Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Shoe/Orthotic Experiment

What is life without risk?  My slow return (someday) to form has been chronicled here in exhaustive detail.  Heel pain derailed me 18 months ago, and it wasn't until I got orthotics in March that I was really able to start running again.  It has been slow going, but I found a good orthotic/shoe combination in the NB 890s.  My major gripe has been that the heavy orthotics have really slowed me down.  The New Balance shoes are hitting the end of their useful life, so it's time to start tinkering.  A couple of weeks ago I bought a pair of Kinvara 4s, and a pair of Superfeet.  Superfeet are the off the shelf supportive insoles you can get in running shoe stores.  The combination is almost 4 ounces lighter than what I've been running in.  I've been waiting since then for an opportunity to try them out.  I didn't want to risk it on a long run, or in the mountains, so I broke them out today for a short 3.8 mile cruise. So far so good. I was definitely faster, and I didn't notice any extra soreness, though I did have to pay a little bit of extra attention to my footfall.  Fingers crossed . . .
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6 comments:

  1. Becky WexlerSeptember 3, 2014 at 10:20 AM

    I have loved Superfeet for years. Am now actually in not an orthotic, but a foot bed or something the orthopedist reco'd when he was out of options.

    Maybe someday I'll provide a substantive update. Still a lot of ups and downs for us (me and my foot).

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  2. Becky WexlerSeptember 3, 2014 at 10:20 AM

    To clarify, the foot bed/plate is also Superfeet, but you can't buy it in a running store.

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  3. TedSeptember 3, 2014 at 4:23 PM

    I think that may be what I'm using. This is what it looks like: http://www.outsideoutfitters.com/p-28258-superfeet-green-foot-beds.aspx?variantID=93188&gclid=COS6kKWYxsACFQxp7AodiEwAzQ

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  4. TedSeptember 3, 2014 at 4:30 PM

    I am confident that sometime soon you will find the right combination. Meanwhile, we're pulling for you!

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  5. TedSeptember 3, 2014 at 4:33 PM

    Of course as soon as I searched for Superfeet on the web, an online ad from LL Bean for the same product showed up . . .

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  6. SpencerSeptember 5, 2014 at 7:06 AM

    I don't find superfeet a true substitute for orthotics but they ill do in a pinch. I also find my orthotics fit in the Kinavaras better than the NB 980s. less pressure on my instep so tht might do the trick for you as well. Just did a nice 9 in the Kinavaras. Forgot how much I liked them. They will probably be my race shoe again this year.

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