With the weather gradually getting cooler, I was excited to start running more again. As I resumed my running regime, I was hampered by pain in my right hip. Rather than re-aggravate it, I would take a few days off (and in one case a week off), and try it again, only to have the pain return. I tried different stretches and exercises but nothing seemed to work. Then, Hurricane Irene forced me to take a good five day break.
The Monday after Hurricane Irene, I was so ready to get out of the house and run. We were still without power and staying at a friend’s house. The only running shoes I had brought with me were an older pair that still had very little mileage. Either way, I was ready to get out of the house. Besides, that morning was cooler than usual. I ran the two mile loop on base and surprising had little to no pain. The only difference I can attribute to this run was my shoes. I realized that my current running shoes were three years old. Various articles from Runner’s World magazine suggest replacing running shoes every three to four hundred miles. I think in three years I have run at least that. Yep, time for a new pair.
Now, the question is which one to buy? A traditional shoe with a highly cushioned sole and a steeper heel-toe drop? A minimalist shoe like the Vibram FiveFinger shoe which allows for a near barefoot running experience? Or a transitional shoe that is somewhere between the two? Honestly, I haven’t decided yet and I’m still doing the research. There are lots of articles that caution jumping into minimalist shoes since such running requires different muscles than are normal used when wearing traditional running shoes. However, those who I've asked about their toe shoes seem to love them.
Either way, I'm happy to do a little shoe shopping. Meanwhile, I'm using the pair that I ran in after Irene. What shoes are you sporting on your run?
