Two Christmas‘ ago, I walked into TJ Maxx in Florida and picked up a pair of running shoes and some workout clothes. At the time, I was just planning to go for a run or two while we were on vacation since Mackenzie’s sleeping schedule was all kinds of crazy from the jet lag and we were waking up at 5:30am every day.

I didn’t really know anything about running shoes at the time, and certainly not that I should be paying attention to the type of shoe I buy and the support it offers, based on the way I walk. Because, well, I knew nothing about running. And I still have a lot to learn. But I’m certainly not quite that dumb anymore.

As you may have seen on Facebook, I recently got a new pair of running shoes. And I plan to talk about them in great detail…after I’ve put at least 80km (50 miles) on them.

But as of today, I have run 378km (235 miles) in my New Balance 750 womens running shoes. And while I do have some aches and pains (hence the new shoes), I was extremely lucky and blessed to have found the New Balance sneaks for only $35 — and that they were actually proper shoes for my feet which didn’t end up really hurting me over the last few months of marathon training.

Details about the New Balance 740 Running Shoes

If you look at the New Balance website, you will find this text about these shoes:

“Support, comfort and cushioning all in one training shoe! Great for long distance runners seeking support and some stability, the 740 offers a Medial Post for pronation control.”

Now if you read that last part and your eyes crossed, don’t worry because it takes a good while before you understand the shoe lingo.

According to the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine (AAPSM), a medial post is actually a device which you will find inside the midsole of the shoe. It is is actually firmer and denser than the rest of the midsole and the size and the shape of the posting device along with the density of the material used determine how much stability it provides. Medial posts are found in all stability and motion control shoes but are not found in cushioned or neutral shoes.

More stats from the New Balance website:

• Blown rubber forefoot for lightweight cushioning
• ACTEVA® midsole cushions and resists compression set—12% lighter than standard foam
• Synthetic/mesh upper provides lightweight comfort and support
• Solid rubber outsole provides long-wearing durability
• Medial post located on inside edge of shoe to help prevent overpronation
• Forefoot Flex Grooves allow extreme flexibility

What I Like

• Comfortable — Regardless of whether I was running 6.5km or 16km, these shoes are always comfortable and have never left a blister or even irritated my feet in any way. Because I bought them in true size (not half a size larger as many recommend for running shoes), I do have to make sure that my toe nails are very short to keep them from rubbing. But even then, I find the toe box to be very accommodating.
• Lightweight — These shoes only weigh 256 grams (9 oz) and you barely even feel like you’re wearing shoes when you have them on.
• Good Arch Support, Pronation Control — Like many runners, I’m an over-pronator so I really lucked into buying these shoes. For the most part, I’ve felt really happy with the support of the shoes and the way I’m running. But with the longer distances, I’m starting to notice more pains in my knees after runs which really shouldn’t be there. Which is why I’m going to be alternating with my new Adistar Ride 4’s in the future.
• Breathable — The mesh fabric on the top of these shoes is fantastic in both warmer weather (although we haven’t seen a ton of that here while running) but also in the winter. With standard running socks on, I never had a problem with my feet getting too cold (unless it was -5°C or lower). You should expect to get wet feet if you run through high snow or puddles — but after a minute or two, your feet will feel warm and dry again (despite the fact that your socks are probably still soaked) which makes it a lot more comfortable to keep running!
• Stylish — These shoes are fairly neutral with only a bit of color on the side, which makes it easy to wear them with any running outfit. While I love the flashy colors and neons of the newer shoes, I can also appreciate the understated shoes as well.
• Surprisingly stable on ice — We had more ice runs around here this season than I would have liked, and while I think running shoes are generally not well suited for ice, these do pretty well in the slippery conditions. Actually, they had more traction than one of my pairs of hiking boots, and I never once hit the ground while wearing these shoes.

It’s hard to tell. But even after 235 miles on these shoes, there’s hardly any wear.

What I Don’t Like

• I’ve heard these referred to as trail running shoes, which usually means that they don’t offer as much support as some other shoes. I run mostly on pavement and concrete, so I really need something that is going to offer a bit of cushioning and resistance against the hard ground. But they do well on packed dirt and
• Some complain that the shoes are a bit narrow. I don’t have wide feet, so I haven’t noticed this. But if you’re in the market for shoes, you might want to keep that in mind.

Conclusion

For the most part, these shoes are no longer on the market, although you may find a few of them in clearance sales still. For casual runners and joggers, I think it’s a great beginner shoe and would definitely try other New Balance shoes in the future. They are showing virtually no wear at all, despite having at least half of their running life behind them already. The cushioning still bounces right back and they’re great shoes in general. I’m looking to sharing many more runs with them in the next year — until they’re ready to be retired! 😉