{Image found here. These are the exact shoes I currently have.}
…for me to get new shoes! Wahhh. I love my running shoes so much but the last couple of runs I have been having pain in my shins. I know it’s not shin splints because shin splints are absolutely unbearable for me to run through and this is more of a dull, background ache on the insides of my shins (not on the front like shin splints are for me). I felt the same thing the last time I had to get new shoes.
Also, the inside of my left shin has been tender to the touch for, well a few months now, it’s not terribly painful - only if I put pressure on it. It also feels kind of bumpy (while the other one feels smooth) any idea what that may be? It doesn’t bother me when I’m running, well, it has been lately but that’s just because I need new shoes.
I tried ordering them off of Amazon this morning and it wouldn’t work because they wouldn’t “ship to my address”. FRUSTRATING. Canadians, where can I order them from?
Where do you guys buy new running shoes at? Your local running store or online?
I’m kind of in love with my Asics Gel-Kayano 15s and fearful of branching out to any other kind of shoes. Attention runners, are you faithful to one brand/make of shoe or do you switch it up? I love my Asics so much, they helped me with my knee pain that I was having when I first started running.
I think while I’m purchasing new shoes this weekend I will also take the big step, become a “grown-up” runner and purchase a foam roller. I want to start working on injury prevention while I’m building a base for the marathon because there is no way I’m getting injured while training for the big one this summer! Where can I get one (remember, I’m in Canada, no Target here) and how much do they cost? Also, how often should I use them?
OK, enough questions for you guys, can you even keep track of all the questions I asked in this post.
In other news, me and Meghan are going to Bikram yoga tomorrow. I’m excited, if a little scared. Remember my last experience? And I’m running 9 miles on Sunday and really looking forward to it; I hope my shin doesn’t give me any problems!
What are you doing this weekend?
OK, all, have a fabulous weekend! See ya Monday! XO
{ 34 comments… read them below or add one }
I adore Asics too, if you have your heart set on these, can you have them shipped to a friend in the US, and have them forward them up? If you have a running shop locally, they might also do special orders.
As lame a suggestion as this might sound like, have you tried seeking them out on Amazon.ca? I don’t think they list anything that won’t ship here. Good luck!
Yay bikram! Lets kill it together. (or die together. either or is possible). Lookiing forward to it, thanks for the shout out
I had to laugh when I saw “I’m running 9 miles on Sunday and really looking forward to it.” 9 miles seems like SO.FAR. for me!!! LOL.
As for shoes, definitely check with a local running store if there’s one near you. their prices are usually very comparable, and they, can help you find the best fit for your feet. I, too, love Asics. I used to wear Nikes a long time ago because I have a narrow heel, but they just didn’t have the support I need. Asics have been great. I bought my last pair at a running store and ended up getting Mizunos. So far, I really like them! I’ve heard a lot of Asics users also have good luck with Mizunos.
Good luck at bikram- I commented on my post about your question of what to eat prior to bikram, but here’s what I said:
@Amber From Girl With the Red Hair: I would eat something a few hours prior to your class. A few years ago, I didn’t eat beforehand, and I got so nauseous I had to leave the class and sit in the bathroom. Ugg. It depends on how easily your stomach digests food, but for my 6:30 pm class, I had my lunch around 1 pm, then had a snack around 3:30, and then had canned peaches about 5:00. That gave the peaches enough time to digest before my 6:30 class, but I wasn’t hungry. I would suggest to eat your normal breakfast, and then have fruit or perhaps carbs before you go.
Also, try drinking lots of water all day today & tomorrow morning before your class. You lose SO MUCH WATER during bikram, so it’s important to be well hydrated before class, and to drink water + electrolytes (gatorade, EmergenC, SmartWater, Coconut Water) afterwards.
I’ll post this on your page too, since I can’t technically reply to your comment, and you probably won’t check back here.
What!? They don’t ship to your area? That’s frustrating. Will they ship to your office perhaps?
I love getting new shoes. I have the best runs for the first few months when they are all shiny and new.
Hope your shins get better soon. Nothing worse than a shin splint!
OH! ASICS! I’m an Asics Kayanos girl too! Except I’m still in the 14s because my mileage last year was VERY low thanks to a broken leg. I also have a pair of Mizuno Wave Nirvanas that I rotate with my Asics, although I prefer the Asics. They’re similar to the Kayanos in stability. I like to try other brands to see what else is out there but so far my heart stays with Asics!
I tend to get a bump on my shin too when my shoes are going bad. It never really hurts, it’s just there. I just figure that as long as it doesn’t hurt, it’s probably OK.
I’m not sure if they ship to Canada, but since I don’t have a local running store that’s less than an hour drive, I LOVE http://www.roadrunnersports.com. Great customer service & super fast shipping. They also have good prices and I know for a fact that they just made the Kayano 15s a “classic” shoe…meaning it won’t retire now. Yay! They may also have foam rollers too, now that I think of it. If all else fails I’d be happy to ship something to you from here! Do you have a general sporting goods store like Sports Authority or Dicks? I’ve seen foam rollers at places like that for around $20 (US).
I’ve never tried Bikram but I’d love to! I have a cousin with a serious knee problem that swears it has helped her. Have a great weekend and enjoy that run!
Yeah I don’t know what to tell you about ordering stuff and getting it sent to Canada. I ordered a xmas present for a canadian blogger (Mel 2nd Chances) for the gift exchange and it took 3 weeks to get there! So frustrating! Good luck and yay for new shoes!!!
I hate when it’s time for new running shoes. My old ones always feel like old friends. I have Nikes at the moment, but it’s time for something new . . . I’m thinking Asics, too.
I’m in desperate need of a new pair of tennis shoes. Mine have holes! Usually I LOVE shopping for.. anything! But I’m so so picky when it comes to my tennis shoes. I try on tons but they never feel right. I love my tennis shoes I have right now, but can’t find them anywhere. I might try searching them online. They’re Adidas.
That stinks that you can’t order from Canada. Lame! And no Target?? I’d die. Well, I guess if I grew up not having one then I wouldn’t know any better. Australia had a Target where I was for 4 months, but it was completely different. Mainly clothes. Strange.
Okay, I’m babbling now. I’ll answer the question you actually asked
Tonight I’m going to a murder mystery dinner party and tomorrow I’m going home and out with my best friend for dinner and drinks. So it will be a good weekend!
I’m an Asics lover, specifically the Kayanos. I am hearing that the 16’s are out and are heavier than the 15s. I’m going to NYC in Feb and buying at least one pr there just in case. I have races in March I need my shoes for…
Sounds like a great weekend!
I am SO happy you are getting a foam roller, you are going to love it! (or maybe hate it, but trust me your body will love it!).
I am headed to the Cape this weekend to do wedding stuff. Boo haha
I def have a love/hate relationship with my foam roller! Love it, but ouch ouch ouch!
I love love love Asics!! I had terrible knee pains with my old shoes, but the Asics cleared that right up!! I think I will continue to stick with them
It’s my birthday this weekend so we’re partying, partying, partying all weekend! Can’t wait! Tonight it’s dinner at a Japanese hibachi restaurant and tomorrow Cy is taking me to dinner and then we’re going to his friends Color Party.
Hope you find some great new running shoes!
I really wanted to just say “Thank-you” for writing this post. It actually inspired a super passionate idea within me ,.. what serendipity! have a beautiful day, Amber!
~Jenn
I buy my running shoes at a local running store. I’m on their mailing list and they send out a 15% off coupon postcard 2-3 times a year, so I always buy new shoes when i get one regardless of whether I need them or not.
I will never buy a different kind of shoe, though. I tried 2 other types and have returned to my Mizunos. Can’t think of the specific shoe type but oh I adore them! My little sis runs in the same ones. I am due for some new shoes this spring most likely. So fun to buy new shoes, esp now that I found ones that work so well for me!
I also should invest in a foam roller. I am so lazy when it comes to stretching, etc, but shoudl be better about it to prevent/avoid injuries!
Aww, I want to try Bikram as well, but I’m too scared! It’s free yoga weekend, right? I’m so unflexable, Bikram would probably break me in two.
I bought my first pair of “real” running shoes (also Asics!) at Runner’s Sole here in town. Maybe they can special order the ones you like in? I have no idea. I would prefer to buy in store, especially for a first pair, only because I want to be able to get the feel for them.
My running store people always tell me if you’ve found something that works for you, don’t change. I’ve been running in my same type shoes for almost four years now and I may finally have to change because I think my running form has slowly shifted. But if you’ve found something that works for you, I’d stick with it!
Is it bad that I really have no idea what kind of Asics I’m rocking? They’re…uh…red.
Good thing I still have the box
To be honest, I don’t where you can get them from online, BUT I had been experiencing the exact same thing as you, shin-wise. Not shin splints but a dull pain and definitely sore to the touch. I even had a bruise at one point :S
Let me know if you find that the foam roller helps at all, I was also considering getting one… Good luck with the shoes!
Amber, I used to run in Asics Gel Kayanos and loved them! Now I run in Nike Structure Triax wides…just work better for my feet, in the width dept. Good for you for wanting to buy new shoes. By the time you’re feeling pain, you probably have worn them a bit too far so just be careful!
I support my local running store when buying shoes. Just makes sense for me because they provide all these social running opportunities for my friends and I to enjoy. Also, they give those of us in their running group 10% off all purchases so that’s an added bonus. So my shoes are $90 rather than $100. Yay!
As for the foam roller, I had one but just found out my dad threw it away bc he thought it was junk (yes, i still have a lot of stuff stored at my parents’ house). I think they cost about $40. My mom bought it for me in college when I was having lots of injuries. Luckily, I’ve been injury free for a while now. I think my added stretching/yoga and strength have helped in that dept immensely!
I definitely support your decision to buy a foam roller. I never noticed how tight I was until I started to foam roll and now when I don’t foam roll I feel the tightness/soreness.
The insides of my shins are always where I get my shin splints. Good decision to get new shoes.
I used to run in the same shoes you are moving out of. They ended up being too tight and making my foot go numb. I just bought new shoes this week (a nice $100 set back). I got Nikes. I used to hate Nikes but so far these are ok.
Im having the same sort of shin problems. I used to get shin splints on the front of my legs, but now I get them on my inner calves. And the longer I run, the more they hurt. Let me know if you find out what you have exactly. I hate looking online because the responses range from dont worry about it to you will die! haha Never diagnose yourself on the internet.
I hope your shins feel better soon. I’m glad that you found your shoes online!! (I saw your tweets.)
I am also a huge Asics fan, and always end up hating anything else I get. You should try the Running Room (www.shop.runningroom.com). They have online shopping, and since you don’t have a store in Kamloops, they should ship…I hope?!?! They also sell the rollers (any where from $19 to $60) but I’ve heard better things about the travel sticks (under accessories/injury, prevention/running room/travel sticks). They travel better, and are easier to use, and that was from some marathoners in group this week.
And listen to your shins…it’s my inner shin area that hurts as well, but I think mine is tendonitis. At least I don’t have to return to the chiro for two whole weeks, so I must be on the road to recovery!
Hey!
Yes, I have one type of shoe that I adore. They are expensive, so at one point I did try and find a less expensive pair, but they didn’t work and my feet rebelled. I ended up having to go and buy another pair of shoes anyway. So that was a major fail!
I rely on Muzuno’s. Love ‘em. I have 4 pairs currently around my house. They are like badges of honour, it causes me SUCH stress to toss out a pair (hence the reason I have my new pair, my still usuable pair, my old pair, and my trashed pair!)
Oh and I have a foam roller as well, I got mine at a local sporting store, it was less than $20. It works, when I use it! but it doesn’t hurt like heck!
If they don’t carry them at your local stores, maybe one of the stores could order them in for you. I would also check another Canadian company that maybe isn’t in your city, but that would ship there.
I got my Ascics from Lady Foot Locker dot com and they shipped here. I had a quick peek and their Ascics are on sale right now for $109. They shipped quite fast too. Good luck.
Hey Amber,
I read your blog every once and awhile when I have time but I finally feel like I can make a good commen! I’m in my second year of medical school and I’m specializing in lower extremity. It seems to me that you have Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) it’s the medical term for “shin splints”. With medial shin splints there is tenderness extending along a considerable vertical distance of the shin (tibia). The most tender areas are felt as small bumps.
Good shoes are SO important. Unfortunately I just found that out the hard way.
Go to your local running store first to get fitted. Once you find a pair you love then you can order them online the next time around if you can find them cheaper. Good luck!
Oooh, those running shoes are really pretty!!!
Fairly busy weekend for me - dinner out on Friday night and ended up in a casino, then girly night in with my sister last night. Today is recovery day…
i get my shoes from either a local running store or nike.com
NO TARGET!?? Oh man, I’d die…..haha. Seriously though.
I am faithful to my shoes! I have stuck with Nike all year and absolutely Loved them. I tried to switch it up this summer - curious if something else would work better, and after trying THREE different shoes that did Not work, I went right back to my usual.
Lesson learned: stick with what works for you
Asics all the way!
You are really cute. I’m not sure where to buy shoes and I’m somewhat loyal, but not overly loyal to shoe brands.
I did take one small step in the “becoming a walker” direction this weekend….I walked two miles with Alex. It was super fun. Didn’t even realize we had walked that far. So cool!
This is a little late because you’ve already bought shoes- but both the running warehouse and holabird sports (just google their sites and they’ll come up) ship to Canada. Often, shoes are cheaper there even when you factor in shipping, price difference AND duty (although I’ve only had to pay duty with running warehouse). Holabird only ships certain brands to Canada (I know it doesn’t ship Nike to Canada but I don’t know about Asics) but often you can get really good deals when they are switching over models from one version to the next.
Just thought I’d let you know for next time