One Shoe Fits All?
Not necessarily! There are numerous brands and styles of shoes on the market today; however, there is no one best brand. Running shoes should be selected after careful consideration. Some factors to keep in mind when looking for a new shoe include past experiences with shoes, problems with your current shoe, biomechanical needs (arch type, pronation, orthopedic injuries, etc.), environmental conditions, and running and racing requirements. It pays to do a little homework.
The Characteristics of Your Foot
First, you need decide what shape of shoe you need based on your foot type. A stability shoe works best for a normal foot with a normal arch, a motion-control shoe is good for a flat foot with a low arch, and a cushioned shoe works for a rigid foot with a high arch.
Guidelines for Purchasing Shoes:
- Purchase running shoes from a good running shoe store or from someone knowledgeable about matching the correct type of running shoes based on your foot type and stride pattern. They can help you with fit as well as specific characteristics of the shoe for which you are looking. They can also keep you informed of manufacturing changes in your favorite brand of shoe. Watch for shoes with excessive wear. Worn shoes often amplify a foot problem and injuries can occur when a shoe is worn too long before being replaced. Analyze the need to purchase new shoes based on the number of miles on your old pair of shoes, not by the amount of tread left on the outer sole. It varies among shoes and individuals, but most estimates place mid-sole breakdown, and the increased potential for injury, at around 400-500 miles. For some, this means replacing shoes before they show major wear.
- Eighty-five percent of the public wears shoes that are too small. Running shoes may need to be a half to a full size larger than street shoes. Check for adequate room at the top. There should be at least a half inch of space between the top of the shoe and the longest toe. The shoe should have adequate room at the widest part of the foot. The shoe shouldn’t be tight but it shouldn’t slide around either, and your heel should fit snugly into the rear of the shoe.
- Try shoes on later in the day and bring the socks you normally run in. Try on several pairs of shoes in the category closest to your foot type. Make sure you try on both shoes and keep them on your feet for about 10 minutes to make sure they remain comfortable. Most good stores will allow you to run up and down the block to experience what running will feel like.
- Consider purchasing two pairs of running shoes. Alternating their use increases the life expectancy of each pair.
- Once you’ve purchased new shoes, don’t try them out for the first time with a 12-mile run or a heavy track workout. Rather, run easily in the shoe for only a short distance. The key point is to have sufficient time to break the new pair in through logging around 60-70 miles. After you have wisely selected your new running shoe, take it home, put it on and enjoy the run!
