unexpected shoe quandry

1). you'll probably make 324,000 strides/steps in the marathon. why do that in a heavier shoe?

2). heck, you've done 12 miles in the shoe and it was fine, it's not a flat, there's no basis to
assume the shoe is not spec'ed for 24 miles.

3). this entire question is silly, and if you honestly ask me both of those shoes are losers,
complete garbage and i would not walk a block in those clunkers! (just having some fun...hee hee).

Andrew..

"Chris Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am planning to run a marathon two weeks from now in a medium-worn pair of NB763s, a proven
marathon shoe for me. Just recently, I've begun doing some shorter to medium-distance runs in a
new pair of NB831s, which are a few ounces lighter than the 763s. Not surprisingly, I feel a
little faster in the lighter shoes, which appear to have significantly less heel buildup in
construction. I know the dictum--nothing new on marathon day, and I am sort of gritting my teeth
about this one and planning to stick with the 763s despite the temptation to go lighter. My
longest possible run in the new shoes before the marathon would be 12 miles. The fit and running
comfort of the new shoes seems fine. Anyone care to talk me out of my conservative approach and
argue for taking a shot on the new shoes? I am more time-goal oriented this race than in the past,
so ounces could matter over the long haul I guess.

I don't want to give advice in case it goes wrong for you. What I would say was that if I were in
your position, I would go for it. If I had no probs running a 12 miler, I don't see why I would
suffer over 26 miles. If you are really time oriented then it may well be worth the minor risk.

What I'd do is get another new pair of the *old reliables*--the NB 763--and run some short to medium
runs in them, to get 20 to 30 miles in them, before the marathon. A lighter shoe is not always best
in a marathon, especially if you're a middle or back of the pack runner, or someone who is other
than a neutral/efficient runner. Stride and foot plant inefficiencies that are minimal in shorter
races (and even half marathons) can come up and bite you in a marathon, and if this race is
especially important (personal goals or BQ chance), don't mess up your chances with untried shoes!

Just my two cents--

Jean in VA

"Globaldisc" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

1). you'll probably make 324,000 strides/steps in the marathon. why do

that in

Quoted message said:

a heavier shoe?

2). heck, you've done 12 miles in the shoe and it was fine, it's not a

flat,

Quoted message said:

there's no basis to assume the shoe is not spec'ed for 24 miles.

3). this entire question is silly, and if you honestly ask me both of

those

Quoted message said:

shoes are losers, complete garbage and i would not walk a block in those clunkers! (just having
some fun...hee hee).

Andrew..

Thanks for that thoughtful reply. In effect, your solution is what I've done. My newest of three
pairs of NB763s currently in my house doesn't have THAT much mileage on it, probably only 125 miles
at most. I'm putting no more miles on them before the race, using the older 763s and a run or two in
the new 831s just for fun. You've helped me focus on the potential problems I could encounter late
in the marathon from the thousands of fractionally different landings I certainly have in the
831s--thanks, Jean. I'll stick with the tried and true and wait to take a chance with the 831s in a
half-marathon later in the year.

Oh, if only a BQ time were within my goal-set! No, merely trying to get to 4 hours for the first
time, at least as a stretch goal for this race. I think my training is sufficient, now I just need
to get my mind right, as the warden said in Cool Hand Luke.

Chris

Jean S. Barto said:

What I'd do is get another new pair of the *old reliables*--the NB 763--and run some short to
medium runs in them, to get 20 to 30 miles in them, before the marathon. A lighter shoe is not
always best in a marathon, especially if you're a middle or back of the pack runner, or someone
who is other than a neutral/efficient runner. Stride and foot plant inefficiencies that are
minimal in shorter races (and even half marathons) can come up and bite you in a marathon, and if
this race is especially important (personal goals or BQ chance), don't mess up your chances with
untried shoes!

Just my two cents--

Jean in VA

"Globaldisc" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

1). you'll probably make 324,000 strides/steps in the marathon. why do

that in

Quoted message said:

a heavier shoe?

2). heck, you've done 12 miles in the shoe and it was fine, it's not a

flat,

Quoted message said:

there's no basis to assume the shoe is not spec'ed for 24 miles.

3). this entire question is silly, and if you honestly ask me both of

those

Quoted message said:

shoes are losers, complete garbage and i would not walk a block in those clunkers! (just having
some fun...hee hee).

Andrew..

Glad I could help, Chtis--let us know how your marathon goes, and especially how your feet/legs held
up the last 8 miles or so!

Jean in VA (hoping that the warm weather today stays around!)

"Chris Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thanks for that thoughtful reply. In effect, your solution is what I've

done. My

Quoted message said:

newest of three pairs of NB763s currently in my house doesn't have THAT

much

Quoted message said:

mileage on it, probably only 125 miles at most. I'm putting no more miles

on

Quoted message said:

them before the race, using the older 763s and a run or two in the new

831s just

Quoted message said:

for fun. You've helped me focus on the potential problems I could

encounter late

Quoted message said:

in the marathon from the thousands of fractionally different landings I certainly have in the
831s--thanks, Jean. I'll stick with the tried and

true and

Quoted message said:

wait to take a chance with the 831s in a half-marathon later in the year.

Oh, if only a BQ time were within my goal-set! No, merely trying to get to

4

Quoted message said:

hours for the first time, at least as a stretch goal for this race. I

think my

Quoted message said:

training is sufficient, now I just need to get my mind right, as the

warden said

Quoted message said:

in Cool Hand Luke.

Chris

Jean S. Barto said:

What I'd do is get another new pair of the *old reliables*--the NB

763--and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

run some short to medium runs in them, to get 20 to 30 miles in them,

before

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the marathon. A lighter shoe is not always best in a marathon,

especially

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if you're a middle or back of the pack runner, or someone who is other

than

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a neutral/efficient runner. Stride and foot plant inefficiencies that

are

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

minimal in shorter races (and even half marathons) can come up and bite

you

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in a marathon, and if this race is especially important (personal goals

or

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

BQ chance), don't mess up your chances with untried shoes!

Just my two cents--

Jean in VA

"Globaldisc" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

1). you'll probably make 324,000 strides/steps in the marathon. why do

that in

Quoted message said:

a heavier shoe?

2). heck, you've done 12 miles in the shoe and it was fine, it's not a

flat,

Quoted message said:

there's no basis to assume the shoe is not spec'ed for 24 miles.

3). this entire question is silly, and if you honestly ask me both of

those

Quoted message said:

shoes are losers, complete garbage and i would not walk a block in

those

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

clunkers! (just having some fun...hee hee).

Andrew..

Quoted message said:

why do that in a heavier shoe?

Why not? Your legs will never know the difference.

Bill R.