New runners - 10 days before marathon?

RICHIE-RICH

I am running the Cork marathon in 10 days time, and this morning, my trusty runners ripped and my toe popped out of them, as the material has finally worn away.
They needed to be replaced, but I was hoping I could get the marathon out of them.

So I now have two choices:
1. Do nothing and hope that they hold out for the marathon
2. Get a new pair asap.

If I choose option 1, I will run the risk of them ripping further come marathon day, and I'll end up running with half a shoe in the last 10k
If I choose option 2, I will get them tomorrow morning, but I only have 9 days to break them in. Will that be long enough? I wont be doing huge mileage in them as I am in taper time.
Should I wear them around the house/all the time to wear them in more? Is there any tips and tricks out there to help them wear in quicker.

I dont want to tear my feet up on marathon day.

Any advice or suggestions??

Thanks

metamorphosis

I would say get the exact same shoe brand new - do your last prep runs in them and wear them around the house/ town etc : that should be enough time too break them in.

The last thing you need marathon morning is to worry about your shoes - could throw you off biggo.

TheRoadRunner

You will have to go with option 2. Option 1 is really not an option.

I normally have no problems breaking in the model of runners I always buy. I don't know what model you buy or your experience in breaking them in, but wear them as much as possible between now and Monday week and hopefully you will be ok. It might be an idea to be cautious and wear some protective plasters on the normal blister trouble spots such as big toe etc.

RoyMcC

I think UL & RR have got it right. I'm hoping my trusty Asics will hold out for another 10 days as well

aero2k

I think the whole thing of "breaking in" is a legacy from days of leather boots and bicycle saddles. It's more a case of getting used to new shoes rather than breaking them in. After the first couple of runs I don't find my shoes get any more or less comfortable.
If you stick to your current brand and model you should be fine.

If you're really worried you could loan the new shoes to hunnymonster to break them in for you - oh, wait, 10 days to go - she'd wear them out in that time!

Brianderunner

I'm doing the exact same thing as you are richie, my new runners only arrived yesterday, wearing them pretty much everywhere and doing all my mileage in them, they are familiar shoes to me so they should be no problem in Cork.

MarieC

if you stick with the same brand, and same size, breaking them in should really be a minor event and so you will be bouncing around come marathon day!

TheRoadRunner

I think what this post shows is that it is beneficial to use 2 pairs of trainers when training for a long distance event. There is evidence (other threads here talk about it) to suggest that you increase the life of your runners when alternating shoes day to day. Also if you're unlucky enough that one of the pairs of shoes dies/goes missing then you have a familiar second pair to hand.