As you may know, I recently ran two marathons in eight days. But here's something you probably don't know: I ran both of them in £14.99 running shoes from Lidl!!
I picked them up on a whim whilst shopping for cheese. There were only a couple of pairs left, but one pair was my size so I thought I might as well try them on. And they were really comfortable!! After a couple of minutes of deliberation into the trolley they went.
The very next day saw me out in a blizzard testing them on a 28K run. No problems at all, not a hint of a blister. They are roomy in the toe-box, but hug my heels properly, so there's no gaping in that area and they don't rub. The tongues are nicely padded. I wasn't keen on the insoles, but I just swapped them for some from one of my pairs of New Balances and I was good to go.
The only thing I really didn't like was that the heel counters at the back came up too high and irritated my already irritable Achilles tendons. I have had this problem with my trail shoes and ended up making a vertical cut at the back of the shoes to help alleviate the problem - so I did the same with these shoes. But then I was talking Achilles woes with John_W on Strava, and he mentioned that Mo Farah used to cut those tabs completely off his shoes, and for the same reason. That got me thinking... So in the end I took some scissors to my new shoes - after all they were only £14.99
And now they're great! The trail shoes have since had the same treatment
So, of course, this can't really be a properly comprehensive review because I've customised the shoes somewhat. But I can tell you that they performed very well through both marathons. I did get a small blister during the Brighton, but I think that was due to some hard skin on my foot, and an ordinary plaster saved me from any further problems in London. The shoes are made by a company called Crivit, and I haven't been able to find any specifications, save to say that the women's ones only go up to size 7 (although it's a generous 7!), and the men's version comes in better colours ('twas ever thus!). I actually think my shoes are on the ugly side, and find their colours (grey and mint green) dreary - but I don't much care because they are so good! They feel to me to be appropriate for neutral arches, and their heel to toe drop is around 12 mm - an all-rounder you might say. I do think they give a slightly hard ride, so maybe are not for those who like a lot of cushioning - but then again I did give them quite the test!
Anyway, I'd suggest that at £14.99 you can't really go wrong, and if I ever spot some in my size again I will be snapping them up
I cut down the heel counter on one of my shoe as it was rubbing my Achilles and driving me mad. I also put Vaseline on my heel to stop friction. Every little helps
I also put another shoe inner in there, from the same make of shoe, to raise my foot in the shoe as it was sitting too deep I save the in soles from my shoes to cut up and use as required. It seems my left foot that’s the problem. Maybe it’s shorter 🤷♀️
I have some lovely little New Balance shoes (well, as lovely as shoes get) that are really soft and low at the back. It's a pity they're not quite up to marathon distance though
That is awesome. If my Achilles ever plays up I’ll be breaking out the scissors like you and Mo! I’ve just run my old Saucs to the ground and picked up a new pair just like them.
I'm also suspicious of high backs and always go for something low. The Asics I have were highish but have a "V" notch cut in them so work fine.
Being new to running I hadn't even considered how often we need to buy new shoes! Mine are already middle-aged on mileage so I need to be on the lookout for the next pair already. I never ever thought I'd run 400km in 4.5 months back when I bought them for c25k!
I tend not to pay too much attention to that mileage thing - if the shoes are still good why chuck em away just because they've done a certain distance?
I know! Feet are getting bigger It’s strange. I got a pair of the supposedly wider toe box kinvara 8 the other day. Hopeless! It was ridiculously narrower. Shorter too! My mate who has worn ASICS Gel kayano for years has given up on them entirely now You’d think makers would want to keep their customers
Apparently Saucony say the Echelon is a good replacement for my fave shoe. It’s nothing like it. 8mm drop as opposed to 4mm and a stability shoe as opposed to neutral. Ey? 😁
Alta Torin 2.5 I had to have a full size bigger. Look like clown shoes. Zero drop but there is a substantial sole unit like a Hoka I suppose. You wouldn’t want to race in them! I bought them for long distance training. I ran on dry grass in them the other day. Whoa! Like having ice skates in my feet 🙄. The zero drop require transitioning into as they pull on your Achilles a bit. They feel ok now but I’ve not gone far in them yet.
I have found a shop which stocks Altra, Scott, Nike, Hoka and Saucony. It’s not easy but I did it It’s a train and bus ride away though 🙂. I managed to get my last pair of Saucony kinvara 5 for £28 so hoping to get an older model again to keep costs down Just wanna get my toes into something with wiggle room 🙂
Will give them a go next time they are in - have always been a bit wary. So Mo has new shoes every 4 weeks, probably does 4-500 miles in that time. Lucky for him he probably gets them free. Imagine the cost!!
Bizarrely, first person I saw at work to day said he worked for Nike Town - told him I'd been watching Mo about Pegasus - said definitely sponsored. Next person had Nike across her T-shirt in massive letters. Started to feel I'd moved into a parallel Nike world!!!
I will see if they have them coming up in France. I'm disappointed with my Hoka's - can't get used to them and find the drop is too low (my Asics have a 10mm drop, and the Hokas are 5 mm - I feel like I'm running strapped to planks, albeit very comfy ones.
It just so happens that as well as the running sale next week, today they have their lookie-likee Birkenstocks in store. I hope to get me a pair today😎
But it's so much better for your legs to run barefoot.
After a pair of expensive shoes left me crippled for months in the last Marathon, I decided to run the next one in 12$ Lidl Crivit sneakers. They are ultra light and soft and I expect them to last me over 1500km.
I've done now 3 long runs of 40km each with no problem and only had to add a pair of insoles as the original that came with them were too thin.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
HM Training... oh and Tracking Running Shoes
Short run testing Hoka Challenger atr 5 trail shoes:
Running Shoes
Last 2 mile training run done before my very first HM on Sunday (hopefully...)!
Running is my \"happy place\".🙂🏃🏽♀️💕
