Aches since changing shoes

When I first started running last wear, I had my feet analysed and I brough a pair of Mizuno Nexus Wave 4's. A year and about 1000k later, I had my feet analysed again and because I slightly over pronate with my right foot, they suggested a shoe with more support. So after a while, I brought a pair of Asic Gel 3030 and a pair of Mizuno Inspire 8's with a view of sending back the pair I didn't like, but for several reasons, I still have both pairs.

I have started wearing the Asic's and after the first run, my legs felt really tired. A few weeks later and they still feel tired after runs but my right ankle has started to ache and I have a slight tinkling come numb feeling halfway up my shin which I'm dreading is the start of shin splints. I've also had tenderness in the down the side of both feet srating at my big toe and down to the beginning of the arch. Due to this, I haven't gone out when I was going to because of those worry's and my legs just feeling tired.

The only other thing that I've changed, is that I've gradually upped my longest run and I have been running a more hilly route with one hill having a 12% gradient. At the moment I have done about 70-80k in the Asic's.

I don't know if it's coincidence that this all started when I changes shoes, but could the change have actually caused this meaning that maybe I didn't need more support or could I have just over done things even though I've built things up slowley?

Would it be worth trying the Inspire 8's that I still have in the box or buy another pair of Nexus Wave's (6 is the latest version I think)? For all I know, I could have a rest, then try the shoes again and it all comes back.

Difficult to say since you changed two things at the same time (shoes and more milegage/hills), but you say your legs were unhappy after your very first run in the new shoes, so I'd say there's a good chance it's the shoes. Do you still have your old shoes? If so, try running in those for a week or two. If everything settles down, you'll have your answer.

I'm very wary of being encouraged into more supportive shoes, particularly if you were not having problems in your old ones. I stuck to neutral (based on wear pattern), despite advice to go for anti-pronation, until I went minimalist. 

I'm rather sensitive about this subject because I went through various shoes and took a lot of advise from shops, spending money on shoes, and my issues just got worse until I saw a physio and discovered my best shoes were my first cheapest ones without any gimmicks (such as wedges etc!).

As far as I'm concerned the tests shops do, with the treadmill and camera is very simplistic.  There is nothing generally wrong with pronation, and if there is a problem with your form or you experience any discomfort you're better off getting advise from a well qualified 'HANDS ON' physio who is experienced in running, and they will properly advise what type of shoes you need, or what stretching or exercises you should do

Seems to be a common theme here!  I had similar issues where I replaced my cheap trainers with the recommended shoes following a gait analysis.  The new shoes never did feel quite right but I perservered.  It was only after six weeks that I got really bad knee pain.  After a few months of doctor visits and rest etc, I found the only cure was to go back to my old shoes.

So I'd dig out your old Waves and give them a couple of runs and see if this helps.  However, before dismissing the new shoes completely, it would also be worth comparing how your Waves and the new Asics fit your feet.  I've had aches in my shins when the laces have been pulled too tightly, so it could be something as simpla as loosening the laces a bit.

Hi sleaver

I will first quote myself from a previous thread

Ablefeet wrote (see)

"About to scare alot of people" - Everyone pronates, it's part of normal function, if you don't do it, you cannot walk (Pronation is a tri-planar motion that occurs at your subtalar joint and allows for the forward motion of your body - the oppostie to this is supination).  It's whether it's occuring at it's functional limit and therefore overloading structures which are not intended for this amount of stress. This is when a problem then occurs.

 

As has been correctly informed above, if you weren't getting any problems in your original shoes (Mizuno's) why change. Initially rest to let everything settle. Then go back to your original trainers running the same distances you were before, which shouldn't cause you a problem.  Then when you can do this comfortably, then you increase your training programme. If you get no problems then it was the new shoes, if the symptoms come back then chances are it's your rapid increase in training.

Cheers,

Ablefeet

Thanks for the replies and advice.

I just walked through Westfield in London and popped into Sweatshop as there was one there. As soon as I said that I had gone from the Mizuno's to the Asic's I could tell by the look on his face that he was shocked. Although he didn't know the Asic's that well, I've Apprantly gone from one end of support shoes to the other.

So, as has been mentioned, I'll give my legs a rest and try my old shoes again as I still have them.

I'm not convinced that it's the increase in distance because it was about 30k per week and in now 36k ish and as far as I can remember, I kept to the 10% guideline.

Would it be worth trying the Inspire's that I also still have or cut my losses and try to sell them as they are still brand new? Losing a bit of money and finding out the hard way is better thank risking injurys.

Sell them! Seriously. You've changed your shoes, you've now confirmed no big change in distance etc., and your legs hurt. Go back to what you were wearing before! Particularly since you're already showing outside of the forefoot wear in the milder stability shoes, you certainly don't need extra anti-pronation - maybe you even need less.

And as Ablefeet says a degree of pronation is normal, not something to get scared about.

where did they tell you to switch to Asics?

I had a look at my old shoes this morning and the wear on the front of the shoes is near enough all in the center and on the heal, it's more on the inside. Anyway, I'm having a rest and i'll try the old ones again.

I won't name shops because I think it is down to me as well, but shop A suggested the Asic's GT 2170, but because they were almost pure white and knowing the roads I run down, they would look discusting after a while and anyway, I had a 15% off voucher for an online shop. They also suggested the Inspire 8's but didn't have them in my size. I then went to shop B, the same shop where I got my Nexus Wave's (so I had trust in them at this point), and said what shop A said and they suggested the 3030's.

So, considering this was only the second time buying running shoes, I took my 15% off voucher and got the Inspire 8's and 3030's online with the intention of sending one pair back. However, I kept both and I was going to rotate them.

Shop A is a chain of specialised running shops and B is one which just two local shops.

Shop A did say that the Nexus Wave's looked good but said that the GT 2170's suited my biometrics just a bit more. Then again, I could have got the 2170's and had the same issues for all I know.

Even though it's probably my fault as well, I brought shoes that were suggested to me and had trust in the shop that sold me the Nexus Wave's that have given me 600-700 miles of running! Anyway, you learn from making mistakes!