It is raining. You are running. You are halfway to the finishing line, which is your home. Then “schlip!”, you trip and fall. It may be because the ground is slippery or you are not paying attention. However, has it ever occurred to you that wearing a wrong pair of running shoes can also be problem?
Most people choose shoes based on theirs prices and their looks. Runners, on the other hand, go further than that. Choosing a good pair of running shoes means that they are suitable according to the followings:
Where you run
There are 2 things you need to consider when talking about running styles, where you run and how you run. The first one breaks down into 3 sub-categories which are road-running shoes, trail-running shoes, and cross-training shoes. Road-running shoes is applied for runners who run mostly roads, pavements, or just simply even concrete surfaces. Runners of the field, the routes, and the paths full of rocks, muds, or roots, however, choose trail-running shoes for its fortified stability and protection. The last one, cross-training shoes, are designed for gym users or Crossfit workouts. So, the first advice is to keep in mind where you are going to head to.
How you run
About how you run, it is a little bit tricky. It is commonly known that we people have 3 types of running mechanics, or simply known as your foot’s shape. They are normal pronation, overpronation and underpronation. Pronation is the term for the foot inward rolling movement during running. So an overpronation individual, his feet tend to roll inward more than others do, therefore create wear on the inside edge. The opposite thing happens with the underpronation. Thus, this concludes that second thing to keep in mind when choosing running shoes, your running style.
Once you have figured out what type of running shoes you need, now it is time to get to the nearest store. Most of the stores have well-trained staffs at your disposal so feel free to consult them. And here are some tiny advices on buying the pair.
Shop at the end of the day. Your feet expand overtime from dawn till dark. So it is best to try on a new pair at the time when your feet are in their biggest form.
Try to find a pair that is comfortable to wear. Do not buy into the myth that the shoes will later somehow get bigger. It is not always the case. If it is the right pair for you, you should feel awesome wearing it from the very first moment, not after times of screaming and cursing that why you have not felt great wearing your new pair, yet.
Do not choose a pair that is completely fit. There should be about a thumb width from tip of the shoe to the tip of your toe. You should feel easy to move your toes, not the other way around.
Consider some cushion features like there are gaps that allow air for shock absorption provision. Each pair has a different feature so you may want to carefully ask the staff to see what fits you.
Finally, the price. A good pair of shoes does not cost too much or too low. It is fair. So choose one economically or you will have to replace it after, say, 2 weeks of walking.
And of course, be aware of the pair’s expiration day. Do not let the incident mentioned earlier be real. If you have used it for more than you can remember, or it is worn out, or you feel like you are not wearing shoes anymore, do not hesitate to do what you got to do.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
