Jim Silva: Treat your feet (and your knees) well with good quality shoes

I was worried. Really worried.

Had all this running finally taken its toll on my knees? Was I starting to suffer from arthritis? Was I going to need surgery?

Then I looked down at my running shoes – dirty and worn out – and it struck me. Could all of the knee issues that I’d been troubled with the past few months be because of my shoes?

I should have known better.

I had put a lot of mileage on those old shoes, having trained for and run a marathon in them. I was more than overdue for a fresh pair. So I went online, ordered a new pair and in a few days was running in them.

Turns out it was the shoes. At least a big part of it was.

Since getting my fresh pair of Brooks Adrenaline, my knee issues have subsided substantially. I’m putting in about 25 miles a week and my knees are feeling pretty good. Now, instead of thinking of potential surgery, I’m now contemplating my next big race. Maybe even a marathon.

I’ve written before that I’m a frugal person – I like to use things until they are at the stage of being unusable.

But when it comes to your training shoes, no matter what sport you play or fitness routine you have, you simply cannot wait until that point.

There are not many athletic or physical fitness endeavors that do not require a good pair of shoes (I can only think of swimming or water polo). Whether you’re running, walking, biking, taking an aerobics class, you have to wear shoes. And you really need to wear good ones that fit properly.

When I first started running more than five years ago, I suffered from terrible pain due to plantar fasciitis. I almost quit running after six months. But I began buying better (and bigger) shoes and the problem lessened.

It wasn’t until I joined Team In Training and was properly fitted for new shoes that the plantar fasciitis went away completely. We took a team trip to Fleet Feet in Stockton to get fitted for shoes.

It turns out that I was running in shoes a size too small. When I had started running I was wearing a 9 1/2. The store recommended I try the Brooks Adrenaline with Superfeet inserts – in a size 11.

The shoes and inserts were expensive for my budget, but I bit the bullet and made the purchase.

That decision saved me years of suffering from the stinging pain in my heel that plantar fasciitis causes.

Here are just a few tips for buying a good pair of shoes:

▪ Spend a little extra. It’s worth it, trust me. A lot of runners I know suffer from blisters, pain and black toenails. Since I started spending a little extra, I haven’t had any of that. I’m as frugal as you can get, but a good pair of shoes is worth every penny.

▪ Get measured. You may think you know your shoe size or have found a good fit, but running and walking shoes are always going to need to be much bigger than you think. I wear a size 9 1/2 in dress shoes, but wear size 11 for my running shoes. Go to Fleet Feet (the store will be opening in Modesto soon) or another good running store and have someone who knows what they’re doing get you measured. There’s no extra cost for it.

▪ Don’t get caught up in looks. Billy Crystal’s “Saturday Night Live” character used to say “it’s better to look good than to feel good.” Not true for us runners and walkers. When it comes to shoes, don’t worry about looks as much as finding the shoe that makes your feet feel good. I’ve seen many of my TNT teammates buy cute shoes, only to have to buy new ones later.

▪ Stick with what works. I’ve been wearing the same shoe for three years now. There’s no way I’ll change unless they discontinue the model. Don’t get caught up in the new technology or marketing of shoe companies. And don’t wait until your shoes are completely worn out. Experts say shoes should be replaced after 200 to 400 miles, depending on what surface you run on.

And remember, as I’ve proved, good shoes don’t just help your feet. Running in bad shoes can affect every part of your body, including your knees. Your body will thank you.

Modesto Marathon training

It may seem early to start thinking about next spring’s Modesto Marathon, but it will be here before you know it.

If you’ve been thinking about running or walking the 5K, half-marathon or marathon (you know you want to!), then it’s time to get moving.

The Shadowchase Running Club offers a marathon training program for all athletic levels. The group features certified coaches, wonderful mentors, and a 6-month program that will gradually and safely get you to your goals.

The group’s first information meeting is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the new Fleet Feet store in Modesto, 1427 Standiford Ave.

I highly recommend you check it out.

This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Jim Silva: Treat your feet (and your knees) well with good quality shoes."