Sunday, September 30, 2012

Shoe Alternation: Vive la Difference?

After my last post, in which I talked about how I sprung for yet another pair of running shoes (Saucony Kinvaras) and plan to alternate days wearing them with days wearing Brooks Pure Flows, the Chronic Runner asked me a good question:

...why (Brooks) Flows and (Saucony) Kinvaras? That's like alternating green apples and red apples ;)

The argument for alternating shoes is that, because every shoe is different (even two pairs of the same make and model), alternating days wearing two or more pairs makes the shoes themselves and, more importantly, the runner's body more durable because you're shifting impact around and not pounding the same places in the feet or on up the rest of the body every time. Sort of like running on trails instead of the road uses different muscle groups and therefore makes you stronger and more durable all over.

The Pure Flows and the Kinvaras are considered "minimalist" shoes. They are very similar to each other. CR's argument: Wouldn't it be better to alternate between these minimalist models and a more traditional shoe that's really different from the two pairs I mentioned (like the Brooks Adrenalines I wore in the Houston Marathon)?

She makes a good point. But my reason for not doing this is twofold:

1) Green and red apples do taste different! Just kidding......Making the transition to the Pure Flows was easier for me than "going minimalist" has been for some people. For one thing, I'm not a heel striker. For another, because I started wearing them running on the Alter-G and doing VERY low mileage post-injury, my legs had some time to get used to them without much trauma. Nonetheless, I still experienced some of the calf pain that others talk about. It didn't last long, and now I run in them quite naturally. But I have no desire to undo the changes I made by going back to shoes with a greater heel-to-toe drop than these have--especially now that I'm doing decent miles again and have two races looming.

2) Merely making each pair of shoes last longer is enough on its own to get me to try this. The coach who suggested this to me argues that you get more than double the time with your shoes alternating two pairs than you get using the same pair every day until it wears out. If that's true, it's money in my pocket. Even though I love getting new running shoes, I don't love paying for them. I'm hoping someday to retire and maybe send my kids to college.

There is a third shoe that's occasionally in my mix. When I trail run, I'm using the Mizuno Ascends that I got through the Mezamashii Project. These are not minimalist shoes. Eventually I plan to get some minimalist shoes of some kind for trails (I'm eying the Merrell "Barefoot" line and also New Balance's version), but right now I do a lot more road running and so my dollars are following my feet.

I haven't actually started the alternating because I had to buy metatarsal pads for both pairs of shoes (I have a neuroma in my right foot and am at risk for one in my left; pregnancy left me with bunions as well as a bad back). I have the pads now, though, so as of tomorrow, the fun begins.

So all you alternators out there: are your shoes different from each other, like Chronic Runner's, or same-y like mine?

13 comments:

  1. I usually alternate between two pairs of the same make and model. I went to a local store and tried the Kinvara's after your last post. Thanks for the inspiration! I might try a pair, but I'm hesitant because of the screw in my foot. However, I was shocked by how light, yet they still have a lot of support in the arches, which I need.

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  2. You should try the Brooks PureGrit if you love the Flows....they are very similar but the Grits are for the trails. I wore them for Leadville and absolutely loved them.

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  3. I'm a pureflow user as well and just started running in puregrit for trails (my version of alternating shoes). If you like the Pureflows, I think you'll like the trail shoes as it is light and comfy with the right amount of bite that you need for the terrain.

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  4. I'm a pureflow user as well and just started running in puregrit for trails (my version of alternating shoes). If you like the Pureflows, I think you'll like the trail shoes as it is light and comfy with the right amount of bite that you need for the terrain.

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  5. Mine are more similar, like yours... mostly because I know what works now and stick to it. My Mizunos are new to me and have worked great so far until my 14 this weekend- I think the toe box is a little small and I got a blister on a toe, which never happened to me before. :(

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  6. what do you think about the kinvaras?

    And yes - there are differences the same make/models. I've noticed a difference between the kinvara3s and the kinvara2s.

    i was thinking about the minimus trail shoe - but Dave is SWEARING that the Hokas are the bomb. Talk about extremes, eh? Seemed like a lot of people at the Aspen race had them and a vast majority of the people at the Bear Chase seemed to have them too.

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  7. I'm a big fan of the New Balance 101 Trail Shoes, though I think they have been updated from the ones I wear. I used to love my Mizuno road shoes, but going to them from the NBs is like putting on waterlogged marshmallows. Ran a trail marathon yesterday and the NBs were great for traction and feel of the trail, but I wouldn't say that they are the best at protecting your soles from outjutting rocks. I now have two pair of them, and alternate the old pair in when it's a really wet trail run, just to keep the newer ones fresh a little longer.

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  8. If you are wanting to find a more "minimalist" trail shoe, I agree with Jill - try out the Brooks Pure Grit. It has a low heel to toe drop but has a great fit and some springy cushioning - a welcome but rare find in the more minimal shoe dept. Like I mentioned before, I have been frequently running in my Hokas - low heel to toe drop but lots of body- protecting-love in the form of springy cushioning. I naturally tend to be more of a mid foot striker rather than a heel striker but not always purely so. Theoretically, a more mid-foot strike should help with cushioning the body naturally, ie less jarring impact than heel striking, but doggone it, I LIKE cushioning in my shoes too!!! My body is just overall happier. :-) Mixing it up is probably a good idea - keeps the body better balanced overall - but finding a shoe/or shoe combo that keeps you comfy, happy, and injury free is the best way to go, regardless of trends.

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  9. I've got 3 levels of support shoes - minimalist, Pure Flows, and Adrenaline which I wear depending on my distance. However, listening to coach Rick the other day really grabbed my attention. I really need to rotate 2 pairs of my Adrenalines with training - I agree that the subtle difference can change/improve so much. Probably would have helped me prevent my PF if I was doing that already.

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  10. I have bunions and a bad back too! When was I pregnant???

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  11. I alternate about 4 pairs of shoes....of the same make and model. Yes, I'm THAT girl. :D
    Another benefit is that what sole there is in a shoe takes time to recover from a run....so if you run two days in a row, it makes sense to alternate.

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  12. This is so flippin weird. Could not comment to save my life the other day, now I can. Woot! I go between Newtons for speed and tempo work and my mac daddy Mizuno Wave Creation for long runs. Very different!

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  13. It is good to alternate shoes, for the life of the shoe if nothing else! They need to completely dry and reform before you stuff your grubby little feet back into them. Also, clearly they will last longer. I used to run in one pair of Asics and would probably be doing it still if I hadn't won the Kinvara. Now I use a pair of Brooks (that I don't love) for the trails, Asics for every day runs and the Sauconys for long runs. It's like regular shoes...You wouldn't wear high heels to a baseball game. There is something appropriate (and more comfortable) for each thing!

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