Shoe woes

Normally, and in the future, I promise you a more positive blog but I gotta get something off my chest.

Two years ago when I first discovered that shoes were one of the most critical components of a successful Ultra, I went through a painful (literally and figuratively) period of trial and error.

I found the following:
1) A shoe that was good for a comfortable ride for 5 or 10 miles might lead to tendonitis because of lack of support at 20 or 30 miles.

2) Your feet do swell when you run long.

3) For a long haul over rough terrain most shoes won’t cut it because they are not real trail runners: they’re road shoes, prettied up (or actually usually uglied up) to look like trail runners but they don’t have it where it counts.

4) Gore-Tex, while waterproof, is not all that good for trail runners because no one blends it with all the other elements. I tried some Inov-8's and some other Gore-Tex shoes and found them way way too flexible and light weight for the type of running and my lousy feet.

So I eventually found my beloved favorite, the Montrail 2008 Hardrock, in 13 EE and bought a bunch of them. They were like Mack trucks with almost no flexibility, tremendous support, motion control and cushioning all wrapped up in one.

But they were not indestructible and even though I had 6 pairs they eventually wore out and got to the point where no amount of repair would make them serviceable again.

So merrily I thought I would just lateralize into the “Mountain Masochist” Montrial’s replacement for the Hardrock.

What a mistake!!! The MM is lightweight and flexes if you sneeze. It’s a totally different shoe and the other old model Montrial’s just never cut it. Of course they still make them!!!

I suppose the proper response would be to be grateful that Montrail made a great shoe, thank them for it and move on. But it’s a royal PIA and so I think I am actually angrier at them for D/Cing the Hardrock, replacing it with a completely bogus shoe and leaving me in the same boat I was to spend probably thousands until I find the right shoe again

Do you hear me Montrail, you idiots? What is wrong with you!!!! You were at least making a real trail runner that everyone raved about and loved. They were always in short supply so you can’t tell me they did not sell.

Such is the way of shoe manufactures--they always have to change things and make them worse!

None of the brand names work either.

The New Balance 910 is OK but it’s got too much motion in the toe box.

The Aetrex can’t make a size that fits--the 12 is too small--the 13 is too big and there's nothing in between.

The Brooks Beast is not right for me. My favorite road running shoe, the Triax Structure, is to narrow in the toe box and flexes like a newspaper in the wind--clearly a runner masquerading as a trail runner.

So I am at the same point again: Bad feet, lousy biomechanics, a big wide size needed to accommodate the armor plated orthotics and no place to go!

While this may seem funny and was intended to stir a laugh or two, it is truly a serious problem for anyone who needs their shoes to actually be dedicated trail runners. I understand the marketing value and the need to not invest in a small segment of the running world but to call your shoes "trail runners" when I can bend them in half with no effort is plain bogus. No on, no one, NO ONE who runs on real trails-- no matter how perfect their feet and biomechanics are, no matter how much or how little pronation, suppination, etc, etc they have-- benefits from a wimpy shoe.

So, manufactures, especially you MONTRAIL, who abandoned me... listen up: don’t fix what ain’t broke!

On the plus side I called them (Montrail), something I rarely do but probably need to do more of, and spoke to “Chris” who recommended the AT+ and the not-yet-available Sabino, so I will try them. As a matter of fact, I am wearing the AT+ as we speak and I can tell you it does not feel anything like the Hardrock in terms of overall cushioning. BUT…

Here’s hoping because nothing is more elemental than what is on your foot.

Oh Yeah, I guess I should comment on the current craze of barefoot running based on the Massai and other running tribes. First off, if you have any kind of below-the-knee tendon problems, do not run or even walk far in any of the rocker bottom shoes without going into it slowly. They're hard on the Achilles unless you have perfect biomechanics.

As far as barefoot running I am aware that certain Mexican and African tribes do it. But when I start seeing people at my local races, which are on the very rough rocky (sharp, nasty rocks) trails of Eastern PA, I will guarantee you that fad will last one race--or more like one block. When your feet are shreded to ribbons, don’t cry on my shoulder! LOL, MORONS!!!

And people look at ME funny for using poles! Until next time: keep training.

Dr Dave