Looking for some input on everyday training shoes. I’m a locally competitive runner, 30-40 mpw. Would love to run more but job/kids make it tough.
you hear about pros training in higher cushion shoes, more energy return which aids in recovery, allows for higher volume, etc. does this apply to runners with more modest mileage and goals? Would I benefit from running in these shoes or is it better to absorb the “wear and tear” on the legs with old school shoes since I won’t be able to increase my mileage anyways. Would appreciate some insight
I like the ghost 14. Cheap ($90), reliable, durable, and comfortable. They have enough cushioning for normal runs but don't feel like a brick when I pick it up.
You should run in what feels the most comfortable to you and I think it is highly individual. Some people like max cushion whereas others don't.
As to your question about trying to absorb wear and tear, I don't see the point. Again, it's all about comfort and recovery so that you're ready for the next run.
Looking for some input on everyday training shoes. I’m a locally competitive runner, 30-40 mpw. Would love to run more but job/kids make it tough.
you hear about pros training in higher cushion shoes, more energy return which aids in recovery, allows for higher volume, etc. does this apply to runners with more modest mileage and goals? Would I benefit from running in these shoes or is it better to absorb the “wear and tear” on the legs with old school shoes since I won’t be able to increase my mileage anyways. Would appreciate some insight
I think the jury is going to be out on this one for a while and when it finally comes in it's likely to be hung. One of the explanations as to why the new shoes improve race times, marathons especially, is that the energy return reduces fatigue for leg muscles. And I believe I've seen posts here from people who train in them and think the same thing goes on then, i.e., reduces fatigue, soreness, etc., in their legs. But your foot placement in those shoes is probably going to be different in those shoes than in anything you've ever worn before. That can be problematic and I have heard stories of people who've developed injuries very soon after getting a pair of super shoes.
I expect that different people will have different experiences in those new models and the only way to find out what your experience will be is to get a pair of shoes. For what it's worth, I once had a fairly big article about running shoes published in Marathon and Beyond. It was about minimalist shoes, not super shoes. But it did cause a bit of interest and I'd get the occasional e-mail or phone call from people wanting advice on if and how to switch from conventional shoes to minimalist ones.
My first response was to ask why they wanted to switch. If it was because they consistently had injury troubles with conventional trainers I'd tell them it made sense to try something else but if they were happy in their current shoes it did not seem a good idea to switch from them to something unproven just because I'd written a compelling article. I suppose that my advice to you would be the same; if you're going well with what you have why drop a fortune on something unknown? On the other hand, the super shoe thing is intriguing and I get why someone might want to see what happens if they get a pair.