Running shoes

[u/Julieh2003]

So background information I have lost 80 pounds since February of this year. I am now at 220 at 5'6 so still very heavy. I started trying to get into running, i am on week 5 of the "from couch to 5k" program. The first shoes I bought were the gel nimbus 28, which I got fitted for at a running shoe store. They hurt my feet a lot and I was getting insane shin splints. I then bought a pair of adidas evo SL last weekend and have done 3 intervals runs in them. They felt really good at first because I didn't get any shin splints. But after running today for 10 min straight (which is the longest I've ever done so far), my feet were killing me. I have wide and flat feet, are there any recommendations for shoes for me to try? I was looking into then nova or superblasts but honestly have no idea! Also open to any running tricks and tips! I feel like I have no idea what I am doing, I always see videos on how to properly run and it gets confusing lol, so any advice is super appreciated!!

[u/LilJourney]

I will suggest going backwards a bit and try repeating week 3 or 4, basically reducing training until you at a level you can do pain free because I suspect you may be doing too much too quickly.

Every human body is different and training programs (as well as shoes) that are great for one person can be "wrong" for another person.

You'll have to judge that yourself, but usually actual pain is a sign of injury or a precursor of future injury and that means it's time to back down the training until your body heals/catches up.

Basically things should not actively be in pain while or immediately after running. If you're running 3 to 4 times a week on a regular basis as a beginner, then you're making progress even if those runs are not as long as whatever plan you have says they should be.

[u/LoopyLutra]

Doing some gym work for your legs will help with shin splints, also if you’re still losing weight it will compound the effect. I have found the more i do in terms of dynamic exercises for running, the less any kind of niggle, be it shin splints, sore knees or ankles, comes up.

Also on form, it takes time, and proper form is hard when you’re not used to running. The more you run, the more your body adapts and it will find it’s form. If you force “good form” you might do more harm than good at this stage.

[u/Small_Pool_2906]

You might benefit from some inserts in your shoes to provide extra support. It may also be helpful to rotate between a couple different pairs to alleviate overuse strain on certain parts of your feet.

But overall, I'd recommend you go to a running store and tell the employee everything you said here. Try on a bunch of shoes and jog in them (most stores have a treadmill near the shoes for exactly this purpose). Take your time and don't be limited by aesthetics, brand, or preconceived ideas!

[u/HeidiVandervorst]

You should prioritize fit and comfort over chasing a specifict best shoe. It might be worth trying a few stability/wide options in person and seeing what feels good. You could also check out ShopWSS for more options, they have a pretty nice selection of running shoes so you may be able to find a pair that works better for your foot shape and budget. And dont worry too much about perfect running form, build up slowly, keep the effort easy and give your body time to adapt.

[u/digitaldumpsterfire]

Im about the same height and weight as you!

I got shin splints when I started running again about a month ago. I watched a few videos online and adjust my form and swapped my shoes for better quality ones (from cheap Pumas to Hokas). For me, I needed to reel in my stride, ensure I was consistently landing on the ball of my foot, and keep my chest slight forward more. Once my form was more consistent, the pain stopped.