A not too techie series:

So you run on down to your local running shoe store and see that wall of running shoes, your vision blurs, your head pounds. You ask yourself:

"What do I need to run and stay injury free?"

The “running shoe wall” has shoes with all sorts of technical features. Each seems to outdo the other with patented claims for stability, cushioning, maybe weight loss or hair growth and whatever this motion control stuff is. There’s this year’s model and left over shoes from last year. What’s a runner to do?

If you’re confused about running shoes – join the club. Read our multi-part fun series on understanding running shoe technology and picking the right shoe – for you.

Introduction

Buy shoes designed for running:
Running shoes are designed to handle the shock of 2.5 times your body weight that is created by the impact each time your foot strikes the ground. When you're running, you want to have excellent cushioning in both the heel and forefoot to handle this impact. If you plan on running three times a week or more, move up to a real running shoe.

Why buy a real running shoe?
Because you want to LOOK FAST of course. OK, really, running shoes provide the best protection for your feet, legs and body from the repeated stress of thousands of foot landings per mile. Each time you take a stride and land, your foot has to absorb two to three times your body weight. This repeated impact is different from other sports. Running shoes have built-in features that enable you to run day after day
more comfortably and with less chance of over-use injury.

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Here are some of the advantages of running shoes:

• Superior Cushioning
• Flexibility in the right places
• Stability or Motion control
• Traction on road or trails
• Tortional stability – stiff where needed
• Night-time reflectivity
• Breathability

 

 

 

RUNNING SHOE GUIDE FOR DUMMIES

Introduction

Part 1: Everything you always wanted to know about running shoes, but were afraid to ask.

Part 2: Cushioning technology for the non-rocket scientist

Part 3: How much stability do you need in a running shoe?

Running shoe Myths

Note: just because you have flat feet does not necessarily mean you must use a stability shoe.

We find many runners with flat feet do not pronate excessively. These runners have been running in clunky, heavy stability shoes for years.

Running shoe Myths

"I'm a big guy, I need a stability shoe". Just because you are in the Clydesdale division does not mean you need a stability shoe. Many gravity-challenged runners can run in a good cushion shoe.