New running shoe dilemma, advice needed before 5 today!

[Redcello41]

Running shoe dilemma - turns outs my current shoes are too small and that's why I keep on getting blisters. Went into a running shop and found a suitable pair of shoes but they are £124 (discounted from £144). They feel a lot more comfortable and will probably be worth it in the long run and will definitely help. But am struggling to justify it and even if I do but them, will I be able to break them in before the bath half which is next Sunday? Help!

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

Well worth the money RC41, buy them and "run them in" break them in by going for a few short runs before the Bath HM next week.

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

I got them in the end and will see how I go with them! 😃

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to Redcello41]

Good, I wish you all the very best for your HM run next week, by then you should be very comfortable running in your new shoes.

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks! 😃

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

I don’t think you can risk running your HM in shoes that have been giving you blisters Redcello. The new ones might be pricey, but they should give you miles of pain free runs.

For what it’s worth, I’ve never had to break any of my shoes in, and I’ve run in them successfully “straight out of the box”! 😀

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Yeah, I don't want to cause more damage running in my old shoes! 😃

[Sadie-runs Half Marathon]

I’d say blisters on the feet is justification alone for new, better fitting shoes! Wear the new ones around the house, and take them for a couple of short spins, and they should be okay. Most shoes don’t need an awful amount of breaking in as such, but you should wear them/run in them before the race to ensure they are the right shoe for you. Don’t want to find out they are not on race day! Could you not buy your current shoe in a bigger size? Good luck and enjoy the Bath half! 👍

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thanks for the advice! I could have bought my original pair in a bigger size but I was at a different running shop and they didn't stock it!

[Tkaye Half Marathon]

For what it’s worth I got a pair of brooks glycerin 17, a size bigger than my regular shoes and ran in them straight away. My others were too small and left me with sore bruised toes. I now own 2 pairs and didn’t need to ease into either pair. Could simply be down to luck but I’d recommend them to anyone.

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to Tkaye]

Yeah, I've got a man's size 10, which equates to a slightly wider, bigger size 9 for a woman and my normal shoes are an 8.

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Running shoes don't need to be "broken in". If there are problems, you won't solve them by wearing them more - that could probably be said of all shoes, actually, now I think of it! Wear them round the house A LOT for a couple of days to give yourself a chance to notice any issues (like if the shoes irritate any part of your feet) and still be able to take them back to the shop.

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Great idea! Have been wearing them around the house and at work today and been feeling okay, apart tightness across the top of my foot when using butterfly lacing to help with heel slippage. You can read my reply to Linda for more detail. 😃

[Tasha99 Marathon]

Wear them during the day at work and things too. I think you do end up paying out for your first fitted pair but then you can buy replacements online for a lot cheaper. It's worth it.

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to Tasha99]

Yeah have been wearing them around the house at at work today. 😃

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Didn't see this in time but agree with all the above comments,

So. Did you buy them ????????

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Yes I did! They feel much more comfortable and great fit for my toes but I am having a bit of heel slippage. So I've tried butterfly lacing which helps the slippage a lot, but they definitely feel too tight across the top of my foot. Are there any other lacing techniques I could try or is it just because they are new that they feel tight whenever I use that lacing and they should settle down? I should mention that my normal shoe size is an 8, my new trainers are a man's size 10 which equates to a slightly bigger size 9 for a woman. Other than that they feel fine, been wearing them round the house and at work today.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Redcello41]

I use heel lock lacing like this locklaces.com/blogs/resourc...

Just be careful not to tie it too tight!

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Ah, yes that's the lacing that the guy in the shop showed me, it's other name is butterfly lacing. If I use normal knots the shoes are definitely loose. I think I may need to experiment a bit the tightness and may have to loosen the laces of the whole shoe a bit!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Redcello41]

OK. If you haven't got it sorted by Monday I would go back to the shop and ask their advice again, It may be that they have something else that would suit better. Good luck

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Redcello41]

Try different lacing configurations out, here's some examples:

runrepeat.com/top-10-runnin...

I've figured out my own version of heel lock that doesn't involve so much crossing over the feet 😊

[Decker Ultramarathon]

I know this is too late but just in case...You’ve likely seen this already but try a pair half a size larger than your normal shoes. The reason being that our feet tend to swell a little on runs and it helps to have a bit of wiggle room. Everyone is different though, so try until it feels right.

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Yeah I went for a whole size up but I have a bit of heel slippage, so am experimenting with different lacing techniques at the moment.

[roseabi Ultramarathon in reply to Redcello41]

It could be that a whole size up is too much and you should exchange them, but an insole might help...

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to roseabi]

Yeah maybe, but I haven't gone for a proper run in them yet so I figure I should do that first to give me a really good idea of what they are like. There are ways round it and air have thicker running socks that will help I think

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Redcello41]

Maybe wear a pair of double layer socks as insurance against blisters in case the full size is too much, and what Abi said below

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Yeah, I have a pair of thicker socks so I think that will help

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Redcello41]

Wright make a double layer run sock where the two sock layers take the slide friction instead of your toes. I think there are other makers too.

amazon.co.uk/WrightSock-Dou...

[Redcello41 Half Marathon in reply to Decker]

Cool, will check that out, thanks! 😃