Running Shoes — recommendations

Had been getting back into running form for several months when I broke my foot (fifth metatarsal, all the way through) playing basketball. Had surgery four months ago and the injury is completely healed. Continue to have pain though. I also have ankle instability and pain from many Marine Corps years and ankle sprains, some serious.

I’ve worn Nike Run Frees for years because I like the light weight and low profile, but now they’re just too thin to run on with the foot and ankle pain I have in total. Any recommendations for a quality running shoe that will provide the support I need without being a heavy, thick soled shoe? I’m a 10K kinda guy, nothing crazy long distance.

 

I like brooks running shoes, but their new stuff doesn't fit me as well as the older ghost 15's.

 

New Balance 1080's or Hoka Speedgoat.

 

No way to answer this without out knowing your running style…mid foot strike or heel strike. Also without knowing your foot type…forefoot type, proration to supination amounts, etc… again not possible. I would recommend going to a running store and getting evaluated.

 

My wife keeps recommending Brooks to me, but I know nothing about the brand. What’s the fit issue, width? I have slightly narrower than average feet so anything that runs wider is a no go for me

 

Hoka is what I wear but I'm no longer able to run due to foot, knee, and back issues. I still walk 6 days a week and sneak in short, low intensity jogs every once in a while. I miss running, was a great stress reliever.

 

What kind of running surface are you doing? Trail, road running, treadmill, or on a track are going to require very different things to keep your joints happy.
I know you said you did 10ks but is that still your goal post surgery and with your current issues?

 

I’ve been once, long ago. I have a mid foot strike, neutral pronation, “Egyptian” type forefoot arrangement of toes.

I’m nowhere near a running store these days that can do these types of evaluations.

 

Great question and I should’ve provided that. Majority road running, occasional treadmill if the weather is shit.

 

For road running I would go with the cushiest ones you can find. I’m a track coach and cannot tell you the amount of knee, hip, and back issues people get from running on asphalt in the wrong shoes.
Hokas are generally great for that, On Clouds, and sometimes asics but they can be hit or miss these days.

 

Any particular Hokas you recommend? Guy I know at the gym who’s mainly a basketball coach and not a runner had recommended them. We’re the same size and he was super nice, let me try them on and they were super comfortable, but had a lot of sole and a high heel. One of my concerns with going to a shoe like that is it doesn’t pair with the mechanics I’m so used to using a more low profile shoe. But, what you said about joint issues, I take seriously especially being over 40.

 

In college I was in Nike frees 1/3 of the time and brooks ghosts the other 2/3. After college it was Nike Pegasus for a few years. Then back to brooks ghosts for the next 10 or so years until kids.

My last two set of shoes have been Topo magnifly 4 and Altra Torin 8.

Both are good and fairly minimalist.

I had a chance to run with the CEO of Topo a while back. Solid dude down to earth and as I have found most runners are who enjoy the running part of it not just the times.

 

Hoka Clifton’s are my go to. So much support, it’s like running on a cloud. Nikes frees are like running barefoot haha.

 

I never heard of running stores and for about 15 years I wore cheap shoes from shoe show or Payless to run in, big mistake. Dr's say that's what caused most of the issues im having now.

I hope you find a shoe that works well for you.

 

Speedgoats appear to be mainly geared toward trail running, true story? I should’ve posted originally but vast majority of my miles are on asphalt. Will look in to the 1080’s.

 

Exactly the Hoka’s I tried on in post #11. Yeah they are crazy soft but SO much sole compared to the Frees. Just a completely different style of shoe. Super comfortable though. I need to try them on in store with a little jog back and forth. I’ve also noticed a fair number of the gym rats wearing Hokas.

 

How did the Ghosts compare to the Frees in terms of support, comfort, and profile?

 

Everybody's foot is shaped different and a size 10 in Nike doesn't fit the same as a size 10 in a New Balance. There is even a difference between various models made by the same brand. I generally like Brooks shoes better, but you really need to go to a store and try some. I'm 67 and ran a lot up until about 10 years ago. I walk hills and ride my bike now, but a few weeks ago I took my 17-year-old granddaughter out to get new running shoes

We didn't go to a discount place, but a store that specializes in running gear. They weighed her, had her run on a treadmill while videotaping her feet and measured her feet with an electronic device and determined she needed a 7 1/2. The clerk bought out 12 different shoes and had her try on both shoes and actually run on the treadmill for a short time with each pair.

We were in the store for over an hour and I ended up paying almost $180 for a pair of Hoka's. I don't recall the exact style.

Once you determine what works best for you, you can probably save some money buying the next pair at a discount store or online. Shoes only last a few months if you actually run in them. You'll go through 2-4 pairs a year. But it's important to get good shoes that fit YOUR foot and that will protect your knees.

 

Mainly I’m trying to narrow down to a few likely shoes so I have targets to either try on in store or order knowing I can try on at home and return if needed. I’m in a rural area so I don’t have great access to in store product and definitely no specialized running stores that provide the services you mentioned, unfortunately.

What Brooks models have you liked and what did you like about them?

 

As a former collegiate runner, I’ve logged thousands of miles and tested just about every major brand—Brooks, Mizuno, Asics, Saucony, and Nike. Now that I run recreationally to stay in shape and frequently enter races, the shoes are paramount to how I recover and perform.

Nike's, in particular, were the worst for me in terms of support. I have a midfoot/neautral strike, and those shoes left me with tight ankles, aching Achilles tendons, and recurring lower back pain. I switched to HOKA this year—specifically the Mach 6—and haven’t looked back.

The Mach 6s are incredibly light, not bulky at all, and provide just the right amount of lower leg support and cushioning without weighing me down. Since making the switch, I’ve been able to increase my mileage and actually feel good the next day. For anyone dealing with similar issues, I can’t recommend them enough.