Trail Shoes

Frank Boettcher said:

I'm getting ready to get new shoes and would accept some advice.

I am a nuetral, efficient runner with relatively high arches and at
59, joint preservation is most important. I've been running in
Mizuno Wave Creations, their best cushioned shoe, for years. However,
I run most of my miles on improved trails. Particularly at this time
of year, I find the trail kind of knocks my feet around because of
exposed roots, ballast rock and wash out areas. I'm wondering if I
should consider a stability shoe or a true trail shoe. Not currently
having any problems, however, I get a fairly good ankle twisting and a
lot of inadvertent motion on landing on that somewhat rough terrain.

Stability shoes are not going to help with that sort of motion-- they won't
stop you twisting an ankle and they won't help you navigate uneven terrain.

I ran on a very rough dirt road (lots of big rocks) in the wave precision and
ended up switching to my cross spikes, because the wave precision didn't handly
large rocks very well (very soft outsole and rocks would get caught in the gap
in the heel of the shoe).

I suppose it depends on how it "knocks your feet around". To some extent, the
solution is to just let your feet adapt to it. But if there are large rocks
everywhere, you need a shoe that works well running over them. Likewise, you
need a shoe that provides adequate traction on whatever surface you're running
on.

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

isn't the creation a trail shoe? i'd say it shares more characteristics
w/trail shoes than road shoes. the most stiff/durable shoe i've ever
owned due to that mizuno plastic wave technology running the entire
length of the shoe (as opposed from the heel to the arch like most of
their other models).

take a look at that shoe, it's literally built on a "platform", a very
stable platform, probably a more stable platform than most trail shoes.

in fact most trail shoes might be more dangerous for you as they
usually have a higher sole profile than that Creation shoe. if you're
getting ankle twisting know...I really think you'll have more and
potential nastier ones w/a trail shoe....at least it's easier to
recover and come out of the dicey landing in the Creation than it would
be in TrailShoes. the only justification i can see in going away from
that creation is for traction. In terms of the sole, that Creation
shoe is a tank.

Quoted message said:

isn't the creation a trail shoe? i'd say it shares more characteristics
w/trail shoes than road shoes. the most stiff/durable shoe i've ever
owned due to that mizuno plastic wave technology running the entire
length of the shoe (as opposed from the heel to the arch like most of
their other models).

take a look at that shoe, it's literally built on a "platform", a very
stable platform, probably a more stable platform than most trail shoes.

in fact most trail shoes might be more dangerous for you as they
usually have a higher sole profile than that Creation shoe. if you're
getting ankle twisting know...I really think you'll have more and
potential nastier ones w/a trail shoe....at least it's easier to
recover and come out of the dicey landing in the Creation than it would
be in TrailShoes. the only justification i can see in going away from
that creation is for traction. In terms of the sole, that Creation
shoe is a tank.

Thanks gentlemen for the response. Based on you're comments I'm
inclined to stay with what I'm doing. I was leaning that way already.

Donovan, I also have a pair of Precisions, however, I never wear them
on the trail. Reserve them for the half dozen 5K and 10K street
competition runs I do a year. At that rate I expect they will last me
until I'm too old to run. To me they are not as comfortable as the
Creations, but a few ounces lighter.

Traction has never been a problem except for a couple of wooden board
walks that get slick as glass when they are wet. I'm just real
careful crossing them.

Frank

Frank Boettcher said:

I'm getting ready to get new shoes and would accept some advice.

I am a nuetral, efficient runner with relatively high arches and at
59, joint preservation is most important. I've been running in
Mizuno Wave Creations, their best cushioned shoe, for years. However,
I run most of my miles on improved trails. Particularly at this time
of year, I find the trail kind of knocks my feet around because of
exposed roots, ballast rock and wash out areas. I'm wondering if I
should consider a stability shoe or a true trail shoe. Not currently
having any problems, however, I get a fairly good ankle twisting and a
lot of inadvertent motion on landing on that somewhat rough terrain.

I run about 24 miles per week and generally only run a five mile long
run. Training pace is about 9:00 or so.

Should I leave well enough alone or should I consider a different
shoe? Anyone have experience changing shoes for the application
described?

You might consider some foot / ankle strengthening exercises or
proprioception or agility drills. They've helped me immensely.

Dot

--
"So many people get stuck in the routine of life that their dreams waste
away. This is about living the dream." - Cave Dog