One of the things that I love about running is that you don’t need much, if any, gear to do it. The only thing you absolutely need is a pair of shoes, and even that’s debatable. But when you have injuries or specific issues, you put more effort into what’s going on your feet.
When I started running, I started in generic sneakers. After 3 months, my left foot went numb after about 2 miles. It was time to get serious about shoes, so I went to Performance Footwear (because Red Rock Running Co hadn’t opened their Rainbow location yet) and came home with some Brooks Ravennas. That prevented the numb foot… for a while at least. A trip to the podiatrist showed that I had plantar fasciitis. After two months of physical therapy, the muscles in my sole had been beaten into submission and I could run again. Huzzah!
I switched to the Adrenaline GTS for a while, then back to the Ravennas. When the Ravennas were discontinued, so I switched to Brooks Launch 8, which was fine. Until it wasn’t, and the numbness crept back in. A second trip to the podiatrist in 2020 showed not a repeat of plantar fasciitis, but arthritis in my big toe. I thought I was out of running for good.
But I got myself a new pair of Brooks Launch 9 and realized that I could still run! When I ran those to the ground, I tried out the Brooks Launch 10 GTS. Here’s my impressions as a non-podiatrist, non-doctor, and not a shoe expert.
Shoes: Brooks Launch 9 vs Brooks Launch 10 GTS
I wore the Brooks Launch 9 for 300 miles of running and walking from August 2023 until Christmas 2024. These are the black shoes in the gallery to the left. The shoe is light and responsive. I never felt weighed down or clumsy. It has good grip on paved surfaces, but is not a trail running shoe.
It’s got good cushioning, which is great for my flat feet and arthritic toes. It doesn’t have the guiderail technology in the GTS.
I love the mesh upper. When you’re running in hot areas like I do, you need all the breatheability you can get!
I’ve worn the treads down to nothing, and then realized that I needed new shoes. With my feet still not at 100%, I shifted to the Launch 10 GTS for the extra support. These are the white/grey shoes in the gallery.
The Launch 10 GTS have been a good shoe as well, but I’ve had to supplement with a separate insole to avoid numbness. It’s still a new shoe, only 2 months in, but I’m thinking that the slightly reduced cushioning may be just not quite enough for my particular set of foot challenges.
Insoles for Flat Footed Runners
When I first got into running, I realized that sometimes, I just needed a little extra support. I started with Superfeet Blue, a good all-rounder for the different activities I was doing. I’ve used them running, walking, hiking, and even cycling.
I have a pair of Blues in my hiking shoes. I pulled them out to place in my new Launch 10 GTS, and realized they were pretty worn down. They can stay in the hikers where they work well.
I was surprised that Superfeet had increased and specialized their range since I bought my first ones about 10 years ago.
I looked at the RUN comfort for low arches, but went with the Run Cushion for low arches instead. I really liked the concept of specific cushioning and flexibility at the ball of the foot, since that’s where my arthritis presents itself.
I’ve limited myself to 5ks since the arthritis diagnosis, with the exception of the 7.02 race. But I was able to pull off a 5 mile run the other weekend with no pain or numbness, at least partially due to the insole. So far, so good, and definitely better for me than without!
