‘Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure, Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure‘. (MFM 5:1)

[Shake-and-run]

Back in early October when I was 6 weeks into my Half Marathon training I thought I might need some new shoes. With still 6 weeks to go until race day I thought I had time to break them in and get use to them. Hubby generously offered to buy them as early Christmas presents, so I could ‘splash out a bit’. I have been wearing Brooks Ghosts (14s I think) both the ordinary and the GTX ones. They are a good fit and comfortable but I thought I should get something with a little bit more bounce. I thought it would be sensible to stay with what I knew would fit, and the Ghost Max 2 had good reviews.

I know it was important to ‘wear them in’. So wore them in the house for parts of the day, then walked out them a bit, ran in them for a training session on the track and eventually ran 5km. They were very comfortable and bouncy and I liked them. The bounciness made them feel a bit different and I felt a bit of stiffness in my calf muscles but I was soon getting use to them.

My training plan required me to start increasing my ‘long run’ distance, 10 and 12 k were all right then I went to 14k. Something was very wrong. Now anything over 10k means walk breaks for me, usually after every couple of kms, but my legs were screaming and I was struggle to run more than 50 metres. I did finish the distance but was unsure what was causing it. The next day I ran 5k and all was well, what was going on? I thought may be I was over training, not getting enough recovery time (I had done a some walking at the weekend). The following week the long run was the 10 miler. I did not run the two days before, and had only walked the two days before that. I had high hopes but no, same problem but this time even more painful with lasting effect into the following days.

My dear friend TailChaser solved the problem for me, I had made a rookie error. The new shoes were to blame for my discomfort. I had assumed that as they were from the ‘Ghost’ stable their basic specification would be the same as my other shoes (that was one reason I choose them). But although the fit was the same there was one part of their makeup that was very different. The heel to toe drop of most Ghosts is 12mm, the Ghost Max 2 have a drop of only 6mm. My poor legs were struggling to adjust to a change in drop of a whopping 6mm!! No wonder they were screaming.

The Ghost Max 2 shoes have gone back in the box and I am wearing my old favourite Ghost 14 GTXs. I am currently coping with a sore left shin and an intermittent uncomfortable right knee. If I run for more than 50 metres my calf muscles start to remind me they don’t like it. Yesterday I rode my bike 25 miles including a Cotswold Hill climb, nothing hurt. This morning I mostly walked the parkrun and ran for short gentle sections, stopping the second I felt any little niggle.

My speed is normally not much above your average snail (about 7.5 mins per km) but in 23 days I will have just over 3 hours to complete a half marathon. My speed at parkrun today was 8.46 mins per km. If my maths is right, that is still fast enough to get me home in time.

My plan now is to carry on with my training, not as planned, but to work within what my body will let me do. My dreams of a PB around the streets of Bordeaux are gone, but I still want to finish it in time.

[Runnerno]

Hi Shakes

Thanks for sharing the info on heel drop comparison useful to know when looking at future new shoes for that little bit extra bounce on race day.

Good Luck on Race Day 🤞

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Runnerno]

Live and learn. Thanks for your best wishes x

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

I’m glad you’ve worked out the problem Shakes. You may find that if you go to an independent running shop they will be able to suggest a heel lift or some other insole that will enable you to still wear them.

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy, good advice.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles]

That must have been so frustrating, not knowing what the problem was. Good to know you've solved it though, and training ongoing, hope the aches and niggles ease now

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to SueAppleRun]

Thanks Sue, trying to find the balance between allowing sore muscles to recover and still doing a bit of training.

[SueAppleRun 10 Miles in reply to Shake-and-run]

Not easy to find that balance is it? I try and walk art least a kilometre every day but it's so disappointing that that feels like an achievement, good luck, hope your muscles recover soon

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

I am having a similar debate with myself. I always wear Brooks Adrenalines, which have some built in stability, and I was wondering whether I could get a 12mm heel drop in a trail shoe for winter use. Dexy5 mentioned getting insoles; an item on my list for my physio trip on Wednesday; I will report back.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Mizuno Wave Rider TT used to be 12 mm drop so might work  Beachcomber66 , but double-check the model, as they might have changed the drop.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks very much Cmoi; I will investigate. 👍

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Good luck with your quest BC.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

I saw a physio in Canada recently. We got talking about shoes and changes in drop. His advice was to build up tje change. Yes I know, I thought. But actually his advice was to run a minute in the new shoe, then change to your old ones. Then a couple of minutes, and change. And so on. That was a step further than my thinking that a rotation would suffice. Nope. He was altogether more cautious in his advice.Hopefully you've cracked it, and that pace is sure to pick up again now. Don't stress, just gradually ease back in. You've got this 🥰

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda, the practicalities of your physio’s advice are quite a challenge. What do I do with the other pair when i run? Where do I sit to change my shoes? Also it takes me ages to change my shoes, progress would be very slow. But I understand the principle of what is being suggested. I think I might get the shoes back out of the box in February. I do a R. E. D. So a good excuse to keep the runs short on alternate days when wearing the new shoes.

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Shake-and-run]

You could perhaps do an ever increasing loop from home or from the car, keep it simple!

[Cmoi Marathon]

Shame about the shoes Shake-and-run . I have and like the original Ghost Max, and the 2 look even better.

Did you enjoy doing your PPS?! 😉

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks Cmoi, PPS is done, submitted and accepted!! Very straight forward and far cheaper than getting a doctor’s certificate.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I have never checked the heel drop in my new shoes as I have always assumed, as they are the same brand, that they all have similar heel drops. But I’ll take extra care from now on, so thanks for this Shakes. Therein lies a lesson!

It sounds as if you’ve caught things in time before doing any serious damage so good for TailChaser ’s beady eyes 🥹

I hope everything settles down well and the aches don’t impact your training too much 🍀

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP, going to take it easy this week with a bit of walking and cycling. A gentle trot with Tailchaser on Friday morning and a 10k race on Sunday. Fingers crossed xx

[misswobble Marathon]

Lovely new shoes there Shakes! 🥰

I can understand stand how the difference in drop would cause you discomfort initially but you’ll be fine once you’ve got accustomed to them

Have fun out there, and good luck with your training 😀👍

[Shake-and-run Half Marathon]

thanks Miss W. Going to pause until the HM is out of the way, then try a slow reintroduction later.

[Katnap Marathon]

You'll get there Shakes. Have you warned hubby you might need to add to your shoe rotation now?

🤣

🐱 Katnap 🐱