Running Shoes buying guide

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Looking For Running Shoes? Visit The Experts Free Shipping www.roadrunnersports.com How to Buy Running Shoes If you've been to any running specialty store lately and stared, stunned, at the vast array of shoes covering an entire wall, you know that there are literally hundreds of different models of running shoes on the market. So how do you find the right ones for you? The key words here are "for you." Running shoe design technology is highly individualized, and there is no one shoe that will fit everyone. The way to start narrowing down the choices is to start with you: where you run, what type of feet you have, how you run, and your bodyweight. Type of shoe Where do you run: roads, track, easy cinder trails, or rough and rock-strewn mountain trails? And do you compete, and if so, are you a front-runner, a mid-packer, or perhaps a heavy runner? The answer to this question will steer you towards a particular category of shoes. Road-running shoes. If you do all your running on roads, you want a sleek, light road trainer. These are lightweight, with an emphasis on speed. Most of the shoes you see in the running shoe store will be of this type. Trail-running shoes. These shoes are beefier, tougher version of road shoes, with extra sole rubber turned up to protect your feet from stone bruises and heavily lugged bottoms for gaining traction on rocky surfaces and loose dirt. They weigh a bit more than road shoes, but are well worth it--road shoes get torn up quickly on tough trails. All-terrain/cross training shoes. These are the ones that try to combine features of road and trail running, and multi-sport training. They are designed for casual, recreational users, but they're not what you'll want if competition is your goal. Racing flats. These are ultra-lightweight versions of road shoes specifically designed for road races such as 5 k's, 10 k's and marathons. What you give up for light weight is cushioning, and thus these shoes are not a good idea for heavier runners who need cushioning even in a race. Type of foot Next, you need to take a good, hard look at your feet. Do you have high arches in your feet, or are they more flat, or are they normal-arched? One way to tell is to get your bare feet wet and then step on a dry surface, such as concrete. Look at the imprint. If you can see the heel, forefoot, and a joining band about half the width of your foot, you have a normal-arched foot. If the joining band is much thinner than half the width of your foot, you have a high-arched foot. If the band is much larger than half the width of your foot, you're likely flat-footed. Normal-arched. This type of foot needs a stable shoe with a semi-curved last. (The last is the part of the shoe that the sole is molded onto.) High-arched (underpronators or supinators.) These types of feet need a cushioned shoe with a curved last and a lot of flexibility, since high-arches tend to flex quite a lot. You may also want to consider investing in orthotics or performing exercises in which you pick up a towel by scrunching your bare foot around it, since this foot type is prone to planter fasciitis. (Tearing of the fibrous tissue in the foot.) Flat-footed (over-pronators.) These feet need 'motion-controlled' shoes, which will provide a firm midsole because there is not much arch to do the job of controlling motion. Type of footstrike Footstrike is how your foots hit the ground. To determine how your feet strike the ground while running, examine the bottoms of your current running shoes. Are they more worn on the outsides? You're a supinator. More worn on the insides? You're a pronator. Supinators. If you're a supinator, you roll your foot outward excessively during the support phase of running (while your foot is on the ground, Pronators. Each time a pronator's foot strikes the ground, the arch crushes the inside the midsole of the shoe because the foot rolls inward excessively during the support phase. You need shoes that feature rearfoot motion control. Fit and Sizing When you buy running shoes, 'fit' of the shoe is critical. Bear in mind that you most likely won't wear the same size in running shoes that you do in street shoes--it's common for your running shoe size to be 1/2 to a full size larger. Choosing the right shoe for your feet will help prevent injuries. A good running shoe store will allow you to try the shoes out in a controlled environment, such as a small track in the store or a nearby walkway that's clean. The ability to try on and try out various pairs of running shoes is one of the advantages of going to a local store before you buy on the Internet. Once you have found a pair that works for you, go on-line and compare prices. Once you've determined a shoe that works for you, you can buy them from either the store or the Internet. Your running shoes should be slightly looser than your everyday or street shoes, to allow for expansion as you heat up while running. You should be able to place your thumb between the tip of your running shoe and your toe, and there should be a good snug fit around the arch, heel and instep If you find yourself caught between two sizes, go for the larger one and use insoles or thicker socks. Don't try to go cheap on running shoes and buy look-alikes or knock-offs. Any money saved will probably be spent many times over, later on, for medical treatment. Stick to name brands such as New Balance, Nike, Brooks, Adidas, Mizuno, Reebok, and Asics. If you are a heavy runner (known in road races as "Clydesdales"), you'll need a well-cushioned shoe regardless of your foot type or striking pattern. Click on the link below to buy shoes on-line: Road Runner Sports Free Shipping Visit a Great Running Store www.roadrunnersports.com Running For Morons Stop Shin Splints & Knee Pain Increase Endurance www.RunningForMorons.com
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How to Buy Running Shoes