4/19/09 - New Shoes

So I got new running shoes this week. First time I have ever gone with Saucony as the brand, but so far I like them. Getting new running shoes is like a big mystery because you never know whether they are good or not until it is too late. It takes me about 30-40 miles in the shoes to know if they are the right shoes for me.

I have always had problems with my right knee. My right leg tends to bow outward a little more than my left, and if I don't have the right shoes, it can easily lead to injuries. Earlier this year, around Nov/Dec, I wore the Asics Gel Evolution 4. They led to alot of pain in my right knee/side and I experienced serious Iliotibial band syndrome problems. I was forced to go to physical therapy for a few weeks and got some deep tissue massage and reconstructive work to break down the scar tissue I had developed. After looking at my feet, my physical therapist recommended the brooks addiction 8. The shoes were great and I experienced almost no problems, but after having put in close t0 400 miles on them, it was definately time for some new ones.

I was thinking about getting the exact same pair of brooks again, but the only problem with the shoes were that they were kindof heavy. I tried on a few pairs and really liked the feel of the Saucony ProGrid Omni 7 Ultimates. They are about an ounce lighter than the Brooks, but new shoes are generally lighter because they dont carry any dust/dirt.

I didn't want to put in too many miles too quickly on the new shoes, so I did my long run on Thursday, because I knew I would be getting the shoes on Friday. I still finished at 42 miles this week, and felt really good.

Monday - Rest
Tuesday - 5 miles on treadmill + weights
Wednesday - 4 miles on treadmill
Thursday - 12 miles
Friday - 5 miles + weights
Saturday - 9 miles
Sunday - 3 miles on treadmill + weight in morning, 4 miles in afternoon