Buying Running Shoes – 9 Expert Tips
When it comes to running there is only really one piece of important “equipment” which is needed and that piece of equipment is good running shoes. I can not stress enough the importance of good runners that are specific to your foot style. If you don’t get good sneakers then you may end up with blisters, you may lose a toenail or even worse. Besides the unnecessary pains, you will also experience a great amount of discomfort while you are running.
Below you will find 9 tips to help you choose and buy a good pair of running shoes.
1. Always go with shoes that are at least half an inch longer in front. This will ensure that your toes are not cramped when you run. One easy way to check this is to wriggle your toes. If they can move around easily you are good.
2. If you can afford it, purchase two pairs of runners. That way you can alternate them. This not only increases the life of the shoe, but also gives them extra time to air out, very important if you are a frequent long distance runner.
3. Running long distances wearing your shoes will be the real tell all when it comes to how good your shoe is. It is not enough to just go for short runs. You need to go for at least one long run to see how they are.
4. If you have a running event coming up, make sure that you buy your new running shoes in plenty of time to wear them in and get used to them during your training runs. That way you can go for a couple of runs wearing them to find out how comfortable they really are. Never wear a brand new pair of shoes on the day of the event.
5. Many shoes will feel comfortable when you walk with them, but will tend to start getting uncomfortable when you start running with them. Go to a sports specific store to buy your shoes. Many of them have treadmills where you can actually go for a run for at least a couple of minutes to find out if they are really comfortable. Look for any looseness behind your heel and whether the balls of your feet are firmly gripped while leaving your toes free. Remember that once you buy them, running stores can be very particular about returning them if they have been worn outside.
6. If your shoe fits badly, no amount of breaking in will transform them into good shoes. Make sure that you take your time when picking your shoes so that you get ones that fit you right from the get go. You would be well off to pay a little bit more money to get a shoe that fits nice than to deal with the problems that come with ones that don’t fit well.
7. Different shoes have different capabilities. Some are made to be worn on the track alone, while others can be worn on hard surfaces like the road. Still others are made to be worn on rough terrain for trail running. If you are going to be running off-road, get runners that are designed for that. Sometimes choosing the cheapest shoe will only make the run uncomfortable apart from wearing out the shoes too quickly.
8. Make sure that you replace your shoes when they wear out. Everything has a life including your shoes. This life span differs depending on how the runner was constructed, but, on average, running shoes will last 500 miles. Plus, if you are a mid foot runner, it is possible that your shoes will last longer than others.
9. Purchasing your shoes later in the afternoon is a must because of the expansion in the feet which happens during the day. When you try your shoes on later in the day you will be able to avoid ending up with runners that are too tight fitting. You also should make sure that you wear the same kind of socks that you are going to wear when you run. Just bring along a pair of your usual running socks when you go shopping.
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