Question:
I hope my note finds everyone doing well and I hope you can be of
assistance. Please bear with me.
First, here are some stats: I am 30 years old, 6 feet tall, and about
138 pounds, give or take a donut. I usually run 3 times a week, with
races on the weekend and no more than 40 miles total. One of my runs
during the week is usually long, starting with a 8-10 miler at the
beginning of the month and usually culminating in a 17-20 miler by
month's end. (I like running so much I'd put in a 20-miler just for
kicks, even when I didn't have a marathon to train for). I am a veteran
of 15 marathons, all run for charity, and I guess I'm what they call a
"mid-pack" runner (PR of 4:15, average marathon time between
4:30-4:45). I have a long, narrow foot (women's size 11 in regular
shoes, women's size 13 in running shoes) and I over-pronate. Since most
women's running shoes don't come larger then a 12 and they are cut a
size too small (a 12 fits like an 11) I have always run in men's
shoes. For years I ran in a men's size 11 Asics Gel Kayano, back when
they were named after the season and year instead of a number. They
were perfect for me straight out of the box; they didn't even need a
break-in period. The last time they made a model I could run in was the
Fall 2000 model.
In Spring 2001 they came out with a brand new design and it was like
night and day. It was now cut too wide for my foot. I was stricken! I
wrote Asics and complained. Admittedly, they were very kind and sent me
several pairs of shoe to try for FREE. The problem was none of them had
the old Kayano fit (too wide or not enough support). I got on-line and
bought up every pair of the old style I could find.
Well, that was 4 years ago and as of last autumn I had used up my last
good pair. So I began experimenting; I tried any support or stability
shoe I could find in a men's narrow or women's size 13. Sadly, the
results have been disastrous. Unable to find the right shoe, I've had
one injury after another, mostly in my right foot. I call my right foot
"Goldilocks" because where running shoes are concerned, everything has
got to be **just right.** I found motion control shoes to be too much,
but stability shoes were just fine. I need a nice snug fit through the
heel and instep, no over pronation, and beefy cushioning in the
forefoot.
Alas, most of the shoes I tried purported to be the ultimate in their
line for support and cushioning, but I found that they would generally
have one, but not the other. In most cases, any shoe that was narrow
enough and had good support, went flat too quickly or the ride was very
hard and I literally felt like I was pounding the pavement. Others had
good cushioning, but didn't stop my over pronation.
Since September of 2004 through September 2005 I have tried a plethora
of shoes. (Don't be alarmed by the following list; I am a VIP member
with Road Runner Sports and so I get to run in the shoes for a month
and send them back for a full refund if they don't work): New Balance
1221 (GREAT support, but zero forefoot cushioning, like running on a
rock) and New Balance 991 (nice cushioning but didn't stop my over
pronation), Mizuno Wave Nirvana (good support, very hard ride), Brooks
Adrenaline GTS 5 and Saucony 3D Grid Hurricane 7 (both were too wide,
my foot kept turning over), Asics GT 2100 (They make this in a men's
11B narrow and it was lovely, fit like a glove, but the forefoot
cushioning went dead after only a few months) Adidas Supernova Classic
(nice narrow fit, not enough forefoot cushion), Mizuno Wave Alchemy
(ride is too hard), Gel Kayano XI (I the latest version bought because
some runners reviewed it as being cut a bit narrow, so I thought I
would give it a try. They worked all right for a few short races and
runs, but ultimately were too wide for runs above 13 miles), and most
recently I tried Asics Gel Fortitude (stable shoe, alas, also too
wide).
As aforementioned, the result of running in shoes that don't fit have
been these injuries: tendonitis in my right ankle, tendonitis in my
right big toe, 2nd metatarsal pain on my right foot, pain in both knees
and the latest is my right achilles tendon which blew up like a balloon
after my last 20-miler on October 4th. Since July I've seen an
orthopaedic doctor who sent me to physical therapy, and also to another
doc who made me orthotics (the orthotics didn't work; they feel like
cement in my shoe).
To quote Gwen Stefani "I'm just a girl...and I'VE HAD IT UP TO HERE!"
Also, "This S#@* is BANANAS!" The NYC marathon is in a week and half
and I am now officially too darn injured to run it. I am despondent and
PISSED OFF.
I cannot possibly be the only tall female runner with a long narrow
foot! Why on earth don't more of these companies make stability shoes
(heck, any shoe) for a girl with long feet??? And so the upshot of my
long missive is this: Is there anyone out there that shares my problem
and have you found a solution? Please chime in, even if you're a guy
who wears a men's narrow, B size. I can't believe my running days are
over because I can't find a darn shoe.
Thanks for your patience and I look forward to your replies. My kindest
regards
Answer:Well, I'm not sure what the question was by the time I read all that
LOL. But if it was shoes, I think you can keep trying the various
models of shoes, because as you've noticed, they change more often
than I change socks. Speaking of which, have you tried thicker socks?
Or two pairs? Or how about running off the pavement in the shoes that
did fit you, but didn't have the cushioing you expected? Personally I
thnk cushioning is highly overrated. Keep running in them, and if they
don't cause problems, that maybe the best you'll be able to get. There
IS a shoe out there for you, so keep trying.
