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Question:

so i figured out the problem: the knee, the shoe, the pain. seems that darn cushy Asics Nimbus has a high heel tab (what do you call those upper things on the back?) that rubs against my achilles, so my normally flexible foot cannot roll easily, as the tab stabs my achilles.  so obviously, my whole body shifts to avoid that annoying feeling;  although of course, i was not concious of this nuisance until walking in the Nimbae this afternoon, whereupon i had alignment discomlfot for the first time since returning to my NB 950s and crosstrainers.   a cushy, luxurious feeling, that Nimbus; but now i understand some of my recent knee problems. frainkly, for running, i like the rolling feel of the NB trainer, with the low heel and rolling, cushioned forefoot. and what about walking?  how do yalls feeling about your walking shoes?  do you simply use older trainers, with same design?  for walking, i like my crosstrainers, as they give me more lateral flexibility and nimbleness for pedestrain maneuvers.                    - –  //                      oooO   (    )                       (     )     )  /                          (     (_

Response:

Someone else has felt the same way you seem to about those "heel tabs."  Gordon Pirie, no less, curmudgeon or otherwise. Not sure what to make of his comments, but you can access them at "www.Gordonpirie.com" Click on the links to his book "Run Fast and Injury Free," and check out the text that runs more or less from the lower part of page 26 through the top half of page 27 ("text" page numbers).  The Acrobat "pdf" page numbers are  one higher, i.e., 27-28. Sometimes Pirie’s comments smack of "macelroyism," but unlike macelroy Pirie actually was a world-class athlete, British olympian, former 5k record holder, I believe, and outran Emil Zatopek at least once.

Response:

so i figured out the problem: the knee, the shoe, the pain. seems that darn cushy Asics Nimbus has a high heel tab (what do you call those upper things on the back?) that rubs against my achilles, so my normally flexible foot cannot roll easily, as the tab stabs my achilles.  

This degree of discomfort is a deal-breaker IMO. I’d avoid any shoe that I found this uncomfortable. Cheers, — Donovan Rebbechi http://pegasus.rutgers.edu/~elflord/

Response:

interesting, thanks for letting me know.  what type of foot does he have?  i haven’t read the piece yet. Someone else has felt the same way you seem to about those "heel tabs."  Gordon Pirie, no less, curmudgeon or otherwise. Not sure what to make of his comments, but you can access them at "www.Gordonpirie.com" Click on the links to his book "Run Fast and Injury Free," and check out the text that runs more or less from the lower part of page 26 through the top half of page 27 ("text" page numbers).  The Acrobat "pdf" page numbers are  one higher, i.e., 27-28. Sometimes Pirie’s comments smack of "macelroyism," but unlike macelroy Pirie actually was a world-class athlete, British olympian, former 5k record holder, I believe, and outran Emil Zatopek at least once.                    - –  //                      oooO   (    )                       (     )     )  /                          (     (_

Response:

<< This degree of discomfort is a deal-breaker IMO. I’d avoid any shoe that I found this uncomfortable. Cheers, — Donovan Rebbechi oh yes.  my whole aura has been discombobulated!  as well as my gait.  :) though i do like standing still in them.  marvelous feeling of being on clouds (sort of like the cumulus, yes?)                    - –  //                      oooO   (    )                       (     )     )  /                          (     (_

Response:

Topcounsel said: < Someone else has felt the same way you seem to about those "heel tabs." Gordon Pirie, no less, curmudgeon or otherwise. i read his comments.  ah yes, they don’t call me the Princess and the Pea for naught.  for a neophyte, i am quite astute, yes?  :) as for his theory on footwear and contact with the ground (hating over-padding), i suppose i feel the same (must be dancer background).  but alas, at my ancient age of 40-something), i could never pound the ground without some shock absorption.’ i find now, as opposed to when i ran in my 20s, after a 20-yr hiatus, that i am more conscious and needful of excellent running form;  and lighter, more agile shoes keep me more aware.  but i don’t do many miles, at this re-entry stage.   i am still trying to figure out if my body likes this new activity, whether it improves body awareness/agility/function, or merely works the body.  i find that my legs are less nimble now, with the running stress, as opposed to my earlier cycling.  perhaps that will improve?                    - –  //                      oooO   (    )                       (     )     )  /                          (     (_

Response:

and what about walking?  how do yalls feeling about your walking shoes?  do you simply use older trainers, with same design?  for walking, i like my crosstrainers, as they give me more lateral flexibility and nimbleness for pedestrain maneuvers.

I use the road twin of the original Trespass (Adrenalines) for walking and office. The Trespasses were a little aggressive tread for office wear, not that anybody around here cared. The cushioning in the walking shoes I was using were giving my feet fits, and local stores (within 50 mile radius) stopped carrying the wides. Discovered part of my foot problem seemed to be wearing my old Saucony’s around office. Switched to the Adrenalines (also wearing an athletic, rather than dress, sock on days with much standing or walking), and that has helped alleviate some issues around the office. I suppose that leaves me open to accusations of wearing running shoes to look stylish (like anybody in Alaska cares about looking stylish). Well, if the shoe fits, I wear it! By gosh, and maybe if the other shoe manufacturers would take a lesson from the running shoe folks in terms of widths for women, maybe I could find office shoes and hiking boots that worked for me  And to be completely honest, I think that’s one reason why so many non-runners wear running-like shoes – they’re more likely to fit. Dot — "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Response:

<< And to be completely honest, I think that’s one reason why so many non-runners wear running-like shoes – they’re more likely to fit. Dot ever wear Birkenstocks?  *L*  i have had one pair in my life (and i only wear them at home, for fear of public perception!), and i still have this one pair. they’re kind of kewl for the house.   hm.  i wonder if, because of their cork-fitted custom shape to my feet, i have such sensitivity now to shoes?                    - –  //                      oooO   (    )                       (     )     )  /                          (     (_

Response:

at my ancient age of 40-something), i could never pound the ground without some shock absorption.’ i find now, as opposed to when i ran in my 20s, after a 20-yr hiatus, that i am more conscious and needful of excellent running form;  and lighter, more agile shoes keep me more aware.

Yeah, at 45 myself, I keep more than one type of shoe around.  The cushioned ones are for the lion’s share of my miles, but I also run in flats and flat-like shoes to keep the feel for high turnover rate running.  I even have some track shoes, though the real speedsters would no doubt laugh at me for wearing them during my slowish "speedwork" sessions.

Response:

<< And to be completely honest, I think that’s one reason why so many non-runners wear running-like shoes – they’re more likely to fit. Dot ever wear Birkenstocks?  *L*  i have had one pair in my life (and i only wear them at home, for fear of public perception!), and i still have this one pair. they’re kind of kewl for the house.  

No, but I wear clogs by Stegmann or Haflinger with cork insoles that conform to my feet – and the big toe area is the longest, not the center. I have seen some folks wear these in their offices (winter sorels usually waiting in corner for the trip home) and I have occasionally also on snowy days. Dot — "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Response:

so i figured out the problem: the knee, the shoe, the pain. seems that darn cushy Asics Nimbus has a high heel tab (what do you call those upper things on the back?) that rubs against my achilles, so my normally flexible foot cannot roll easily, as the tab stabs my achilles.   This degree of discomfort is a deal-breaker IMO. I’d avoid any shoe that I found this uncomfortable. Cheers,

I would cut off or modify the heel tab to eliminate the problem. Sometimes a good shoe needs to be customized.

Response:

<< I would cut off or modify the heel tab to eliminate the problem. Sometimes a good shoe needs to be customized. i read somewhere, perhaps here? that one can slice the tap so it flays.                      - –  //                      oooO   (    )                       (     )     )  /                          (     (_

Response:

I would cut off or modify the heel tab to eliminate the problem. Sometimes a good shoe needs to be customized.

If you’re stuck with the shoe it’s a perfectly reasonable suggestion.  I think you could argue though that if you need to do that, it’s not a "good shoe".  As runners, we ought to be voting with our wallets and not buying shoes like this. Tim —

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