When is it time for the bin!

ntlbell

I'm really getting bad at searching I couldn't find a thread on this and I think I might have event started one myself last year.

How do you know when your running shoes are finished? I only started tracking mileage on my garmin recently so I have no idea how many miles are on the runners.

So do you normally wait till their physically worn or? I'm starting to feel a bit of a pain in my knees which I never had before and I'm thinking maybe the runners, but physically they look fine.

Wally Runs

The rule of thumb, is something like every six months or 600 miles but you will hear of sorts stuff. If they feel knackered buy new ones, if look knackered buy new ones, if you just want to have a shinny new pair (who doesn't) buy new ones (and track the useage on you Garmin TC or Sportstracks).
On the otherhand, if you think they have some life in them hang on to them. You could still buy new ones and rotate them with the old and see if there is a problem?

Pherekydes

After reading 'Born To Run', I am never throwing out an old pair of runners again.

theduke1

press down hard on the foam sole part of the runner with your finger and thumb. if it squashes down easly then time for another pair

Declanr

When I started back running 5 years back I had a similar dilemma.
I remember changing shoes and it not fixing a problem with injuries. I also remember having changed shoes and it most certainly fixing pains in my legs which would have become injuries.
I agree with previous poster, hang onto the shoes after you but new ones and if it doesn't fix the problem then you know it's not the shoes and you can use them some more.

Also remember that if you run mostly on grass you should get longer then the 500-600 miles.
Now I just sort of know without counting mileage when it's time to change to new shoes.
Also worth checking out getting tested for the correct shoes in the 1st place.
Below is an article I sent to RunDirect
http://www.rundirectmagazine.com/2009/10/getting-well-shod-for-the-hard-road/
Help this helps.

ntlbell

Pherekydes wrote: »

After reading 'Born To Run', I am never throwing out an old pair of runners again.

I keep hearing about this book on the forum I must give it a read

ntlbell

Declanr wrote: »

When I started back running 5 years back I had a similar dilemma.
I remember changing shoes and it not fixing a problem with injuries. I also remember having changed shoes and it most certainly fixing pains in my legs which would have become injuries.
I agree with previous poster, hang onto the shoes after you but new ones and if it doesn't fix the problem then you know it's not the shoes and you can use them some more.

Also remember that if you run mostly on grass you should get longer then the 500-600 miles.
Now I just sort of know without counting mileage when it's time to change to new shoes.
Also worth checking out getting tested for the correct shoes in the 1st place.
Below is an article I sent to RunDirect
http://www.rundirectmagazine.com/2009/10/getting-well-shod-for-the-hard-road/
Help this helps.

thanks for that I almost always run on the road, I think i'll just treat myself to a new pair and see how they go, I tend to stick to the same make/model.

I've never had gait anaylysis done properly I buy neutrul shoes and never had any problems with them but it might be time to get it done right

Mike D

Was at that place in Wicklow at the weekend and they were brilliant - exactly as Declan described in the article. Really knowledgeable and helpful. You could also bring your current pair with you and they will give an opinion on the lifespan.

Brianderunner

Change them every 300 - 500 miles. Anything more is an injury waiting to happen. Better to have more than one pair and alternate them.

BeepBeep67

+1 to alternating, runners (the shoes) need time to recover aswell.

Krusty_Clown

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

+1 to alternating, runners (the shoes) need time to recover aswell.

I thought you binned your running shoes every Friday, so you could make room in the running shoe closet for the latest haute couture collection?

BeepBeep67

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I thought you binned your running shoes every Friday, so you could make room in the running shoe closet for the latest haute couture collection?

Nah - they get put to good use, I have ones for garden, painting, walking, casual, etc - good point though and to raise a previous topic that I never seen a long term solution to - quite a few of us hit 1k miles before mid-year, so with that mileage and maybe a purchase error or 2, we have 5-6+ runners to get rid of each year (think I must have 15-20 pairs in the shed). Is there anyone in Ireland facilitating sending runners to 3rd world countries or recycling (which seems to be the latest focus) for other uses (tracks, etc)?

shels4ever

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Nah - they get put to good use, I have ones for garden, painting, walking, casual, etc - good point though and to raise a previous topic that I never seen a long term solution to - quite a few of us hit 1k miles before mid-year, so with that mileage and maybe a purchase error or 2, we have 5-6+ runners to get rid of each year (think I must have 15-20 pairs in the shed). Is there anyone in Ireland facilitating sending runners to 3rd world countries or recycling (which seems to be the latest focus) for other uses (tracks, etc)?

There was a collection done at some point last year can't remember who on boards posted it, as far as i remember it was someone working with someone in kenya and shipped runners over.
I'm starting to hid my runners in the shed now if the oh knew how many i go through she wouldnt be too happy.. but one pair of she does have about 20 pairs of shoes that all look the same to me.

jrar

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Nah - they get put to good use, I have ones for garden, painting, walking, casual, etc - good point though and to raise a previous topic that I never seen a long term solution to - quite a few of us hit 1k miles before mid-year, so with that mileage and maybe a purchase error or 2, we have 5-6+ runners to get rid of each year (think I must have 15-20 pairs in the shed). Is there anyone in Ireland facilitating sending runners to 3rd world countries or recycling (which seems to be the latest focus) for other uses (tracks, etc)?

Certainly last year Amphibian King were accepting old pairs when you bought a replacement set - they were being sent somewhere in Africa. Not sure if it was a once-off collection or something that they continue to do. Give em a call and I'm sure they'll let you know.

I'm fairly hard on running shoes and my older current Saucony pair (alternating) have only 350 miles on them but the heels are so worn that I think even the potential Africa-based recipient would bin them at first sight ! My newer Asics Nimbus have about 100 miles on them and certainly look a better bet at this stage to last 300-400 miles comfortably.

BeepBeep67

Got this back from Nike in a response to the question:
"Hi folks - any options for Ireland - even something that could get them to one of your locations in the UK?"

Hi Dominic! We have a processing facility in Meerhout, Belgium so you can send them there. Here's the info:

Attn: Els
Ras/IOK afvalbeheer
Ambachtstraat 4A
...2450 Meerhout
Belgium

Thanks!

Blueskye

Why not drop them into the local SVDP? Am sure plenty of irish people could do with a pair of runners just for walking around.

littlebug

shels4ever wrote: »

There was a collection done at some point last year can't remember who on boards posted it, as far as i remember it was someone working with someone in kenya and shipped runners over.
.

It was Mick Rice wasn't it?

Condo131

theduke1 wrote: »

press down hard on the foam sole part of the runner with your finger and thumb. if it squashes down easly then time for another pair

If it squashes down easily, your airbag/gel/whatever is probably punctured. Easier noticed in wet conditions as the shoes often squeak.

I find that if you press down on the heel and find little or no 'give', then they're in the 'clapped out range'. Even if they're banjaxed for road running, they'll probably still be good for grass running. After that you can use them for cross-country warm-up/cooldown (would you wear brand new shoes for that! :eek: ) and you can also just use them for walking around ..or donate then to charity. ....only as a last resort....bin them!

How much life you get, it depends on many things, especially how your shoes wear. My shoes last about 1,200 miles but I wear very evenly, and I probably stick with them for too long .

My biggest problem is that the sole in my right toe area wears very quickly, due to crap flexibility and the black sole wears through very quickly. I've tried to get some Shoe Goo, a product to paste on such areas but couldn't source any. Someone suggested trying Witch, the wet suit repair glue, so I gave that a go and it works fine.

I put a small squueze of the stuff over the worn area and leave to dry/cure overnight. The coating generally lasts only one run, but I've got an extra couple of months on the shoe as a result. Note: Must work on my flexibility - used never have this problem, but then again, I used to do a hell of a lot of flexi-work - now it's an oft forgotten afterthought.

Krusty_Clown

What do you weight Condo131 (if it's not an impertinent question) and what kind of shoes do you run in?

Condo131

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

What do you weight Condo131 (if it's not an impertinent question) and what kind of shoes do you run in?

I bet you wouldn't ask a woman that Q! :rolleyes:

I'm hovering around the 11-2/11-5 mark for ages. Can't get down to my Dublin target of 10-7/8. Binging on biscuits & chocolate isn't helping.:o
I'm medium(ish) build and approx. 5-9. I always wear Nike Pegasus - have done so for about 20 years - before that it was Adidas Oregons (now there's a blast from the past!!) . I moved away from the Pegasus once (to another Nike shoe) and came back to pegasus with the next pair I bought.

I used to get around 2k per pair before, but I was around 10-2 to 10-5 then. Went down to 9-12 once - had plenty of speed but no strength and endurance suffered.

PS: Thanks for the 3k post.....I won't try to make up that day! ....however I'm already approx. 1,000 miles behind my 1989 mileage at this stage!!

Krusty_Clown

Condo131 wrote: »

I put a small squueze of the stuff over the worn area and leave to dry/cure overnight. The coating generally lasts only one run, but I've got an extra couple of months on the shoe as a result. Note: Must work on my flexibility - used never have this problem, but then again, I used to do a hell of a lot of flexi-work - now it's an oft forgotten afterthought.

You could try sugru. Not sure if it would be durable to meet your runner needs, but sounds like an interesting product.

Condo131

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

You could try sugru. Not sure if it would be durable to meet your runner needs, but sounds like an interesting product.

Is that for the shoes, or will it fix my flexibility problem? :rolleyes::D

Had a look at the link - €13.50, plus €1.15 shipping for a pack of 12. I've been using a single €8 tube of Witch since May and there's plenty more left in the tube. So, for my purposes, Witch suits grand. Thanks for the link though. I must post before and after photos of the Witch 'job' (maybe tomorrow)