what their friends have. But its still a piece of junk and I wouldn't be caught dead on one.

This thread is about running shoes and I have yet to see you add anything meaningful to the discussion. You came here to talk trash, that is called trolling. What a concept.

4/9/2008 5:24:13 PM

se7entythree

I never said salespeople knew more than doctors. I said that a salesperson's recommendation is more important than what your shoes look like. I think you should chill out because it sounds like you agree with most of what I said.

We've established the following:

1- several previously mentioned brands make good shoes that are recommended by experts

2- consulting with an 'expert' is a crucial first step

3- go to the internet if you want, but only after your doctor or salesperson tells you what you need

I wasn't trying to be a jerk by arguing. It just took a few posts for you to say what you really meant.

4/9/2008 5:58:02 PM