At what point do you get rid of shoes?
I mean it seems a waste to stop using a shoe at some arbitrary mileage. Strava warned me my main training shoes have done 300mi. If they feel any different, I can't tell.
I will probably just use them until they fall apart!
Most experts say 300-500 miles, that is based on multiple independent scientific studies that show that most running shoes loos 60% of their ability to reduce impact forces in that range. Obviously the shoe companies like to to make people aware of such studies, and are also not in a hurry to design a shoe that lasts 1000 miles etc.
When the shoe looses it ability to reduce impact forces then what happens is your body automatically adjusts your gait and pace to reduce impact forces on the knee and hip joints. that is kind of what started the whole bare-foot movement. The problem is there is no evidence that the gait of bare-foot runners is at all beneficial, quote the opposite in fact. Which is why Vibram were sued for millions due to false advertising their stupid foot glove thingy. There is also mourning evidence that increased cushioning on shoes form brands like Hoka and Altra lead to reduced injury rats.
Here is my anecdotal evidence. Back in February I was ramping up millage and then adding a little speed work while training for a May 1st Marathon. However I was getting increased foot pain and signs of the onset of Plantar Fasciitis. This came to a point where I failed to do a n interval workout due to foot-pain so I went to the running store to buy some shoes with increased cushioning and the guy was shocked at how worn down my current pair of shoes were and said just buy the exact same model and feel the difference. Next day went to the track and did the next set of 6x800ms I had done in months without a single issue., completed the week at 80 miles and not a hint of any issues. The old shoes had done 650 miles and were shot.
End of June this year similar thing. Started to ramp up to 80 mile weeks and foot pain started increasing, looked at the state f the shoes and they were worn done. Logs showed 650 miles, got anew pair and again painless running for the next weeks.
Last week I had foot pain return, soles were worn down, logs showed 500 miles. Got a new pair Saturday and the last few days were much better but this shoe has a little less cushioning and is slightly too small. Still way better than before.
So for me, it is black and white. Once they get to about 500 miles they increase pain and discomfort. This coincides with the sole looking very worn down, but typically the upper shoe looks brand new.
What I do with the old shoe is run with them occasionally for the shortest runs of the week, recovery runs and on tread mills to eek out another 50-100 miles or so. They then become walking shoes, or used in the gym for weights. After that they are used for gardening. Although i go through so many now they switch out quickly.
At my peek running now a pair of shoes lasts 6 weeks
