Runner's Forum: new shoes

Need some advice.  I  recently replaced my running shoes - supposedly with the "same" shoe I had - now just looks different with a different name.  I've been miserable since the day I bought them.  I've probably run 50-60 miles in them.  I'm past all the blisters, which I've never really had problems with before, but I feel like the shoes have totally changed my gait.  My legs are sore all the time and I feel like I'm running with 10 lbs weights on each leg.  I've gone through different socks (for the blisters) and some inserts for pain in the ball of my foot (which prompted getting new shoes), which I've since ripped out.  I've decreased my milage and skipped a few races because I feel like I can't run normally anymore.

Is it time to bag it and just get new shoes or keep running hoping that eventually the new muscles with acclimate?  I'd appreciate any thoughts!

Caty

Runner's World 

You need a new pair of new shoes. I too am amazed that you stuck it out this long. If you run alot or even on a consistent basis which it sounds like you do it's worth your $ to be in the right shoe. Good luck and good running!

Hi Caty-

You mention that the shoe looks different and has a different name...sure sounds like a different shoe to me. I own a running specialy store and we try to match the runners foot shape, arch height, level of pronation, gait, etc. to the appropriate shoe. Most other running specialty stores do the same thing. Did you buy your shoes at a running specialty store? If not, you should seriously consider going to be properly fit. Most stores will even allow you to bring the shoe back and get a different shoe if you aren't happy with it since it's their job to ensure that it will work for you.

Okay, if they are Triumphs then that is a fairly different shoe from what you had. A Trigon Guide 4 is a mildly supportive shoe, whereas a Progrid Triumph is a very high cushioned (and high priced) neutral shoe.

My guess is that the blisters are coming from the fact that the Triumph allows you to slightly overpronate inside of the shoe, causing friction which, as you've noticed, leads to blisters. As far as the shoe being a heavier shoe, you are absolutely correct, the Triumph is probably 1.5-2 ounces heavier than a Trigon Guide 4.

If the shoe you have is a Progrid Guide (no Trigon in the name, just Guide), then that is a very similar shoe to the Trigon Guide, it is as they described a new shoe. The medial support is a little different in the Progrid Guide vs the Trigon Guide, but not significantly so. The weight between the two is also fairly similar, it maybe differs by up to .3-.4 ounces tops (although this is just based off of my personal experiences with the shoes, I have never actually weighed them)

haha, thats what I do! Well, that and run

But my issue lies with the fact that if you have a Progrid Guide and have had success with the Trigon Guide, I'm not sure what could be causing your problem. All of my customers have returned and said they actually liked the Progrid Guide a bit better because it is a little more squishy (but very similar in the other ways).

If that is the case (that you have a Progrid Guide and not a Triumph), then I really don't know what the problem could be other than maybe they gave you a little bigger shoe or the shoes are tied differently than from how you had it before.

What I have discovered is that the shoe is a Guide, but the insole is from the Triumph. 

Not sure how that happened, or how much of my problems it's causing, but I'm planning on going back to the store to figure it out.

 Thanks guys!