Maybe it’s just the way that I prefer to way my shoes now. My dress shoe size is 10ish (9.5 to 10.5). When I started running 5 years ago, I was in a size 11 Kayano.
Then a size 11 Adrenaline(7). Then a size 11.5 Adrenaline (8, 10, 11). My last purchase was a Mizuno Elixir (love these shoes) in a size 12.5. I have a pair of basketball shoes that I haven’t worn in a while that are size 10.5. I’m pretty sure when I bought them, they fit “great”. They are 10.5. I tried them on the other day, and they “felt” WAY small.
Is this common or just a function of being more “in tune” with what feels right when running “long”?
I went to see a podiatrist over Planter a few years ago, he told me only 15% of people wear the right size shoe… so part of
it is learning what feels right.
But I think lots of miles is good for a 1/2 size or two…I don’t think 2-3 sizes is normal. Are you going to clown school?
.
i’ve worn a pair of very comfortable dress shoes for several years (with several repairs on the way) - they felt like a glove! started running relatively recently (don’t think i crossed 300 miles yet altogether) and now those shoes feel small - can’t wear them any longer!
imo, once you start beating the ground with your feet - they simply start spreading a bit, like dough
go figure…
Yep, I wear a 12 in every day shoes, but for running and cycling(used to wear a 12, tired of losing toenails) a size 13 does the trick.
Bought a pair of Brooks Green Silence about a year ago, fit great. Started increasing mileage and after 4-5 months, couldn’t even wear them as casual shoes they felt so small. All my shoes are a half size larger now. I’ve had a few friends report the same foot “growth”, too.
Your arches are probably collapsing.
Not that I’m a proponent of barefoot running, but people who do it claim the opposite–they reduce shoe sizes as they run barefoot more.
My feet got larger after my children due to the loosening/stretching of ligaments during pregnancy. I have worn a women’s 10.5 running shoe for 4 years now, post kids.
Is that not a catch 22 point of view? If his arches were collapsing would it be due to lack of support. Whereas no support from minimalist means stronger feet and reduction in size?
I’m really just parroting the argument from Born to Run because it seems to fit.
I think the “Born to Run” argument would be that by supporting an arch you prevent it from doing its job and thereby weaken the muscles and flatten the arch. I guess the effect would be similar to the previous poster who said the ligaments stretched out post-pregnancy.
From Born to Run:
Alan Webb “was a flat footed frosh with awful form.” It goes on to say that he and his coach did “foot strengthening drills and special walks in bare feet”. Webb says “I was a size 12 and flat-footed, and now I’m a nine or ten. As the muscles in my feet got stronger, my arch got higher.” “Because of the foot drills Webb has cut down on his injuries.” (175 Born To Run)
true, but by supporting the arch you are effectively providing the arch, so the foot would be the same length as that of a foot strengthened to maintain it’s own arch.
It may be that their feet have not actually grown, they are just wearing shoes with less arch support than usual leading to their arches being lower and feet appearing to be longer in that shoe … maybe! 
Howcold are you 14? sometimes feet still grow till you are in your late 20’s
Maybe it’s just the way that I prefer to way my shoes now. My dress shoe size is 10ish (9.5 to 10.5). When I started running 5 years ago, I was in a size 11 Kayano.
Then a size 11 Adrenaline(7). Then a size 11.5 Adrenaline (8, 10, 11). My last purchase was a Mizuno Elixir (love these shoes) in a size 12.5. I have a pair of basketball shoes that I haven’t worn in a while that are size 10.5. I’m pretty sure when I bought them, they fit “great”. They are 10.5. I tried them on the other day, and they “felt” WAY small.
Is this common or just a function of being more “in tune” with what feels right when running “long”?
No joke. I was a 10 forever and now I’m up to 12’s. I think I’m going down the same road as you… Not sure why but, I also haven’t looked into it. Over a 4 year period, I went from a 4hr marathon runner, now 2:50’s. That being said, I don’t even really run/train much so, its not like “because I run so much, my foot grew” but, I’m not sure…
maybe you need to dial back the HGH
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I was a 10.5 from age 15 thru 30 but over the past 10 yrs (I’m approaching 50), I’ve moved up to 13’s.
I was wondering if it’s like clothing where what used to be a large is now a medium and ladies size 4 is now a 0.
Brad