Running Shoes Disaster

NotBothered

For the past year I have been wearing Brooks GTS 13 and have been perfectly happy with them, but they are now losing their bounce so decided to treat myself in the New Year to a decent pair.

As I am pretty new to running and lack quite a bit of confidence, I decided to go to a specialist shop and get fitted properly. Now - my old faithfuls were a size 5 (I am a size 4 normally) but was told by the sales guy in the large sports shop that it was normal to go up one size for running. Didnt make any sense to me, but went with it and had no problems.

I told the guys in the specialist shop that I was a size 4 and they fitted me for the Brooks GTS 15s as a size 6!!!!! I questioned it as being 2 sizes larger didnt make any sense at all, but relied on their expertise, ran a little on the treadmill and everything seemed fine.

Now I am one of those who gets quite fixated on something, so the first time I went running in them, I was very conscious of the fact that they were a larger size and didnt feel at all comfortable, but put it down to my fixation and tried to put it to the back of my mind. I have run on them now for 6 runs and I still just dont feel comfortable. The left one feels OK, but as I get into the run and start to get a little bit tired, i feel like I am in danger of tripping over the big toe side of my left foot and feel like I am having to pick my feet up higher (I have quite a small, shallow step) I am also aware of my "Stamp" - as in I can literally hear myself pounding the pavement and at the end of the run I feel like my shin has taken a bit of a battering.

These trainers cost me over £100 and I know that I cant take them back as they are used, but certainly dont want to make the same mistake again. I cant get my old faithfuls again as they have been discontinued and I was just looking for a bit of advice? Some recommendations? I need a support trainer as I tend to swing my right foot out when I run (I walk a tad like Charlie Chaplin). :rotfl:

chunkytfg

Firstly the shop and you are right that you normally wear up a size in running shoes as it just gives a bit more room in the toe box. I wear 12's every day but run in 13's and wear the same Adrenaline GTS's.

If you had already sized up then why would the sales guy not accept this? Did you try them? Are you sure they are UK size 6's and not USA 6's? I ask this because Brooks don't have UK spec labels so the box will show them in the US sizing with the UK sizing smaller alongside it?

The GTS 13's are the same and the 15's The number denotes the year they were made. I've gone from GTS 11's right through to the 15's I have at the moment and they have all been the same.

NotBothered

Well I put them side by side and they are definitely longer than my old faithfuls and feel wider, so I think they are a size UK6. I'm not sure - I am not always the best at expressing myself, so maybe he thought when I said I was running in a size 5 he maybe thought that was my size?

Having said that - he did put me on the treadmill in them and did the touch tests and said they were fine. This store has such brilliant reviews and I was encouraged to go there because of their brilliant reputation, maybe, I did something wrong? Is there a chance I have been running in the wrong size and that I just need to get used to these? In all fairness, after a couple of miles in my old ones, i do tend to get pins and needles/numbness in my toes, so maybe they are too small? I am just feeling a bit despondent at the moment as I was doing really well with the running and now i feel like I have had a massive set-back and dont really want to run until it has been sorted.

chunkytfg

If they are actually bigger then they will feel different running in them but that will account for them feeling 'sloppy'. In your old shoes did you have a thumb width of space infront of the big toe to the end of the shoe and do you have this in the new ones?

Which store did you use? please tell me it wasn't Sweatshop as they are only very loosely a 'specialist' shop. They are nothing more than the running shop arm of sports direct and I would take what they say with a pinch of salt.

NotBothered

Thanks Chunkytfg. Just about a thumbwidth in old ones, but definitely in new ones. No it's a local running shop in gloomy Swindon called Run!. They definitely DID seem to know what they were talking about. I might just go back and have a chat with them and see what they say. You never know, they might be able to offer me a bit of a discount. I'm certainly NOT expecting a refund as I think it is my own stupid fault.

heartbreak_star

Sweatshop told me that I'd be fine with a "light crop top" sports bra.

I wear a 36G.

I will never listen to anything they say again

HBS x

chunkytfg

@notbothered. Just ask like you say and take the advice. Sounds like its a proper shop so i'd trust them tbh.


@heartbreak_star. My GF is a 30E and the only bra that prevents black eyes is the Shock absorber Ultimate run bra. And if you can find them they do one with a HR strap built into it

NotBothered

Ouch! I'm a respectable 34DD and LOVE the Under Armour Zip Front Loaders! I have no idea why, but I get into a hell of a state trying to load myself into most sports bras that just go over your head! LOL! I feel like I've dont a work out just putting it on

Then when it comes to taking them back off, I always end up wanting to reach for the scissors!! LOL.

I think I will do that this weekend - take a trip back to the shop and have a proper chat with them and see what they say.

jenniewb

OP it is worth going back to the running shop as some (not all but for example Runners Need stores) will offer a 30 day money back or trainer swap if you are not happy if they've advised you to purchase a pair which didn't work out for you.


The deal with going up a size is that for runners, as you run your feet will swell. This is due to your body heating up, your feet plodding on the ground and because running is one of the most impact based sports it means your feet take on a lot more stress than for example a spinning class or a long walk. For this reason, it can work out to get a pair of trainers which come up a half size of size larger than your normal every day shoes.


Also, confusingly some trainers are a good two sizes smaller than the US size reads (I know you've probably already checked but the US sizes are not the same as the UK sizes). Some trainers are narrower than others and this will mean needing to go up a size to get a better fit. Feet swell from all angles but if there is a barrier to prevent them expanding outwards then they will just swell in the direction they have space. Squeezed feet cause many problems and not just in your feet. Whilst you can recover from physiological problems with time and treatment, often there will always be a chance the problem will return at the first sign of stress so making sure shoes aren't too small is very important.


That being said, it's also important to make sure you are comfortable in your run and that your not needing to swap your technique for a less economical or injury causing one. Go back to the store, see what they say but make sure you take the receipt or proof of purchase (card statement) as evidence if you are doing this.

MallyGirl

I would go back to the store. I wear Brooks GTS and have gone through 9s, 11s and am now on 13s. Not sure what I am going to do when these die as the 15s don't seem to come in a ladies size 10 (I am a UK 9).

chunkytfg

MallyGirl wrote: »

I would go back to the store. I wear Brooks GTS and have gone through 9s, 11s and am now on 13s. Not sure what I am going to do when these die as the 15s don't seem to come in a ladies size 10 (I am a UK 9).

Other than the colour choices is the men's and women's version any different?