I need running shoe help!

I began exercising in earnest last August.  I started out walking on a treadmill and have gradually added some jogging to the mix.  Currently I jog for fifteen minutes, walk at a fast (for me) pace for another 15, and cool down at about 2.7 mph for another 8-10 minutes. 

The pair of shoes that I started with bit the dust during the first few weeks of my walking regimen, in August.  The problem was that a hole developed in the inner lining on the back right of my heel, giving me a pretty bad blister.  Annoying, I thought...and weird, because I've never had anything like that happen to my shoes before.

I bought a pair of Reebok's, which lasted me till Thanksgiving.  The bizarre thing about their undoing was that it was the same problem with the lining of the shoe, in the same place no less! 

So the last time I went to the shoe store I thought, "Maybe Reebok just isn't for you." and tried something different.  I bought my current pair of New Balance just after Thanksgiving, and today after my workout I noticed that the lining had once again catastrophically failed.  This time it's in a slightly different spot (this time directly behind my heel), and on a different foot than the last two pairs.

Sorry for the epic explanation, but I'm utterly stymied.  I've asked my friends and family and nobody else has ever had this problem - My husband's shoes last him over a year and he's a very active guy who wears them every day.  I'm tired of throwing money away on shoes, so if you guys can help me I'd really appreciate it!  Could it be my socks?  Or are my heels just really strangely shaped?  What do I do to keep this from happening to my next pair?!

In case you want more info, I am 5'5", 241 as of this morning and in weight loss mode.  I work out every day (though once a week I take it easy and walk, rather than jogging) and generally I go about 2.5 miles in a session.  I'm not having any pain from jogging (aside from blisters from the darn shoes!).  Thanks guys!

Edited to better describe where the holes are occurring.  I suppose it's not so much my heel as the back of my foot, near ankle height.  What is that part of the shoe called, anyway? ...Just, the back?

Here is my advice (although I am by no strectch an expert). If you go to a sport-specific store they can measure your foot correctly, they will have you walk around to check your gait. Everyone walks differently so everyone's shoe needs are different. They will recommend the proper shoe for you. I started running last year and had ridiculous shin splints. After going to one of these stores and getting the right shoe, the problem eased. It can make an entire world of difference! Word of caution: the shoes at these stores can be pricey. See what they recommend and try to find it somewhere else for less money, if possible. Hope that helps!

That sounds like good advice, thanks!  Now I just have to see if we have any stores like that where I live.  I wonder if Academy could do something like that...

Buy orthotics and wear thick socks (Thorlos) that way even if you do start making holes it will be in something easily replaceable.

Unfortunately the holes are being created higher on the shoe than most orthotics that I've seen cover (Maybe I should have described it as the back of my foot rather than my heel?).  Wearing thicker socks couldn't hurt, though.  Thanks!

i agree with those above, but if you don't have the money or the time for the customizing options, the best shoes that i've had experiences with running and working out is nike shox turbo and brooks running shoes.  those two are usually at the top of the list for support and comfort.

One of your problems might be your weight distribution- the way you walk on your feet. I have the same problem, and it's because my weight tends to lean to the outside of my foot disproportionately, causing more wear in that area.

I used to work footwear in a sporting goods store, and one brand you might want to look into is Saucony. They have several models designed to correct for odd weight distributions, at a much more reasonable price than custom shoes or orthotics ($75-150, but if you have a store like Big 5 Sports, they'll go on sale for $50ish). They also tend to have very sturdy linings. I've used this brand for years and have yet to experience a torn lining.

Good luck, and if you have any questions, shoot me an note!

Thanks very much for your replies!  I'm going to make do with an older pair for today and tomorrow and go shopping this weekend.  I'll keep those brands in mind, and hopefully have better luck this time around!

I strongly reccomend going to a running specialty store.  Running shoes are specifically designed for different types of running styles.  Many running stores have treadmills in them and the salespeople can watch you run and make suggestions.  Also, runnersworld.com has a lot of good info when looking for a new pair of shoes.  It will ask you several questions about how you run and make suggestion on what kind of shoes would be good for you.

i would say dont go out buying specific shoes that cost hundreds of dollars as even the best shoes will lose their cushioning around 3 months of serious training and maybe you could stretch it out a little longer if you you only trained a couple times a week. My advice buy a cheap 30 dollar pair every few months or so.

Wanted to second Brooks...and I've had good luck with Mizuno as well.  Also if you can find a store that can properly fit you, bring your old ones with you.  They've used mine to check wear pattern.  Found out that I over-pronate slightly and they could recommend a shoe that worked better to stabalize me and I haven't destroyed any in record time since learning what I needed!

Original Post by ching12:

i would say dont go out buying specific shoes that cost hundreds of dollars as even the best shoes will lose their cushioning around 3 months of serious training and maybe you could stretch it out a little longer if you you only trained a couple times a week. My advice buy a cheap 30 dollar pair every few months or so.

I have to strongly disagree with you.  Really good running shoes can be purchased starting around $85 or so.  Obviously they can get much more expensive but $85-$115 should buy a real decent pair of shoes.  In my opinion, it's well worth it.  Good shoes will protect not just your feet but can help fend off problems with your shins, knees, back and hips.  It's definitely worth the extra money to protect your body.  It will also make running/walking much more enjoyable.  Salespeople at specialty running stores are trained to find the "errors" in a person's running stride and can recommend plenty of shoes in a wide price range.  Just my 2 cents.

Just a thought, but do you yank your shoes on by the heel when you're putting them on?  I noticed big holes in the inner backs of my running shoes, and realized that the hole is where I put my thumb when I pull my shoes on .    I got a new pair of shoes and started being more gentle with them, and haven't had the problem come back.

Not a bad idea, but the only way I could see that being the problem is if the friction of my heel rubbing across the lining when I put them on is making the holes, but hell, isn't that what they're designed for?  I'm pretty sure at this point that either it's a weight distribution problem, as someone above mentioned, or that I'm wearing my shoes a half size too big and my the back of my foot is sliding around too much as I jog.  I'm going to try to find the most specialized place that I can where I live and see if anyone there can give me any insights.  I'll keep that in mind with my new pair of shoes, though!

A running shoe store should be able to do an analysis on your running/jogging form and recommend a good shoe.  The first thing I do when I get a running shoe is replace the insoles with Superfeet or Sofsoles.  I am getting old and it helps my knees and tendons :-)  The running community will tell you that running shoes don't last for more than 6 months or 400-500 miles, which ever comes first.

As far as wearing out the lining...  It could be rubbing because of pronation.  It could just be your mechanics.  You actually want to by a shoe that is half a size too big because your feet swell while you are running.  Some shoes come that way (a 10 is actually a 10.5), others do not.  You definitely do not want to get one that slips though.  It should feel comfortable around your heel and ankle.

Original Post by wesmckean:

As far as wearing out the lining...  It could be rubbing because of pronation.  It could just be your mechanics.  You actually want to by a shoe that is half a size too big because your feet swell while you are running.  Some shoes come that way (a 10 is actually a 10.5), others do not.  You definitely do not want to get one that slips though.  It should feel comfortable around your heel and ankle.

 Totally agree here. Running stores are really everywhere, try looking around on google for one. i have had horrible experiences with Brooks, Nike, and reebok--just goes to show how different we all are.  I found out my feet were really narrow and the reason I was getting blisters on the sides of my feet near my toes was because my shoes were too wide and my feet were slipping around inside.  Maybe you pronate, which leads to rolling of your ankles a litle bit on every step, hence the rubbing in that area. This coudl be due to an arch problem, or a leg length discrepency.  So you need shoes SPECIFICALLY for you. Shoes in running stores tend to run about $100..but if you think about it, that's not too much more than a department store.  Good luck

Did you ever figure out what was causing the holes in the back of your shoe?  I have the same exact problem.  Went through 3 pair of shoes already.  I need to get a new pair today cause I tore a big blister while jogging last night.

Not really, unfortunately.  I didn't have the time or resources to take the advice I was given here on the forum, but I found a pair of Adidas that have some extra stitching and a better kind of material in the heel area, and they've lasted much longer than the other shoes I'd tried.  They are developing holes, but it is in such a way that I'm not getting blisters from them, which is a step in the right direction.  For now it's the best I can hope for, I'm afraid.

Of course they don't list a model number anywhere on the shoe, but I got them from Academy and they were around $40.  Several of the Adidas shoes that I saw had a similarly reinforced stitching pattern, so you might check them out.  Good luck!

drewshoe.com sells some really nice comfortable running shoes, it might be worth checking out

As far as wearing out the lining...  It could be rubbing because of pronation.  It could just be your mechanics.  You actually want to by a shoe that is half a size too big because your feet swell while you are running.  Some shoes come that way (a 10 is actually a 10.5), others do not.  You definitely do not want to get one that slips though.  It should feel comfortable around your heel and ankle

Wanted to totally agree with this.  I have seen several recomendations for Brooks, which is a great shoe, but made usually for mild pronation.  It seems you either need a stability shoe for severe pronation or you could be supinating..rubbing the outside of your foot where it tears.

If you look at the bottom of your shoes that tore, the sole will be worn out on the inner aspect(pronation) or outer aspect(supination).

Most US states have a Fleet Feet or another specialty running store...Academy here in TX does not really qualify to fit specialty running shoes.

If u figure the cost of all the shoes you are bying that tear, they will probably equal the cost of a REALLY GREAT pair of running shoes that fit your foot correctly and will also help prevent injury.  Just my opinion, good luck.

If u figure the cost of all the shoes you are bying that tear, they will probably equal the cost of a REALLY GREAT pair of running shoes that fit your foot correctly and will also help prevent injury.  Just my opinion, good luck.

Eh, not really.  I would still need to replace them every 6 months or so based on how much I run, and this current pair of shoes has lasted about 4 without tearing, so at best I would be breaking even.  I did check the wear pattern, and there may be a very slight amount of extra wear on the outside. 

Unfortunately there are really no great foot ware (let alone running shoe) stores within a couple hundred miles, so I'm probably not going to be getting the problem professionally "diagnosed" any time soon.