Quality Running Shoe Tips

One of the classic running tips is very simple:

Invest In Quality Shoes

Your shoes are the most important item of running gear that you will own. So don’t skimp on them! You may not know right away what a “quality” shoe is. It is not necessarily the most expensive shoe on the market. The most expensive shoes tend to have a lot of bells and whistles that you may not really need.

A quality shoe is one that you have put some time and effort into selecting. The more you know about your foot type, and how the specific features of a shoe meet your particular needs, the more benefit you will receive. A good match between you and your shoes will go a long ways toward providing you with a happy and healthy running experience.

Know Your Foot Type

To match the correct type of running shoe to your feet, you must determine which category you fall into:

Neutral
Over-Pronator
Supinator (Under-Pronator)

A website like Cross Country Running Shoes 101 can provide you with more information about the different types of foot motion, and how to tell which category you fall into.

Visit A Running Shoe Store

running tips shoes on rack The internet is a great place to research and learn all about the different types of shoes. So by all means, click away and do your homework! But you don’t want to purchase your first pair of running shoes over the internet. That’s because there’s no substitute for expert advice. The staff at a specialty running shoe store can ask you the right questions, and determine your foot type by watching your foot motion as you run on an electric treadmill. They will be able to provide you with the best recommendations on which shoes are right for you.

After you have already worn out a great pair of shoes and the time comes to replace them, then you can consider buying them online. By that time you will already know which model and size works for you.

Break In Your Shoes

No matter what, do NOT buy that new pair of running shoes for tomorrow’s race! Your blisters and damaged feet will remind you of your folly for a long time after you cross the finish line. Expect to run 100 miles (160km) in a pair new shoes before you wear them for a race or a long-distance workout.

This means, of course, that you will need to purchase a new pair of shoes well before the old ones are completely shot. Then you can wear the newer shoes for your shorter workouts until they are broken in.

Replace Your Shoes Regularly

The cushioning (shock absorption) in running shoes is designed to absorb the impact shock of 2.5 to 3 times your body weight as your foot strikes the ground. But the cushioning breaks down over time. When the shoe is no longer able to do its job effectively, the time has come to buy a new pair.

A good rule of thumb is to replace shoes after 500 miles (800km). A top-quality cushioned shoe might last 800 miles (1300km) if you are a runner with a lighter frame, or last only 350 miles (550km) if you have a larger frame. But the longer you run in a worn-out shoe, the more stress impact your body will accumulate and the sooner you will sustain an injury. It’s better to retire the shoe. You can still use it for walking and any non-running activity.

You can find more tips for running shoes in the Shoes category.

Other Running Gear

If you enjoy running, biking, hiking, or mountain climbing, then chances are you might find an altimeter and barometer watch to be very useful. These watches keep track of both your altitude changes and the barometric changes over time via the onboard computer.

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