trail running shoes?

Trying to get back into running after a 20 year break. Thanks to some notes on this newsgroup, I
recently bought some shoes for the "heavy runner". I haven't used them on the road yet, but think
they will really do the trick for me. Back when I used to run a lot, I used to run on trails as much
as I could. These days, I need ankle support a lot. I have good hiking boots for hiking, but would
like to find some running shoes which are "high-top" like hiking boots.... Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,

Patrick

In article <U-udnThPFr9GQtjdRVn-sw@adelphia.com>, Patrick wrote:
> Trying to get back into running after a 20 year break. Thanks to some notes on this newsgroup, I
> recently bought some shoes for the "heavy runner". I haven't used them on the road yet, but think
> they will really do the trick for me. Back when I used to run a lot, I used to run on trails as
> much as I could. These days, I need ankle support a lot. I have good hiking boots for hiking, but
> would like to find some running shoes which are "high-top" like hiking boots.... Any ideas?

Downhill ski boots.

That, or just do without "ankle support".

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

Patrick wrote:
> Trying to get back into running after a 20 year break. Thanks to some notes on this newsgroup, I
> recently bought some shoes for the "heavy runner". I haven't used them on the road yet, but think
> they will really do the trick for me. Back when I used to run a lot, I used to run on trails as
> much as I could. These days, I need ankle support a lot. I have good hiking boots for hiking, but
> would like to find some running shoes which are "high-top" like hiking boots.... Any ideas?
>

Thoughts from my experience which may or may not be relevant to your needs.

1. Strengthening exercises. I spend a lot of time in the field during the summer with high top (8
in, I think) hiking boots - but relatively flexible top. I run trails almost exclusively now.
About 1.5 yr ago I went to a PT for a running gait analysis, and he discovered some things that
were causing my excessive overpronation and tendency to develop AT. Among other things, he gave
me some exercises to improve foot and ankle function (strengthened ankles). That has helped.
I've found the boots used in field work against me to some extent, since the ankle doesn't have
to do as much work. They were flexible enough that I could roll an ankle in an appropriate
situation though.

2. Taping. You might also try taping your ankles. I think it's Johnson & Johnson Coach Athletic
tape. Doug describes this better, but it's basically a circle of tape around ankle to anchor
strips. Then take tape down under arch and up the other side. Then finish it off with another
circle around the top to anchor the ends. A few strips like that create lateral support. I've
used this on long or poor-footing trails as a safety precaution. It's flexible enough that it
allows for reasonable ankle function, esp. for dorsi/plantar flexing, but acts as sideboards for
ankle rolls / twists. But I only use it when needed and allow my ankles to strengthen on the
other runs rather than using it as a crutch all the time.

3. Commercial ankle support. Google turned up this
http://outside.away.com/outside/gear.../20020705.html which reminded me that one guy
in my cross-training group does wear ankle supports while we're barefoot running although I'm not
sure what kind.

FWIW, I think I may have seen a trail shoe with a little higher top on the internet and was
surprised that anybody made something like that. But I don't remember where I saw it. It could also
be my memory playing tricks.

Hope that helps.

Dot

--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Thanks very much for your very helpful answer!

"Dot" <dot.h@#att.net> wrote in message news:KEo1c.138823$hR.2607766@bgtnsc05-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Patrick wrote:
> > Trying to get back into running after a 20 year break. Thanks to some notes on this newsgroup, I
> > recently bought some shoes for
the
> > "heavy runner". I haven't used them on the road yet, but think they will really do the
trick
> > for me. Back when I used to run a lot, I used to run on trails as much as I could. These
days,
> > I need ankle support a lot. I have good hiking boots for hiking, but would like to find
some
> > running shoes which are "high-top" like hiking boots.... Any ideas?
> >
>
> Thoughts from my experience which may or may not be relevant to your
needs.
>
> 1. Strengthening exercises. I spend a lot of time in the field during the summer with high top (8
> in, I think) hiking boots - but relatively flexible top. I run trails almost exclusively now.
> About 1.5 yr ago I went to a PT for a running gait analysis, and he discovered some things that
> were causing my excessive overpronation and tendency to develop AT. Among other things, he gave
> me some exercises to improve foot and ankle function (strengthened ankles). That has helped.
> I've found the boots used in field work against me to some extent, since the ankle doesn't have
> to do as much work. They were flexible enough that I could roll an ankle in an appropriate
> situation though.
>
> 2. Taping. You might also try taping your ankles. I think it's Johnson & Johnson Coach Athletic
> tape. Doug describes this better, but it's basically a circle of tape around ankle to anchor
> strips. Then take tape down under arch and up the other side. Then finish it off with another
> circle around the top to anchor the ends. A few strips like that create lateral support. I've
> used this on long or poor-footing trails as a safety precaution. It's flexible enough that it
> allows for reasonable ankle function, esp. for dorsi/plantar flexing, but acts as sideboards
> for ankle rolls / twists. But I only use it when needed and allow my ankles to strengthen on
> the other runs rather than using it as a crutch all the time.
>
> 3. Commercial ankle support. Google turned up this
> http://outside.away.com/outside/gear.../20020705.html which reminded me that one
> guy in my cross-training group does wear ankle supports while we're barefoot running although
> I'm not sure what
kind.
>
> FWIW, I think I may have seen a trail shoe with a little higher top on the internet and was
> surprised that anybody made something like that. But I don't remember where I saw it. It could
> also be my memory playing tricks.
>
> Hope that helps.
>
> Dot
>
> --
> "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Montrail used to make a shoe the Grand Vitesse that was a low high top but I doubt you could find a
pair anymore.

You might try to use a wobble board to get stronger.

Best of luck

----

http://runners4bush2004.rantweb.com/

makes sense. I'll start working on strengthening my ankles. Wobble board sounds like a good idea.
I'm going to start using a TheraBand to do some exercises.

Thanks for your help.

"Phil" <runners4bush2004@netzero.com> wrote in message
news:8bd8dc13.0403050735.28882766@posting.google.com...
> Montrail used to make a shoe the Grand Vitesse that was a low high top but I doubt you could find
> a pair anymore.
>
> You might try to use a wobble board to get stronger.
>
> Best of luck
>
> ----
>
> http://runners4bush2004.rantweb.com/