Let’s talk running shoes. In particular, let’s talk about my running quandary: minimalist shoes vs. full cushion, 12mm+ drop shoes.
Here’s the deal: last spring, I made the transition to minimalist running shoes and never looked back. You may remember my review of the Brooks Pure Cadence shoes when I sang their praises. I had spent years suffering from Plantar Fasciitis, and was about at my wits end. I had read and heard that minimalist shoes helped minimize PF issues for some runners because of how they allow your feet to develop and strengthen on their own. Since I was looking at Cortisone injections, I decided that minimalist shoes were worth a shot and I switched to the Pure Cadence. My PF disappeared, I loved the shoes, and haven’t looked back since.
Until now.
A few months back, I won a pair of Mizuno Wave Rider 16’s via a Twitter chat. I had been eyeballing the Elixirs for awhile, but decided free shoes were better and have been testing out the Wave Riders ever since. Bottom line? I am seriously in love with these shoes! Not only are they insanely cute, but they are so freaking comfortable. I’m just getting back into my running groove after a few months off, so I was positive that my runs would be painful and awkward. However, I swear the Wave Riders are making it easy. I literally can’t believe how light and bouncy my legs feel while running in these shoes! I would even go so far as to say that they are the sole reason I am enjoying my return to running.
However, this period of satisfaction has me concerned: I originally steered away from “typical” shoes with 12mm drop because of my PF issues, and that decision has eliminated any PF symptoms. In fact, ever since I switched to my Pure Cadence, I haven’t experience a single PF pain or discomfort in my feet, and it has been almost one year. However, I am worried that the crippling pains of PF will return if I continue to run in my Wave Riders. After all, they aren’t minimalist and that seemed to be the cause of my original problem.
Do you see what I’m dealing with here? Do I stay with the shoes (my Pure Cadence) that eliminated my PF problems and run at an 85% comfort level, or do I switch to the Wave Riders which are like walking on clouds but may allow my issues to return? Or do I pull a Houdini and work both into my running rotation? Help a sister out!
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What do you think I should do?
How many shoes do you have in your running rotation?