Achilles tendon pain and new runners

kc021174

Hi,
Quick query re: Achilles tendon pain and new runners.
I have been running regularly, 3 or 4 times a week (~15 mile ) for the last 3 years. For the last 3 years I have worn Asics 1150/1160 runners and thankfully have been injury free. Back in Jan, I purchased a pair of Asics Kayano 17 and started to run in these. Within weeks I developed a tightness/soreness in my right Achilles. At first I rested/iced the injury and went back running in the Kayanos a few weeks later. The injury flared up again.
After more rest, I went back running in my old runners and was ok for a month or so. So last week out of curiosity more than anything I went back running in the Kayanos and guess what, the Achilles pain flared up again.
I suppose my question is even though the Kayanos provide a lot of support (and claim to suit the heavier runner) could they be unsuitable for me?
Has anybody else had a similar experience, as I’m thinking the occurrence of this injury and the change to the new runners is not just down to coincidence?
All comments appreciated. Thanks!

EauRouge79

Bring the runners with you to your local running store and get someone to have a look at your feet. The runners may not suit, sounds to me like they are not giving you enough support.

I made the same mistake years ago and remember the pain all to well.

spurscormac

EauRouge79 wrote: »

Bring the runners with you to your local running store and get someone to have a look at your feet. The runners may not suit, sounds to me like they are not giving you enough support.

I made the same mistake years ago and remember the pain all to well.

On the contrary, the Kayano is a far more structured & supportive shoe than the 11xx series.
Sounds to me like the OP has too much support in the new shoes.

Try going to a dedicated running store & get your gait analysed to see which shoe you should actually be using.

menoscemo

EauRouge79 wrote: »

Bring the runners with you to your local running store and get someone to have a look at your feet. The runners may not suit, sounds to me like they are not giving you enough support.

Since kayanos give more suport than the 1150's/1160s then i guess the problem is the opposite. They are giving too much support.

Op yes it is quite probable that the Kayanos are unsuitable to you. It sounds like they are probably restricting your natural foot movement and causing trouble. Best ot go back to the 1160's or another similar shoe (one that provides only mild support).

kc021174

Thanks meno, cormac, eau rouge...
Meno/Cormac yes I thought that might be the case alright...will give it a rest for a week and hopefully get back training in the asics 11XX's...bit frustrating but sure better to take a week off now rather 6 weeks later in the year. Hoping to do my first marathon (DCM) this year so am just getting some training in before I start the marathon training programme proper in June/July.

sconhome

kc021174 wrote: »

Hi,
Quick query re: Achilles tendon pain and new runners.
I have been running regularly, 3 or 4 times a week (~15 mile ) for the last 3 years. For the last 3 years I have worn Asics 1150/1160 runners and thankfully have been injury free. Back in Jan, I purchased a pair of Asics Kayano 17 and started to run in these. Within weeks I developed a tightness/soreness in my right Achilles. At first I rested/iced the injury and went back running in the Kayanos a few weeks later. The injury flared up again.
After more rest, I went back running in my old runners and was ok for a month or so. So last week out of curiosity more than anything I went back running in the Kayanos and guess what, the Achilles pain flared up again.
I suppose my question is even though the Kayanos provide a lot of support (and claim to suit the heavier runner) could they be unsuitable for me?
Has anybody else had a similar experience, as I’m thinking the occurrence of this injury and the change to the new runners is not just down to coincidence?
All comments appreciated. Thanks!

Are you male / female?

Ladies Kayano is a Plus 3 mm difference in the midsole from the other ASICS shoes and this has caused achilles heel problems for some people in the past.

kc021174

Hi amphib,
I am male mid 30's, went for the kayano 17's after reading some reviews. I am 5'10 and probably a bit heavier than your average runner (14.5 stone) I had no problems with the asics 11XX's...so maybe a lesson learned there? I suspect the kayanos are not suitable for me...just wasn't sure why and wanted to check with people in the know like yourself.

sconhome

kc021174 wrote: »

Hi amphib,
I am male mid 30's, went for the kayano 17's after reading some reviews. I am 5'10 and probably a bit heavier than your average runner (14.5 stone) I had no problems with the asics 11XX's...so maybe a lesson learned there? I suspect the kayanos are not suitable for me...just wasn't sure why and wanted to check with people in the know like yourself.

Like the other posters say, its possible that the kayano is too supportive for you and the 11xx series is closer to the type of foot stike you have.

You may also be experiencing more instability in the Kayano (oxymoron, I know) because of the plusher more comfortable softop foam under your foot. As your body fights for stability (proprioception) you may be straining the soft tissues in the lower limbs wheras the less stable 11xx has a firmer feel to the shoe which gives better feedback to you feet.

I hope that makes sense! It does in my head

Get yourself checked out next time your passing.

Muppet Man

I run in Asic 17's and find them great. But I've been on the Kayano range since Asic 15's. I tried a change to New Balance (just for sh!ts n giggles) and it nearly killed me.

Much less likely that the suggestions above, but plausible nonetheless, is a damaged runner. Try comparing both shoes side by side on a flat surface. There may be a manufacturing flaw, or a wharehouse/retailing storage flaw (e.g. a load of boxes sitting on the runners, or packed too tight and going out of shape). A friend of mind was having trouble with his Brookes runners and when he compared the top / supporting foam that snugs under the ankle, he reckoned there was a half inch difference between the two shoes. He got a full replacement.

Regards
Muppet Man.

CloseToTheEdge

First thing I do to a new pair of shoes is slice down the heel tab with a stanley knife to stop any interference of the shoe with my tender achilles. I've been doing it for years now. Some shoes even required slicing through stitching and have never seen the heel structure disintegrating after 1000's of miles of use over varied terrain.