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ASK LARA: Introduction and Top-of-Foot Pain
Posted August 21st, 2007 at 8:45 PM by Lara Johnson
Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Columns, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab, Ask Lara
Need advice? Injured? Confused? Overwhelmed? Bored? ASK LARA!
ASK LARA is a free advice column to help you with all of your running, fitness and nutrition inquiries. To ASK LARA — simply fill out the form at the conclusion of the column.
You’ve heard of ASK FLASH…Welcome to ASK LARA, a new place to submit all of your running questions. Let’s get to it!
Q. So Lara, we have Flash for all of our running and fitness questions, why do we need another Q and A columnist?
~Maggie from Boston, MA
A. I’m glad you asked that question. Well, it’s true that I do not have a catchy nickname. And I don’t have Flash’s years of wisdom, as I am much younger. However, I can offer guidance based upon my own personal and professional experiences. On the personal side of the coin, I have had my share of injuries and triumphs and set-backs, and all of those other things that come with being a runner.
Professionally, I have a background in the sciences, including a M.S. in Health & Exercise Science (See below for my full bio), and simply a fascination with human anatomy and exercise physiology. I am a personal trainer and have worked with the old, the young, heart patients, diabetics, healthy adults, addicts, students, in the clinic, and in fitness. And all related to exercise. In order to tackle your many questions, I am teaming up with Flash so that we may best conquer your running inquiries. Two heads are better than one, right? Plus, perhaps some of you ladies have women-specific questions. Send them my way!
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TFS Shoe Review: Reebok Pump Paris Trainers
Posted January 18th, 2007 at 2:00 PM by Rick Jacobs
Section: Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Product Reviews, Special Features, TFS Reviews
Product: Reebok Pump Paris Trainers
Price: $100.00
Type: Stability Cushioning
Fit: Go up 1/2 a size
Pronation factor: Moderate Over-Pronation
Best for: Runners with flat to medium arches and small to medium frames.
Reebok made a big splash last November at the ING New York City Marathon when they unveiled their new newest running shoe, the Pump Paris Trainers. These stability and cushioning shoes, set for a February 2007 release, were designed by NASA and MIT-trained engineers. The Final Sprint had the opportunity to preview and test these stability and cushioning trainers. They feature an adjustable air bladder and chamber that Reebok claims will automatically adjust to a runner’s foot and allow for a custom fit. There is also an easy-to-use pump and release for manual control of the air bladder.
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TFS Review: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 6
Posted January 6th, 2007 at 2:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Special Features, TFS Reviews
Through an upgrade of the Adrenaline GTS 5’s, Brooks was actually able to successfully improve upon what was arguably the best stability shoe on the market.
Product: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 6
Price: $90.00
Type: Stability
Fit: True to size and width
Weight: 11.8 oz (Men); 9.75 oz (Women)
Pronation factor: Moderate Over-Pronation
Best for: Runners with a medium build and low to medium arches
This is one of, if not the, best choice for moderate over-pronators who want an amalgamation of stability and cushioning. Although we had some quams regarding breathability, the Adrenalines received exceptional reviews from our wear-testers; all of whom were very impressed.
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TFS Review: Brooks Radius 6
Posted December 17th, 2006 at 1:00 PM by Adam Jacobs
Section: Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Product Reviews, Special Features, TFS Reviews
This is the first of many shoe reviews that TFS will be publishing in the coming weeks. Check back often and feel free to send an email to thefinalsrpint@gmail.com with your feedback. Happy Holidays!
Product: Brooks Radius 6
Price: $85.00
Type: Neutral - Neutral Cushioned
Fit: True to size
Weight: 11.85 oz.
Pronation factor: Neutral to Slight Over-Pronation
Best for: Runners with medium to high arches and medium to large frames.
A solid choice for neutral pronators who like extra cushioning and some medial arch support. They will also appeal to slight over-pronators who enjoy a bit of additional support.
During our initial trials they seemed a bit too stiff, likely the result of the more supportive mesh upper, but don’t be scared away. After a few runs the majority of us began to really enjoy these puppies and found them to do very good job absorbing shock; making them an above average choice for those battling plantar fasciitis and/or minor joint pains.
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Orthotics for injury prevention
Posted November 27th, 2006 at 12:00 PM by Jonathan Faccone
Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Gear & Apparel, Sports Medicine
Runner’s face the risk of injury on a consistent basis because of the extreme and wear and tear of the sport.
The impact that is innate to running is hardest on our joints but also can cause serious injuries to our feet, muscles, etc. Although a good pair of athletic shoes is of the utmost importance, studies how that for many people that just isn’t enough.
That’s why orthotics can be a helpful solution. Orthotics are specifically made foot inserts to correct the biomechanics of the foot during running. Many runners suffer from common lower extremity injuries, such as stress fractures, and studies have found that this is often caused by a person’s stride, pronation, foot structure, etc. In correcting biomechanics, orthotics help keep the foot in the normal position through the footstrike; helping to relieve stress caused by structural or postural instability. Read the rest of this entry »
When to ‘Kick’ Your Old ‘Kicks’
Posted May 23rd, 2006 at 3:05 PM by Allyson Rosen
Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes
There’s nothing like a fresh new pair of shoes, but how often do you need to get new ones? Replacing your running shoes depends largely on a number of factors; including weight, height, the surface you are running on, your running style, the type of shoe you are wearing, etc. Typically a shoe is good for 300-500 miles.
A good rule of thumb is to change your shoes when your legs and/or joints feel achy, or when you are not recovering as well as you should. Notice the wear on the shoes. If the soles are wearing down and the bottom of the shoe becomes very pliable, and/or the midsoles have a lot of wrinkles, toss them. Running with an old pair of shoes puts you in risk for injury.
It is important to wear a properly fitted running shoe. In addition, they should only be worn for running. After finding the right shoe, many runners buy a couple pairs at once and alternate them from day to day. Some runners, after putting about 300 miles or so on their shoes, begin wearing the old ones for short runs and the new ones for long distance runs. It is important to keep in mind that shoes do have a “shelf-life.” Eventually the midsoles will lose their ability to absorb shock, even if the shoes are barely worn or have not been worn for years.
So many miles…how do you keep track? Simply. Average the amount of miles you run per week and multiply by the number of months they have been used. You can also easily input numbers into an excel sheet. Not technologically savvy? Write them down on paper! If using more than one pair at a time it is wise to number the shoes with a permanent marker.
Buy the right shoe, track your miles, and run happy!
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Recent Comments
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The Final Sprint
On March 15, 2010
SDrunner said:
Great review, I wrote one on the Ironman Road Trainer HRM, which is similar to this one, without the...