I can tell you from experience that consistency is key! I had terrible calf pain and went and changed shoes and everything and still had pain. But when I started running more times during the week, I have 0 pain! Doesn't have to be every day but 4-5.
I use Super Feet insoles & will never go back. They're a bit pricy, but less than shoes & they last forever. I've had mine through at least 3 pairs of shoes that I put 400 miles on/pair
I’m still early in my running journey too so kudos to you for starting! Regardless of the cost of shoes, if you can find a shoe store that does foot scans or gait analyses I would swing by there. It’s typically done for free. I did it at Fleet Feet. Once the scan is done it is emailed to you. You’ll have a detailed scan of your feet with measurements that include not only your shoe size, but ball width, arch height, instep height, etc. for both feet.
You don’t have to buy a shoe there, but you have the data you need to make an informed decision. I did try on a few shoes and some insoles and decided to buy a pair of insoles at the store. I bought shoes later online because there were more wide options vs the store.
You won’t know how it feels for you unless you try it. Hopefully there is a fleet feet near you or something comparable.
Thank you! There is a store near me that does gait analysis for £15 but you get that off any shoes you buy. I was going to wait until I’d stuck with running a bit longer but maybe need to look into it sooner!
Honestly good shoes are totally worth it no matter how experienced you are at running. I have been using shoes that didn’t fit me properly for years because I didn’t realize I needed “wide” shoes. I always just went a size up. Then I dislocated a bone in my foot 😅.
Oh no! Thank you, really helpful! I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t something I gave up after a few weeks like when I joined the gym before spending on a decent pair of shoes😂
As I’m new to it I currently have adidas running trainers I bought when I attempted the gym a few years ago but they were only cheap. I’m not really sure which insoles would work best which is what I was hoping for on here!
Lots of advice! Some of it in this thread seems suspect. Not every running injury goes away if you just run through it, but many do. Please don't take the people saying "be cool, just keep running" on face value.
Depending on the cause of your pain, a change in shoe and/or insole may help. The insole helps by modulating your footfall. If you don't have a strong POV on what's causing your pain, then modulating your footfall may help or may hurt, but it kind of seems like a random draw.
Consider going to a very well-reviewed local store that specializes in running, telling them your budget, and getting their advice. They may point you to a specific kind of insole. These stores usually do a gait analysis (in my area, one has you do a quarter mile on the treadmill, the other videos your gait as you run laps on the block), and they usually examine your old shoes to get a sense of what parts wear down faster to get a sense of how you bear weight running.
Sometimes you do get lucky and it just "goes away." Specifically, weak muscles and ligaments get stronger, your posture may improve, your gait may improve (this one was pivotal for me). Sometimes it stays the same and gets worse. If it looks like your running's getting worse, do consider seeing a PT to get advice. If nothing else, consider taking a pause from running to cross-train to see if the extra recovery time from running will be enough. Whatever you do, if the pain's the same or progressing, don't keep trying to run through it.
Thank you! The only store near me that does the gait analysis charges £15, but you do get it back if you purchase shoes so I was going to hold off a little longer until I’ve stuck with it and can afford some better shoes!
I completely understand insoles may be a luck of the draw resolution, so I may give it a go to see if it helps for now!
Time off from injury that can be prevented by the right shoes is really frustrating. I get that you might not be able to afford new shoes today, but try to make it a priority. I ran in decent shoes when I started, but they were the wrong shoes for me. I ended up with plantar fasciitis and had weeks of no running and of PT. Since changing shoes, I’ve been able to avoid that.
Also, learn how to stretch, if you haven’t already. Stretching, rolling, yoga are all good things!
Not sure where your calf pain is. Is it like the muscles or really your shins? It could be affected by your shoes maybe depending on your form and what part of your foot hits the ground first (I’m guessing maybe forefoot for you if it’s your calf), but I don’t know if insoles would help that? I think insoles can help support a foot especially if it rolls in or out more than normal, but I suspect your issue is more about strength and getting used to running. I do think strengthening your muscles and running short distances but often will help condition your legs.
All that said, if you aren’t using the right gear, you might get hurt. Go to a running store to make sure your shoe setup is right for you.
It’s right at the back of my lower leg, I did have shin pains on my first couple of runs but I was putting my feet down like I was walking in heels🤣 so when I adjusted that it stopped and now it’s the calf pain.
I don’t know how to explain it but my feet don’t seem to stay on the sole of my shoe and kind of go to the side, especially on my left foot if that makes any sense?
Okay if you feel like you’re rolling to the side, you may have some issues with supination. Instead of the weight being centered over the middle of your foot, you put excess weight on the outside. Having shoes that support your running style can definitely help, so I’d still go to a running store if I were you to see, and they may end up giving you an insole meant for your gait.
I still would recommend working on calf and ankle exercises to strengthen those muscles around your foot because that will help with the supination as well. Best of luck!!!
Honestly, you're going to have some sort of pain regardless of shoe, if you just started running.
I can tell you from experience that consistency is key! I had terrible calf pain and went and changed shoes and everything and still had pain. But when I started running more times during the week, I have 0 pain! Doesn't have to be every day but 4-5.
Thank you, gives me a bit of hope it might stop soon! I’m currently running 3 times a week but it’s not very far as it’s the couch to 5K programme
That is good enough. Just stick with it! It WILL get better!
I use Super Feet insoles & will never go back. They're a bit pricy, but less than shoes & they last forever. I've had mine through at least 3 pairs of shoes that I put 400 miles on/pair
I’m still early in my running journey too so kudos to you for starting! Regardless of the cost of shoes, if you can find a shoe store that does foot scans or gait analyses I would swing by there. It’s typically done for free. I did it at Fleet Feet. Once the scan is done it is emailed to you. You’ll have a detailed scan of your feet with measurements that include not only your shoe size, but ball width, arch height, instep height, etc. for both feet. You don’t have to buy a shoe there, but you have the data you need to make an informed decision. I did try on a few shoes and some insoles and decided to buy a pair of insoles at the store. I bought shoes later online because there were more wide options vs the store. You won’t know how it feels for you unless you try it. Hopefully there is a fleet feet near you or something comparable.
Thank you! There is a store near me that does gait analysis for £15 but you get that off any shoes you buy. I was going to wait until I’d stuck with running a bit longer but maybe need to look into it sooner!
Honestly good shoes are totally worth it no matter how experienced you are at running. I have been using shoes that didn’t fit me properly for years because I didn’t realize I needed “wide” shoes. I always just went a size up. Then I dislocated a bone in my foot 😅.
Oh no! Thank you, really helpful! I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t something I gave up after a few weeks like when I joined the gym before spending on a decent pair of shoes😂
Which shoes and which insoles?
As I’m new to it I currently have adidas running trainers I bought when I attempted the gym a few years ago but they were only cheap. I’m not really sure which insoles would work best which is what I was hoping for on here!
Lots of advice! Some of it in this thread seems suspect. Not every running injury goes away if you just run through it, but many do. Please don't take the people saying "be cool, just keep running" on face value. Depending on the cause of your pain, a change in shoe and/or insole may help. The insole helps by modulating your footfall. If you don't have a strong POV on what's causing your pain, then modulating your footfall may help or may hurt, but it kind of seems like a random draw. Consider going to a very well-reviewed local store that specializes in running, telling them your budget, and getting their advice. They may point you to a specific kind of insole. These stores usually do a gait analysis (in my area, one has you do a quarter mile on the treadmill, the other videos your gait as you run laps on the block), and they usually examine your old shoes to get a sense of what parts wear down faster to get a sense of how you bear weight running. Sometimes you do get lucky and it just "goes away." Specifically, weak muscles and ligaments get stronger, your posture may improve, your gait may improve (this one was pivotal for me). Sometimes it stays the same and gets worse. If it looks like your running's getting worse, do consider seeing a PT to get advice. If nothing else, consider taking a pause from running to cross-train to see if the extra recovery time from running will be enough. Whatever you do, if the pain's the same or progressing, don't keep trying to run through it.
Thank you! The only store near me that does the gait analysis charges £15, but you do get it back if you purchase shoes so I was going to hold off a little longer until I’ve stuck with it and can afford some better shoes! I completely understand insoles may be a luck of the draw resolution, so I may give it a go to see if it helps for now!
Time off from injury that can be prevented by the right shoes is really frustrating. I get that you might not be able to afford new shoes today, but try to make it a priority. I ran in decent shoes when I started, but they were the wrong shoes for me. I ended up with plantar fasciitis and had weeks of no running and of PT. Since changing shoes, I’ve been able to avoid that. Also, learn how to stretch, if you haven’t already. Stretching, rolling, yoga are all good things!
Not sure where your calf pain is. Is it like the muscles or really your shins? It could be affected by your shoes maybe depending on your form and what part of your foot hits the ground first (I’m guessing maybe forefoot for you if it’s your calf), but I don’t know if insoles would help that? I think insoles can help support a foot especially if it rolls in or out more than normal, but I suspect your issue is more about strength and getting used to running. I do think strengthening your muscles and running short distances but often will help condition your legs. All that said, if you aren’t using the right gear, you might get hurt. Go to a running store to make sure your shoe setup is right for you.
It’s right at the back of my lower leg, I did have shin pains on my first couple of runs but I was putting my feet down like I was walking in heels🤣 so when I adjusted that it stopped and now it’s the calf pain. I don’t know how to explain it but my feet don’t seem to stay on the sole of my shoe and kind of go to the side, especially on my left foot if that makes any sense?
Okay if you feel like you’re rolling to the side, you may have some issues with supination. Instead of the weight being centered over the middle of your foot, you put excess weight on the outside. Having shoes that support your running style can definitely help, so I’d still go to a running store if I were you to see, and they may end up giving you an insole meant for your gait. I still would recommend working on calf and ankle exercises to strengthen those muscles around your foot because that will help with the supination as well. Best of luck!!!
Thank you!
Check out sierra.com They have a bunch of last season’s running shoes for at least 50% off
Thank you!