Today, I am going to answer some of the most important questions asked by Yeezy fans: “Are Yeezys good for running?” “Are Yeezys running shoes?”, “Can you run in Yeezys?”
I’m not going to talk about running for the bus or running from the cops. I’m going to be talking about running as far as exercising like 5ks, 10ks, marathons, or something like that.
I’m going to cover the Adidas Yeezy 500, the Yeezy 700, and also the Yeezy 350. I will not be talking about the Yeezy 750 because why would you want to run in some 750s?
Without further ado, let’s get right into it…
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Are Yeezys Good For Running?
Are Yeezy 500 good for running?
The 500 was originally called the Desert Rat Yeezy 500s, but later the colorway name got changed to Blush 500s. This sneaker has a multi-layer upper with a combination of suede, mesh, and leather.
It comes with round shoelaces and it has an Adiprene midsole. The whole sneaker was inspired by the KB8 when Kobe was with Adidas back in the day in the early 2000.
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So, are Yeezys 500 good for running?
You can run in the Yeezy 500 for very short distances but nothing more than that. But if you’re taking running seriously and it’s part of your fitness regimen, do not bring these out.
The Yeezy 500 is not a running shoe. It is a basketball sneaker. I know what you’re thinking “when you play basketball, you run. So, why I can’t run in this sneaker?”
The reason because there’s a big difference between basketball shoes and running shoes. Also, basketball sneakers tend to be a lot bulkier and a lot bigger. Basketball sneakers are primarily made to be used for jumping up and down.
With that being said, basketball shoes are not flexible. For running, you want a shoe that is a lot smaller and a lot more flexible than the average basketball sneaker.
Running shoes are less heavy and they’re also a lot easier to maneuver on different surfaces as well.
Next, we’re going to talk about the Yeezy 700…
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Are Yeezy 700 good for running?
The 700s also come with a multi-layer upper with a combination of suede, mesh, and leather. This sneaker also has a big thick Boost midsole.
Talking about Boost, can Yeezy 700 be used for running?
The answer is yes. The Yeezy 700 could be used for running because it is originally made to be a running shoe.
I bet you didn’t know that. Even though this is considered to be a dad sneaker, the midsole of this sneaker is actually made for stability and comfort. These are two main things that every runner wants in a running shoe.
The upper portion of the 700 is very flexible and also the mesh allows air to travel inside the sneaker as well to give you some breathability.
It also has maximum heel support as well. Again, you could run in the Yeezy 700s, but I wouldn’t take it past a 5k.
Lastly, we are going to be talking about the Yeezy 350…
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Are Yeezy 350 v2 good for running?
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The 350 is made with the Primeknit upper. It has one big stitching that goes from the toe box all the way up to the top of the tongue. It also comes with the Boost midsole. So, is the Yeezy 350 a running shoe?
I am going to say yes and absolutely no.
Yes. You can run in the 350 for casual running and especially if you’re a true neutral runner, you need minimal support around the arch and the heel area.
No. If you run in the 350, they’re literally going to tear like a piece of paper. Trust me, I’ve seen it. Who would you want to mess up your expensive sneakers that you could fly in?
Even though the 350 has a thick Boost midsole, it’s not thick enough to provide comfort while running especially long distance.
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The midsole does have foam on the inside but it is not strong enough to withstand long periods of running.
Even though the Primeknit upper of the sneaker is pretty flexible and has a lot of breathability, it’s not strong enough and does not provide the heel or ankle support you’re going to need for running.
If you take running seriously, you should get a real running shoe, and the great news is they’re way cheaper than Yeezys.
So, what are the most important factors to look for when it comes to choosing running shoes?
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Why do you really need running shoes?
Let’s face it, there are so many different running shoes out there and it can be super overwhelming to know which one you should get.
In the past few years, they’ve even added carbon plates inside of shoes. What’s next?
Again, it can be hard to know what shoe to get especially if you’re just getting into running.
In this section, I’m going to explain why buying a pair of shoes specifically for running is so important and breaking down shoe categories like neutral, stability, cushioned, and performance shoes so you can be even more informed when you go to buy your own pair of running shoes.
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First off, you may ask why is it important to have a specific pair of shoes just for running and why can’t you use your Adidas Yeezys, your Nike Air Jordans, your Stan Smiths, Superstars or your favorite $10 Walmart sneakers?
Running shoes are very unique as they’re made with specialized materials to help absorb the impact from running.
As well as providing support, cushioning, and durability, shoe companies have spent countless hours and lots and lots of money developing, researching, and testing shoes that will best fit the needs of the many runners out there.
For example, they’ve figured out that there are people who need stability shoes, others need cushioned shoes, while others need performance shoes.
The last thing you want to do is use a pair of shoes that were not designed for running, shoes that do not absorb the impact, or shoes that don’t provide you the stability and support that you need for running.
When choosing a running shoe, there’s a few things that you need to take into consideration.
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How often do you run and how far?
How often and the distance you plan to run can have an impact on the type of cushioning and the shoe that you need.
If you’re only planning on running five kilometers every other day, you may not need the most super cushioned shoe out there.
You can totally get a cushioned shoe but maybe you don’t.
Do you do speedwork?
I have a few shoes that I use specifically for speed workout, intervals, and tempos for example, and they don’t have quite as much cushioning as my long-run shoes.
But the cool thing about these shoes is that they have a carbon fiber plate in them. It’s really fun to run in shoes that have a carbon fiber plate in them as you feel like you get more of an energy return and I just feel faster in them.
If you don’t plan on doing any speed workouts, that’s okay. You can still run in shoes that have carbon fiber plates in them.
However, I probably wouldn’t do every single run in a carbon fiber plate shoe because the carbon fiber plate is pretty stiff and it can be harder on some people’s bodies.
I’m not going to go into more details about carbon fiber plate running shoes as I talked about that already. Make sure you check it out.
What conditions and surfaces do you run in?
In regards to what conditions you’re going to run in, if you decide to run only on trails, you will need trail-specific shoes.
I would definitely not run in a road running shoe that has no grip and is quite flat on a trail. You could but good luck.
Trail shoes tend to be grippier on the bottom and give you a little more support as the trails and paths you run on can be a little uneven and just give a little more support.
If you plan to run only on the road, you have lots of options for shoes like these ones.
Do you need neutral, stability, or cushion?
There are so many different terms that people use in regards to running shoes so I wanted to give you a brief overview of what they are and how it can affect what shoes you buy.
Neutral running shoes
The most popular group of running shoes is the neutral category. Neutral just means there’s no stability or posts in the running shoe to help correct overpronation.
Who are neutral running shoes for?
Neutral shoes are for the athlete that has a foot strike that allows the body to absorb the impact of running in the most optimal pattern.
If you have a neutral alignment, running in stability shoes could possibly cause injuries as the shoe is trying to fix something that’s already been fixed.
One way to know if you have a neutral alignment is by looking at the wear pattern on your shoes. The wear pattern should be centralized to the balls of your feet and the portion of your heel in the middle.
Everyone naturally pronates and wears a little bit. It’s just when it goes to the extreme, it can become a problem.
…which brings us to stability shoes…
Stability running shoes
Stability shoes can help with alignment especially if you overpronate. These shoes are specifically designed with posts in them that help prevent you from going inwards.
There also can be side rails or guide rails which help prevent side-to-side motion. These are all to help correct biomechanics that you could get injured from.
But how can you know if you overpronate?
There’s a few things you can do. First off, I highly recommend getting a running shoe assessment with a shoe store.
In this assessment, you can talk about your running goals, any previous injuries, and kind of what you’re looking for in a running shoe.
They will look at things like the shape of your foot, your alignment, and your stride to give you a clear idea of what shoes are best for you.
Otherwise, you can also look at the wear pattern on your shoe to see if you overpronate. If you overpronate, the wear pattern will be all along the inside of your shoe.
Cushioned running shoes
Not everyone needs a max cushioned running shoe, but I personally love doing my long runs or my easy runs in shoes that are a little softer and have a little more cushion in them like the Hoka Bondi and the Hoka Clifton.
These shoes just absorb the impact of your run especially if you’re doing 20+ miles.
Each shoe company has their own level of cushioning and the Hoka One One Bondi is the most cushioning I’ve ever run.
In the end, it can become a personal preference if you like a super cushioned running shoe, but you do need some cushioning especially if you’re going to do long runs.
For example, I probably wouldn’t do a 20+ mile run in the New Balance 1400 compared to a Hoka.
Performance running shoes
I’m not going to speak too much about performance shoes, but these are the three that I have. I have the New Balance 1400, the Nike Zoom Fly, and the New Balance Fuel Cell TC.
The Zoom Fly and the Fuel Cell have carbon fiber plates and the 1400 doesn’t, but I still really love running in this and I feel fast in it.
However, carbon fiber plate shoes are so good especially for speed workouts and race day.
These shoes are super light but they’re not as durable as the New Balance 880s or the 860s for example.
But for race day, you want something that’s light and responsive. If you don’t plan on racing, then don’t bother getting a race day shoe unless you want to save it for special occasions when you just want to do a really fast run.
It’s just nice to have shoes in your running shoe rotation for specific things like speed workouts, easy runs, long runs, and so on.
Talking about shoe rotation, why do you need to rotate your running shoes?
Alternate running shoes
I like to alternate the shoes that I run in during the week, but why do I do this?
According to a first-of-its-kind study, alternating the type of shoes within your training cycle reduces the incidence of overuse injuries.
By changing the shoes, you add different variabilities that your body kind of has to adjust to and can prevent, again, overuse injuries.
Adding this different kind of variability especially with heel drop, which I’ll talk about in a second, and kind of different shoes will help your body use different muscles and tendons.
This means that some parts of your body get a little more attention and others get a little break so it kind of works itself out.
By using different shoes during the week, it will also help extend the life of your running shoes.
Running shoes are not cheap either. Shoe manufacturers will tell you that the materials in the sole and the cushioning can take up to 24 hours to kind of expand again.
Giving your shoes a little break when you alternate them will help them not pack down as quickly.
It really depends on the cushioning of your shoe, but some shoe manufacturers say your shoes can last between 300 miles at minimum to 500 miles at most.
But again, everyone is different and maybe slightly heavier runners will burn through shoes more quickly than others.
Next up, I want to share a few other tips for buying running shoes.
Rule of thumb rule
You want to aim to have at least a fingernail width between your toe and the front of the shoe.
You need to give room for your feet to swell and so you should be able to move your toes in the toe box.
Sizing
Every shoe brand fits slightly differently and some have a narrower toe box or fits a little snugger. So, it’s important to know what size you are in running shoes, but it’s also important to know the characteristics of the shoe brand.
Some shoe brands actually have a wide version of their shoes. So if your feet tend to be a little wider, that might be perfect for you.
Here’s a nice running shoe size comparison between brands you need to check out for more details on how brands like Nike, Adidas, Hoka, New Balance, Saucony, and more size their shoes.
Inserts
If you have inserts or orthotics to go in your shoe, don’t forget to bring them when you go try on running shoes.
Break-in period
Running shoes should be comfortable from the beginning and you shouldn’t have to break them in. However, I wouldn’t go run a 10-mile run on a new pair of shoes.
…which brings us to heel -to-toe drop…
Heel-to-toe drop
Heel drop is the height between the toe and the heel. Heel drops vary so much in different brands of running shoes.
It’s a good idea to know what heel drop you are currently running in when you go to buy a new running shoe.
Or, if you’re currently running right now, use this heel drop chart, look for the shoe you’re running in, and you will find your heel drop.
But why is heel drop important anyways?
It’s important because if you buy a new pair of running shoes that has a greater difference of 4 millimeters in the heel drop, you want to transition slowly to the new shoe that has a different heel drop.
Shoes that have higher than 8-millimeter drop tend to be better for runners who heel strike. One reason is that runners who tend to land more on their heel, having this additional cushioning in the heel could put less of an impact on the runner’s foot.
Again, everyone is different.
One thing to remember is that if a shoe has a low heel drop, that does not mean it has less cushioning. The Hoka Cliftons have a low heel drop yet they’re one of the most cushioned shoes I own.
In the end, it’s just good not to make any sudden changes in heel drops and just to know what kind of heel drop you have in the running shoes you currently use.
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Running shoe anatomy
There’s different parts of running shoes and I’m not going to go into super detail about them, but I just want you to know the different parts when you go to buy a running shoe as that could impact kind of the fit of it and just how it feels on your foot.
Upper
As the name suggests, the upper is the upper part of the shoe. Running shoes come in different upper and have different technologies. There’s engineered mesh, Primeknit, knit, to name a few.
Some uppers are semi-gusseted meaning the tongue is only attached on one side, other are fully gusseted. Some upper have a bootie construction while others still have a traditional setup with a traditional lacing system.
Midsole
The midsole refers to the part right below the upper. This is where every shoe company puts their own unique cushioning in the shoe.
For example, New Balance calls their foam Fresh Foam, FuelCell while Saucony calls their foam PWRRUN…
Outsole
This is the bottom part of the running shoe. The outsole helps with durability and stability and they use different rubbers like blown rubber, crystal rubber, Continental rubber, and so on.
There’s so much more I could have covered about running shoes, but I wanted to give you a brief overview of why buying a specific shoe for running is so important.
Whether you’re a neutral alignment, you overpronate so you need stability shoes, or you just want more cushioned shoes, if you’re doing a long run, it’s important to know the difference between those shoes and if you need them or not.
If you’re running over 10 miles kilometers, you probably want a slightly more cushioned shoe. Or, if you’re just doing a 5-kilometer run, you could probably get away with a slightly less cushioned shoe.
Everyone’s foot is very different and reacts differently to cushion and less cushioned shoes. This is why I think getting an assessment can be super helpful especially if you just have no idea what’s going on with your feet.
You can also look at the wear pattern on the shoes that you currently run in or even walk in.
I hope the information that I’ve shared is helpful and kind of clears up why running shoes are so important.
I know some running shoes can be expensive, but they’re way cheaper compared to your Adidas Yeezys.
But if you just think about all the development, technology, and testing that these shoe companies have put into them, I would not want to run in something that doesn’t have that stability and support because I don’t want to get injured.
It’s just well worth the price to have good-fitting shoes.
