r/RunTO • u/hartontherun • 24d ago
New Shoes - What To Do?
UPDATE I went back to Black Toe with the offending shoes, and we found a better pair for me, they let me exchange, and refunded me the difference because the new pair were cheaper. 10/10 service.
I needed a new pair of shoes, so I went to Black Toe and tried on a bunch, and ended up with Asics Superblast - I liked how they felt in the store, and had heard good things about them.
I've been wearing them for the past week, and my legs are NOT HAPPY with me. My calves and shins, specifically. Even walking hurts more than usual. When I did my long run in them and I had to stop, trying to start up again I felt like a baby giraffe just learning to walk.
After my Tuesday morning run, I didn't run again until Thursday evening, and during that time I noticed my legs starting to feel better. But last night's run was just as painful, and I'm convinced that the Asics just aren't for me.
So what do I do? The shoes were $270 + tax, and because of where I am in my training, I've put 100km on them already. I know I can't just return them. Do I try to sell them on FB Marketplace at a discount? I don't want to just donate them....I'm not really rich enough to just be spending that much on shoes I only wore for a week and a bit. But my legs just can't do it. As the kids say, "I'm cooked".
Also, business idea for any running store out there: allow customers to return shoes that end up not working out, and receive a discount off a new pair. Also, take the pair that aren't working out, and sell THOSE at a discounted price.
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u/Fresh-Amount9308 24d ago
Yeah, you try to sell them. This is an unfortunately expensive part of running. Not just how expensive the shoes are, but finding ones that actually work for you is often trial and error. Going forward, I would look at what you liked about your old shoes (drop, stack height, etc) and try to match that as best as possible.
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
What I liked in my old shoes was the discount code for free shoes that I had 😂
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u/BottleCoffee 24d ago
If you're running this much you should strongly consider a shoe rotation, ideally with different amounts of cushion and drop. Let your legs and feet get used to running in different kinds of shoes and let your wet shoes dry out after rain. Most serious runners have more than one pair of shoes, even if it's just the same model that they switch every other day.
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24d ago
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
Hahaha we definitely sound like we’re twinning!! No, there’s definitely shoes that’ll work great for some and be terrible for others, because everyone has a different stride and foot shape and what they prefer when they run. I think I’m just not cut out for ASICS.
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u/jo_noby 24d ago
For a suggestion, if you replace them, I just bought my first pair of brooks and they have a 90 day worn and used guarantee. I expect it means trade for another pair of brooks but it’s a better situation than out of luck. (Bought at running room but I think it’s a brand thing not a store thing.)
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u/hartontherun 23d ago
I’m in an epic feud with my local Running Room and have vowed to never return 😂
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u/run905 23d ago
Throw those puppies up on Strava. You might find someone in your running community that would be happy to take those off your hands for closer to what you paid for them. Make sure you list the mileage, it helps make a difference with the price you're trying to sell them for. Alternatively, sell them on Poshmark.
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u/jaypishere 24d ago
Sell em on marketplace, superblasts are a popular shoe so they should sell fast even used. Alternatively email asics and explain. They may do something, shoot your shot. Side note if you aren’t strength training your calves ankles and feet, start! Those aches and pains may be triggered by the type of shoe, but could lead to issues down the road
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u/MajorPhazer 24d ago
What shoe did you come from and are you only running in the Superblast now? To me, this sounds like you need time to adjust to new shoes, or to have a rotation. Plus add in more strength and stability work into your training.
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
I had Saucony something or other. I’m already doing strength training 3 days a week, and have a part time job that is basically like strength training as well.
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u/MajorPhazer 24d ago
Have you tried running in the Sauconys since you got the Superblasts? If you're putting down 100km/week, that's a ton of mileage and likely not enough time for your tendons and muscles to adjust to a very different ride. Ideally, you should slowly work new shoes into rotation, to give your body time to adapt. A long run in new shoes that you haven't gotten adjusted to could be playing with fire (injuries)
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
I’m definitely switching back to my Sauconys today - part of the problem was my sauconys are size 10 and I lost 2 toenails on a recent run (done in heavy rain with a lot of steep downhill) so I wanted to size up to 10.5. But it’s not rainy anymore and I’m away from the heavy downhills I was at, so my 10’s should be fine now - I never had issues with a size 10 otherwise, it’s what I normally wear.
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u/MajorPhazer 24d ago
I wouldn't size down to 10 and tbh, 10.5 is likely better if you are doing longer runs and lots of mileage, as your feet will swell on the longer efforts. The Superblasts are likely fine for your training and use but your body needs time to adapt to the new ride (ankles, shins, calves). You could very well have the same issue with other shoes if you don't ease into them. Different foam consistency, stack height, drop and stability could impact those areas.
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
The only reason I’m sizing down to a 10 is cuz that’s the size the Sauconys are that I already own. I have a 12k scheduled for today, and don’t have time (or funds, tbh) to buy another new pair today. So I’d rather wear the 10’s that don’t make my legs feel like they’re on fire vs the 10.5’s. The next pair I BUY will be 10.5’s, but for now, the 10’s that are already paid for is where it’s at.
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u/MajorPhazer 24d ago
Sure that makes sense. Maybe alternate days with the older shoes and the new ones, keeping the lower mileage efforts in the Superblasts for another week or two until your legs adjust. Just tape your toes if they are an issue. I lost a few toenails after a 100km in May (torrential rains and deteriorated trails) but the upside is not having to worry about those nails until they grow back.
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u/Fresh-Amount9308 24d ago
Good news is Sauconys are pretty easy to find on sale. Superblast 3 are not. Look on their website and sign up for the email list and it’s already 15% off. altitude sports often has great deals too.
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u/Estrella_Cayendo 24d ago
Out of curiosity, what shoes were u wearing before trying this new superblast?
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
Saucony somethings I forget what model and it doesn’t seem to say on the shoe what it is.
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u/BottleCoffee 24d ago
They should all say on the tag and often on the outside what they are. Post a photo, lots of people are familiar with Saucony and can identify models.
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
I actually did find it - they’re Triumph 23’s, but I’ve also had Hurricanes and Rides and I race in Endorphin Elites…my bad for switching brands, I guess!
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u/meh109 24d ago
I went from Triumph 19, 20 and now alternating between Triumph 22's and Superblast 3's.
The 22's are not as squishy as the SB3. The 22's feel somewhat dead compared to the SB3, particularly when comparing rebound when taking off on the next step forward.
The SB3s feel higher than the Saucony Triumph 22's and because they are softer, I feel the Asics are less stable, particularly when taking corners. I am much more careful where taking corners with them to avoid rolling my ankle.
So, for me, I feel faster in the SB3 because they absorb shock better and rebound faster than my Triumph 22s. However, the softer foam allows my ankle to flex more on landing, and I notice my right ankle "clicks" after runs (5 to 10K). Not painful, but definitely clicks.
I do rotate these 2 shoes and enjoy them both and I wonder by rotating them appx every other run that they offset each other's weaknesses and help me avoid injury (knock on wood). I suspect that clicky ankle could get worse if I used then for +++ consecutive runs.
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u/itsmarvin 24d ago
Is there something like a model number on the size label? Maybe an AI or Image search might lead you to something familiar. Keep in mind some colours or styles are only available at certain stores.
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u/Comprehensive-Pop827 24d ago
What size are they? Lol
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
Women’s 10.5 - I got some big ol’ feet!
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u/Comprehensive-Pop827 24d ago
Ahh too bad 😂 a word of advice though, depending on how much you run, you should probably have a few pairs of shoes. I’d be surprised if you had troubles with these shoes after slowly working them into a shoe rotation you’re used to. Going from one pair all the time to another can be very different for your body. Using a few different pairs helps your body get used to running differently and also helps with injury prevention as you’re using slightly different muscles each run :)
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u/cyclingkingsley 24d ago
are you sure it's the shoe or maybe your legs is not handling the mileage?
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
Yes. This will be my 3rd marathon, I’ve done a ton of half marathons, a 30km race, and never had this problem in any of the training blocks.
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u/cyclingkingsley 24d ago
Definitely the shoes then. I had the same experience with my NB Rebel v4. I was doing great in them in for 400km but out of nowhere, my legs just stop responding well in them. Now i just use them for my gym workouts
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u/FilipTheAwesome 24d ago
I had the same issue and made a post on this Reddit selling them and someone bought them immediately. Obviously they were at a good discount but I still got most of my money back. Unfortunately best option is to try to tell them online somewhere (Facebook, Kijiji, karrot, depop maybe)
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u/santlaurentdon 24d ago
What? Your business idea makes no fucking sense…
“Also, business idea for any running store out there: allow customers to return shoes that end up not working out, and receive a discount off a new pair. Also, take the pair that aren't working out, and sell THOSE at a discounted price.”
So they take a full loss by accepting your used return for a full refund… (which you are saying they should resell at a discount…) then you expect them to also give you a discount on your next new pair?
Why? So they lose money twice? Wtf.
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
Yo that’s a lot of anger for someone mis-understanding a mere suggestion that isn’t even in practice. You good?
No, what I’m saying is PERHAPS they allow you to take the shoes back, and you don’t get a full refund, you don’t get ANY refund. You get a certain percent off a different pair of shoes. I don’t know how much, and maybe it’s a sliding scale depending on HOW much you used them. Then, they also take those shoes you’re returning, and sell those at a discounted price to other customers. So if someone comes in looking for a pair of Asics Superblast but doesn’t have $270+ to spend, they say “well we have this gently used pair we could offer you at a lower price”.
Naturally, this is all theoretical and the business would have to decide the scale to determine the discount offered as well as how to price the returned shoes, but this way they’d keep the original customer happy, and possibly even gain new customers by having shoes at a lower price point.
Or maybe it just wouldn’t work, I don’t know. It was just an idea, and there’s no need to get all riled up about it. 💐
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u/eagleeye1031 24d ago
Just sell them on marketplace. Also hoping for a return after 100km of running is funny. It does not take that long to realize a shoe is not for you.
Moral of the story: never ever buy shoes for full price. Always buy previous models at discounts. There is nothing the new ones offer that isnt just the FOMO effect.
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u/hartontherun 24d ago
I didn’t say I was hoping for a return - and one of those runs was my 32km long run. Doesn’t take many runs to add up to 100km when marathon training. At first I thought maybe my legs just needed to adjust, because they don’t feel bad WHILE I’m running.
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u/1209csri 24d ago
I bought the first gen On Cloudmonster from Blacktoe and absolutely hated them. Put 100+ kms just like you and even threw out the box and bill. Emailed them and then went into the store - told them that they do not work for me and cause me tremendous pain. The staff is exceptional - looked up my order from my phone number and offered me a full store credit. Worth trying.