What a better pair of running shoes? This is the first thread that always shows up. So yes, I want a better pair of running shoes. More specifically, I want a better pair of running shoes that don't eat a hole in the middle of the back of the shoe padding. Seems like every time I buy a pair of shoes, within a month or so of sprint training (not long distance running), the back of the heel quickly wears a hole through padding. My heel/Achilles is relatively flat and smooth without an obvious bump or protrusion or calluses. Eventually I have to take a strip of duct tape and run it up the back of the inside of the shoe to cover up the hole. Seems like this is a basic shoe design flaw.