Running with 1400 mile shoes?

Shoes are the interface between runner and road. Running involves alot of pounding impact.
When Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute mile on May 6, 1954, he had trained exclusively with thin leather soled track shoes. Everybody ran that way. It was not until 1972 that a line of shoes developed by Coach Bill Bowerman, made with his waffle iron, became the Nike brand.  Finally, runners had cushion to make that impact seem softer.  So started a multi-billion dollar running shoe industry.  Multiple times a year, "improvements" were made.  More cushion, more support, tailored support.  All good for running right?

There is much controversy about running shoes.  Did our ancestors who ran barefoot to track down dinner have frequent running injuries?  Those who did surely did not survive.  They would starve!  So Mother Nature says you don't need shoes.  The adult body has 206 bones.  Each foot has 26 bones. That is 52/206 or 25% of the total bones, just in the feet.  This complicated architecture is designed for long distance running.  For generations modern civilization has worn shoes which support the foot and make the arch non functional and the muscles atrophy.  After decades of running injuries, despite the shoe designs, there is a recent trend to minimalist shoes.  The problem is those muscles and bones in the foot have to be re-conditioned (if it is not too late) to be strong enough to function as intended.  Many runners are trying to do this.  In Christopher MacDougall's book, "Born to Run", there was an interesting reference to a study in which a correlation was found between newer shoes and HIGHER injury rates.  The older, more comfortable shoes had lower injury rates.

This last training cycle, I decided to keep a pair of my Asics 2140's in rotation and see how long they last. (I rotate a newer pair, old pair and moderately old pair).  Without fail the oldest shoes felt the most comfortable and I'd have my best runs in them.  I used to retire shoes as per shoe manufacturer's recommendation every 300-500 miles.

I was happy when my Asics hit 1000 miles and felt good with pretty even tread wear.  I ran my last marathon 2 weeks ago in those shoes with 1400 miles!  No foot problems at all. No injuries have cropped up.  They feel great. 

Running is a personal experiment and trying different things that work for you is encouraged!

[note: One attributing factor in my shoe longevity, and no injuries is becoming a mid-foot striker, rather than heel first]

1450 mile Asics 2140's