[lkschiller]

I'm on my second pair of running shoes from the nearest brick and mortar running store (about an hour's drive) and I'm not happy. The first pair didn't keep my heel in place and felt very heavy once I was running, although fine in the store (Mizuno Wave Creation <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/cool.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Cool"> and this pair (Brooks Glycerin 5) have the balls of my feet burning after a few miles.<br><br>
I should return them but I'm starting to feel like they are losing a lot of money with all these shoes I am returning and they may not have anything in my size that will work. And I'm starting to feel guilty about that--they're a small store, not a chain. Plus, I called about my first return before I went down there, and the woman on the phone was kind of rude about the whole thing. I have since found out that she was a new employee.<br><br>
I've run a 10 mile run and a 3 mile run so far in the Brooks. I had Arch Mold inserts the first run, which are fairly new and work great in my old shoes, and then I tried adding a metatarsal pad under it for the second run--no help. I am a 5'6" female, 150 lb, neutral runner with extremely high arches. Any shoe I get will have to have an arch support insert added. I'm trying to get another pair in the mix because my current pair will be worn out by the time I run a HM in December. I didn't go back to the same shoe b/c they don't seem to be holding up well to the increase in mileage--the balls of my feet are sore after, but not during, a long run, with about 200 miles on the shoe (Adidas Supernova Cushion).<br><br>
For those of you who may have been in this kind of situation, how many pairs did it take to get it right? I have 30 days to return these for exchange, and except for the forefoot, the rest of the shoe feels great--well cushioned in the heel and mid-foot, fits well, very light. Should I keep playing with inserts to try to make them work?<br><br>
What happens to these shoes that get returned--is the store going to be less and less interested in getting me in the right shoe if this keeps happening? I don't think I could have run long enough in the parking lot (if I had) to know that the forefoot was not enough in these Glycerins. During the first run it didn't start bugging me until about mile 5. Am I not giving enough time to break them in? Do I give up and go somewhere with a better selection? I think I'd feel less guilty if there wasn't that face-to-face interaction.<br><br>
I tried on every neutral cushion shoe they had in my size and at least one stability shoe. Two had ridges down the middle of the forefoot (between the second and third toe) on the left shoe--could this be a factory defect? I know it's not my foot--I've had that foot looked at very recently--but I do seem to have very sensitive feet. I have a pair of Nimbus VIII's that do the same thing--I can't wear those either but bought them from somewhere without an exchange policy. Here is what I tried on:<br><br>
Saucony Progrid Trigon (ridge in left shoe)<br><br>
New Balance 1001 (forefoot was way too narrow)--not sure what kind of shoe this is.<br><br>
Asics Gel 2120 (ridge in left shoe)<br><br>
Mizuno Wave Rider (too wide, not enough cushioning)<br><br>
Brooks Radius 6 (they did not have the 7). These felt okay but were heavier than the Glycerin. Weight-wise the Glycerins feel as light as my Adidas Supernovas. But this store doesn't sell Adidas.<br><br>
And that's all they had. They had the Saucony Progrid Triumph but not in my size. Any advice? JCumming are you out there?<br><br>
Lisa

 

[IEatHills4Meals]

Hi there... I used to work as a pedorthist, doing gait analysis and fitting for all types of shoes and orthotics. I will get back to you as soon as I have a little more time.<br>
Just one quick thing. Returned shoes are very likely resold, unless you can't clean them. Yes, that's reality. Even if they can't re-sell it, they have to honor their return policy. Did they fit you? If so, that's another reason for them to suck it up since you are taking what they recommend, so that means they have some liability over your acceptance. I am just sharing the perspective of the place that I used to work for.<br>
Don't feel bad. Just be reasonable. Try to keep the shoes as clean as you can. If you are working within their returning boundries, there is no need to feel bad.<br>
I'll get back to you on the orthotics and trials later...<br>
Just my .02

 

[lkschiller]

Thanks IEHFM. So far the only dirt is on the bottom and I can probably brush that off. Yes, they do fit. I thought about calling the store before driving up there and seeing what they have to say--maybe they'll get other shoes shipped in soon that I haven't tried on yet, or maybe they've got suggestions on inserts as well. I do recall a table out on the floor that looked like a "sale" table--maybe those are their returned or only-one-size-left sales. Eventually there will be a break-even point where I will have spent as much money driving up there and taking time off work as I have spent on shoes, but I'm not there yet! They do have some very cute running skirts and some interesting outer wear for winter if all efforts at shoes fail.<br><br>
Lisa

 

[ksrunr]

Hi IEH4M's<br><br>
Ikschiller - my shoe guru (store owner) tells me poor quality or returned or slow selling model shoes often are sent back to mfg who then sends them to the chain all encompassing sporting goods or retail clothing stores. They are sold somewhere so take 'em back and get what works for you.

 

[fox-runr]

Sounds like you need forefoot cushioning. Good luck, shoes aren't made for us.<br><br><br>
I'm running in glycerins right now. I didn't like them at first (although I wore the previous hyperions for years). I think they did need a break in period. I also have the radius as they were recommended and supposedly lightweight. I feel like I have bricks on my feet<br><br>
I also wear the mizuno wave rider and they seem a little too low to the ground in forefoot, but I like the feel, but I do imagine there isn't enough cushioning in forefoot with all my foot problems.<br><br>
you might want to try nike pegasus, probably a narrow (I wear regular and I have a wide foot and the last pegasus I wore was wide on me), and probably at least a half size smaller than your other running shoes. Pegasus seems to be a good fallback shoe when I'm in that "I can't find a shoe" mode. btw, I've been in that mode for 2 years, ever since the hyperion died and the New Balance 825 series was changed too much. For me, Brooks shoes can take on alot of miles and New Balance can't, but they feel so great for racing and speedwork.<br><br>
Asics Speedstar are heaven...but unfornuately they are too lightweight for everyday. I mentioned that I wore them for a marathon and a shoe store owner <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/surprised.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Surprised">

 

[jaektaylor]

The store owner would rather you go through 4 or 5 pairs and find a brand and model that really work for you and have you buy your next few years worth of shoes from them and/or tell everyone how accommodating they were than to have you not return them, not find the right shoes and not come back.<br><br>
I went through a couple pairs to find the right shoe at my local store, they were great about it, I've been buying there ever since. I've recommended them to many many people, even brought my nephew's HS XC team in to get fitted and everyone has been happy.<br><br>
It's best for them if you do what is best for you. Take 'em back. Talk to them about what's going on, let them help you find the right shoe.

 

[lkschiller]

Thanks for the feedback everyone...I did keep the shoes, I found a combo of inserts that seems to be working out okay although I think these may be better suited for slower runs and less for speedwork. I tried them for some sprint intervals yesterday and again the forefoot was an issue--but on an easy run of the same distance it wasn't. I probably won't get them again but the running store has other things that I do plan on buying there so they haven't lost my business. And I'm sure I'll try shoes again from there at some point. I did find out that their shoes go back to the manufacturer, they are not selling them again in the store.<br><br><br><b>Fox-runr</b>--when you wear the Pegasus, how many miles do you get out of them? I tried on the current model and they felt pretty good but I had heard that they are not good for many miles. That was the first time I had tried a Nike in years that was wide enough in the forefoot for me--but I have narrow heels. I can see myself being in that can't-find-a-shoe mode for a while too.