Asics DS Trainer shoes for injury-prone runner

Hhhh wrote:

I have calf/Achilles problems so for the last 6 months I've been training and racing in the Asics gel-Nimbus. Would it be safe to run in the DS Trainer 16 for an upcoming half-marathon? Just wondering about people's experiences with the shoe in terms of injury.

Why are you racing in a training shoe??? Use a racing flat. That Gel-Nimbus is a heavy shoe, probably 14ozs. Try a shoe that's about 9 oz or less.

I know that many runners are under the impression that a light weight shoe will not give them enough support and protection from excessive shock. I think this is misguided. Those clunky heavy shoes are not natural enough and interfere with efficiency.

go to a running specialty store and have someone do a gait analysis

I suffered a severe calf strain on both legs for wearing a lightweight minimalist racer during a half-marathon- the Adidas Hagio. Anyone who says that going with less shoe is better has to realize that not everyone is built the same. I have flat feet, calcification on my Achilles tendon, and limp around all day. I'm lucky to be running at all. Is there a huge difference between the Nimbus and the DS trainer?

The Ds trainer is a support shoe, if you want to stay with Asics try the Sky Speed it is the Ds trainer without support.

Try MSM a form of DMSO. Also magnesium. The calcification could be a sign of deficiency. Magnesium activates 3 hormones. Shortages gives you problems like calcification. It may seem like your shoe gave you this problem. However it could have only been a contibuting factor. Maybe 80 percent. The twenty could have been deficiency. Which would have reared its ugly head, and you would have got injured in a matter of time.

Starting with the 16, the DS Trainer has a new heal cup that tightens forward when you tighten the laces (look at a picture, I know I'm not explaining this well), and in my experience has caused a lot of achilles problems. It seems to be a common problem, judging from a google search.

Models prior to the 16 were great, but Asics has a way of disobeying the Golden rule of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

PhoenixRunner,

It just so happens I've been suffering from interstitial cystitis as well and a quick search for MSM (DMSO2) revealed that this medication is used for these patients as well.

My calcification developed rather suddenly during an extended break from running so I think you might be on to something. Can I get MSM over the counter? And if I happen to be allergic to sulfa antiobiotic ( Bactrim, for example), is it safe to take? Not too many studies have been done on MSM and even DMSO has received a bad rating over the years for some reason.

My diet is better now and I take a multi-vitamin daily. Should I add more magnesium on top of this?

As for the shoes, what the last poster stated has me a little worried. I just received the ASICS 16 in the mail and was looking forward to racing in them but I don't want to take any chances. Is there another shoe, slightly lighter than the Nimbus, which would still be a safe bet for the half-marathon?

If you haven't done any running in the DS Trainer, then no, it's likely not 'safe'. You might be fine. Or you might have that achilles flare right up.

You need to do some running in the shoes you plan to race in to see if they'll work for you. If that half is coming up too soon to get a good idea how the shoes will be err on the side of caution and run in the nimbus.