Running Shoe Try-Outs

I'm about to change running shoes. Ultimately I'm looking for a move to a more minimalist ride, but with a half marathon looming.. I'll take anything that will see me into that kind of distance comfortably. These are the models I'll be trying:
(I'll add comments after they've been tried-out)

Nike Free Run +2

Reason: They appear to be for someone wanting a more natural ride.
Result: From reading some comments on the Nike website, I ordered half a size up in a 10.5. However when they arrived they were still tight. They felt better when I removed the insole. However while the left shoe was comfortable, the right was not as happy. I considered ordering a pair of ID's where you can have a wide fitting, but to be honest, I didn't like the feel of them enough to warrant doing that for an extra £20. For a shoe I had high hopes for, it was a little disappointing that they are not for my feet. They got sent back.

Inov-8 Road-X 255

Reason: They appear to be for someone wanting a more natural ride.
Result: I've got a wide'ish foot so was concerned that these would be too tight. They are tight across the mid foot, but a good amount of toe room. I liked how they felt walking and feel they would give a bit over time. I'll test these and the others on the treadmill. They are definitely a contender. UPDATE: Got the next size up and although still a little tight over the midfoot, they still are far and away the most comfortable to wear. Mostly because they feel like an extension of my foot, they are not trying to control me, but work with me. The sole underneath is as close as damn it mimicing my natural foot stike/gait. I'll be stuffing them with paper to stretch out the midfoot a little, but that's a small price to pay for the way they work with me. They are the WINNER!!!

Saucony ProGrid Kinvara 2

Reason: They appear to be for someone wanting a more natural ride.
Result: Absolutely loved the mesh material that makes up the top. It just moulded to my foot and felt very comfortable. However, I didn't like the way it felt like the shoe, through the cycle, promoted my foot to move inwards towards the middle/end. So although there was a lot I liked, they got a no.

Saucony ProGrid Omni 10

Reason: Although still a supportive choice, they have been recommended to me.
Result: Although the fit was nice and they had been recommended, I decided that I was ultimately supposed to be moving away from all this cushioning. So they got a no.

Saucony ProGrid Mirage

Reason: Although still a supportive choice, they looked worth trying.
Result: These are the shoes I was least confident about. But I was surprised at was a nice fit they were, bar one thing, they are cut quite tight on the little toe side. So it would have been a breeding ground for blisters. If they were a little wider in that area, I'd have had problems in deciding. They got a no.

Adidas Adistar Salvation 3

Reason: Runners World said these should suit heavier wider footed runners. Well, that's me!
Result: These were very surprising too. If I was looking for a shoe that made my foot stay rock solid in the same position, these would be it. They controlled the foot very well, I would have been happy with these as my first shoe (and... well... they look good too!). However, on testing them, I didn't feel the stability in the midfoot/forefoot landing that I'm now happy with. There was a lot of continuing to roll forwards. When I land my foot, I want it planted and to stay there. So they got a no.

Vibram FiveFingers Bikila LS

Reason: The ultimate in minimalist running. It's worth a shot, see what they are like.
Result: M42 was too small for me! Nooooooo! And I was so looking forward to trying these babies. I'm so happy with the Inov-8's that I wont be ordering a new size, they are a definite for the future though.

My Running Shoe History

Being as I'm on the verge of deciding on my next running shoe make/model, I thought this was a good time to review the shoes that I've owned previously:

• Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10

My first ever running shoes! Great shoes for an introduction to running. Used these for 6
months in all weathers and through some very muddy fields. They didn't look this shiny when
I'd finished with them. But what finally sent them to the shoe graveyard was being dried on the
radiator and in the airing cupboard (I used to hose them down). Doing that really wrecked all the
cushioning, they were stiff as a board in the end. I think you always have a soft spot for your
first pair.

• Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11

The next model seemed like the natural choice. However they didn't ever feel as right as the 10.
This coupled with a tibialis posterior injury meant I decided to change them after a few months.
They are good shoes, but just felt wrong at the time.

• Nike Pegasus+ 27

During the transition from the GTS 11, I saw a physio who told me that I had a neutral
 gait and didn't need a supportive shoe. One of the tried and tested models he suggested
was the Nike Pegasus. They are so much more rigid than the GTS. Previous to this shoe
I didnt know what foot blisters were! It really made me appreciate how the GTS had kept me
away from that sort of thing. But, I bought some body glide and tried to work with them. Then
one of the soles went after just a month or two and it squeaked every time hit the ground.
Curtains for this shoe.

• Asics Gel Nimbus 13

  

  After reading good reports, I went to the Gel Nimbus. Asics second best
  supportive shoe (the Kayano was just out of my price range!). By this time,
  not only was I still getting over my tibialis posterior injury, but also shin splints
  were making painful running. Again, it's a very well put togeather shoe and I've
  hardly used them, because for some reason the alter my gait in such a way that
  I get shin splints from running in them. To wear, they are as comfortable as you like.

• Asics GT 2160

  

  Another stalwart supportive offering from Asics. I've put more miles on these
  than the Gel Nimbus, but while trying to better my form, I've also come to the
  conclusion that these are not right for me either. Also, having been used to the
  responsiveness of the GTS, because of so much cushioning, it feels much
  harder work running in these. However, again, these do what they say on the tin,
  supportive, suit heavy runners. Just not for me.

So.. that's my current running shoe history. Which end to end is only 18 months. They say that finding the right shoe for yourself is like finding your one true love. I'm certainly starting to believe it.

2011 Goal Review

Well it's been a difficult year for sure. The goals were:

1. Run more races than last year
2. Increase weekly mileage
3. Run to work (10 miles)

Due to injuries, I only managed 1.

There were good times though, where I felt I was on the up after a few 5 mile runs/races. Then there were bad times where injury would creep back in. Shin splints mostly.

The races I completed were:

1. 20th March 2011 - Highworth 5 mile - 42:56
2. 22nd May 2011 - Ramsbury 5 mile - 45:19

Here's to a better 2012. I'm still considering the goals.