Shoes

There are many different shoes for running – road, trail, fell, lightweight, spikes etc.  Some are for underpronators, some for neutral and some for overpronators.  It is recommended you have a gait analysis to determine which pronation group you are in.  However on the Isle of Man I know of no sports shop that does this.  So I have looked at the soles of well-worn shoes and I think I am a neutral runner, as the sole is worn in all places and not just the inside or outside.

I wear Nike Air Pegasus shoes for road running.  They are for neutral runners and I need a lot of cushioning and stability.  I have completed several marathons wearing them.  However try different makes and see what suits you.

For trails, like the Heritage Trail from Douglas to Peel, I am wearing Asics Gel Trail shoes.  These are good for moderate rough terrain and provide good cushioning.  However the grip is not good for more extreme cross-country like the Millennium Way!  They have never given me a blister, and have been so mud-covered they do not look new anymore.  I have purchased a pair of Mizuno Wave Ascend Trail shoes as a second pair of trail shoes to run in, and will test them out.

Fell racing is a new challenge and I bought the Walsh PB Extreme fell shoes.  Fell shoes are lightweight and offer little cushioning and no protection when tackling rocky bridleways, as the mid-sole is so slim.  However their grip, due to the studs on the underside of the shoes, on rough terrain is excellent.  But during my first fell race I went and sprained the outside of my right foot.  They do not seem to offer much support.

I have just bought a pair of Inov-8 Mudroc cross-country / fell shoes.  The sole is covered in studs like fell shoes, but they have more cushioning and mid-sole than fell shoes.  They are recommended for mountain marathoning and have excellent grip on steep wet contours.  I will wear these for my next fell race.  They are comfortable and have good grip, but they do hold onto water like a sponge!  Eventually the water is squeezed out, after a lot of squelching!

I always alternate two pairs of shoes so it gives the first shoe a chance to dry out, and for the mid-sole to recover, between daily training sessions.  Shoes have a life between 300-500 miles.  I have to buy new shoes every 3 months.  Keep an eye on the sole and insides of the shoe for wear and tear.  If they start rubbing and giving you blisters, it is time to get a new pair.  I am reluctant to wash shoes.  If I do I put them inside an old pillowcase.  If they are muddy and wet, take the inner sole out to dry, wash the laces, put newspaper inside the shoe and let it air-dry.  The mud can be brushed off when it is dry.

Always buy running shoes at least a size bigger than your shoe size.  I take size 7 normally.  My running shoes are size 8 or 8 ½.  This gives your feet chance to swell, without causing blisters.  Running shoes typically cost between £50-80.  They are not cheap but a good comfortable pair is worth it.