Choosing a fashionable running shoe doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best-functioning or best-fitting shoe. In most cases, it’s just the opposite with many people hurting their stride, possibly leading to pain and injury. How a running shoe fits is the most important consideration when buying a new pair. Because running shoes receive a lot of abuse, it is crucial to find the right pair that will withstand your training. No matter how many good comments you might hear about a particular brand of shoes, if it doesn’t fit well and is uncomfortable, don’t buy it. Runners need to find shoes that meet their individual needs.
Finding the Right Running Shoe:
The following are tips for finding the right running shoe:
- Buy running shoes from a specialty store or a salesperson who understands how to match running shoes based on foot type and stride pattern.
- Try on shoes later in the day when your feet have swelled to their maximum size.
- Make sure there is a half-inch of space between the front of the shoe and your longest toe.
- Bring along the socks you normally run in when looking to purchase a new pair.
- Figure out whether you need to buy new running shoes based on the number of miles your previous pair has on them. Don’t simply base your decision on the wear and tear of the outsole, but also on how worn the mid-sole is, because this breaks down at 400 miles and offers no further protection.
- Buy two pairs of running shoes to increase the life expectancy of each.
- Purchase the pair of shoes you will wear during your racing event at least four to six weeks prior so you can break them in (make sure they are the same model you normally do your longer runs in).
Care of Running Shoes:
Once you have found the perfect pair of running shoes, properly caring for them is the key to making them last as long as possible. The following are some tips to maximize the life of your running shoes:
- Only wear your running shoes for running because they will last much longer.
- Do not try to machine wash or machine dry your running shoes. If they need to be cleaned, only hand wash them.
- If your shoes become wet, put a bundled up newspaper inside them to shorten drying time.
Source: Marathon Training
