How to Choose Running
Shoes
Did you know that the way your foot lands and pushes off the ground has a huge effect on the type
of running shoes you need to wear? If you have any preconceived ideas as to which colour or design
of footwear you’d like, they should be left at home.
Sure
you’re going to have some say as to the colour or make you buy, but ultimately your decision
should be based on which pair provides the right solution for you.
You can
expect to pay a lot of money on the best running shoes for you and generally speaking (although
not always) the more you spend, the better quality you’ll get. However they'll be the biggest
expense you’ll have so it's worth the money if you can afford it.
Here are 3
points you’ll need to consider, I’ve broken them down in to summaries of each factor...
The first
step to choosing a running shoe is to find out what type of running gait you have. There are
three types of foot make up – normal arch, high arch and a flat arch.
The next
consideration is pronation which is the action of your foot during movement as the body's weight
strikes at the heel and moves through to the toes.
Runners
with normal or neutral arches are usually normal pronators, those with high arches are often
underpronators, which means the foot rolls outwards placing body weight on to outer foot
instead of evenly over the whole foot.
Finally,
runners with flat arches are usually considered to be overpronators, meaning the foot rolls
inwards too much.
If you’re
an underpronator or overpronator, you’ll be at a greater risk of injuries if you don’t choose
the best running shoe for you.
Running
shoes are categorised in three ways: -
Cushioned Shoes
These
shoes are for underpronators.
Runners requiring cushioned shoes often run on their toes and have a raised arch. These running
shoes provide little stability but are softer under foot and more cushioned.
Support
Shoes
Suitable
for neutral runners, support shoes are usually best for runners with a 'regular' or neutral foot
plant. Support shoes usually
combine good cushioning with lightweight support features on the inner side of the shoe in order
to limit excessive inward rolling of the foot.
Control
Shoes
For more
serious overpronators and also for heavier runners. Serious overpronators usually have a flatter
foot as their arch collapses through the foot strike. These shoes are generally heavier and combine
cushioning with extra support to provide essential protection which reduces the risk of
injury.
My advice
is to buy a size bigger than you normally wear as your feet tend to swell slightly when running
for any distances. Also take in a pair of the socks that you’ll
wear when training just to make sure they fit ok.
To find
out the full story and how to do a clever little running shoe test for yourself, go here now –
www.howtostartrunning.com. For an in depth
breakdown of how to choose the best running shoes for you, pick up a copy of 'How To Start
Running - Click here NOW to find out more - www.howtostartrunning.com
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