[Today’s run: 7 miles (freeman house)]
I wore some older shoes for the run today, ones that I really retired from regular use months ago.
I’ve been using the same kind of shoe for probably 5 years now. The manufacturer has changed the style a bit over that time but it generally has stayed about the same.
When I was training for my marathon 2 years ago, I think I went through about one pair every 3 months. In a more slack running period I can usually get about 6 months out of one pair. I usually try to have two pair on hand and I alternate. That seems to help them last longer, particularly if I have to run on a string of consecutive days.
Anyway, I have probably about 6 pair in various stages of disintegration and I pulled out on older pair this morning. We started off just planning on a 5 miler but it stretched to 7 miles.
And it work ok. I could start to feel the lack of cushioning by the end.
But, recently it has been the fashion to run in minimalist shoes (without much cushioning at all). So it is not necessarily a bad thing to run on worn-out shoes. The minimalist guys say that it helps you to form a more natural stride since you can’t count on the cushioning to avoid shock and pain. And that is probably true.
One thing that happens after you’ve run for an few years is that your body gets a more efficient movement (or breaks down trying to). And one of the areas of improvement is the banging on pavement. Or it seems that way to me. Maybe it is just that people who can’t adapt aren’t able to continue.
Anyway, cushioning shoes will supply a longer period of slow adjustment instead of things grinding to a halt right off.