Running Shoes
Getting the correct type of shoes is critical to running without injury. However, unless you're a podiatrist it's hard to know what shoes to buy. Choose wisely, because wrong shoes are one of the most common causes of running injuries. CostBe prepared to pay close to $100 for your shoes. You'll probably be running 400 or 500 miles per pair of shoes, and your body will take a lot of pounding. Each step subjects your body to a shock of 2-3 times your body weight. Your shoes are your main protection against that pounding. Running is a relatively low-cost sport, and your shoes are probably your biggest expense. How to Buy ShoesDr. Weisenfeld in The Runners' Repair Manual (available at Amazon) has a chapter on "How to Buy Shoes" Let's take a look at what he says:
Here are a few points made by Weisenfeld. Read his
chapter for more information.
Remember that particular shoes are made for particular purposes. Go to a reputable sports store that has trained sales people who will watch your feet as you walk and run. Take your old shoes with you and show them to the sales person so she can examine the wear pattern on the heels and soles. Discuss your goals in running and problems and injuries you have had. Three types of ShoesBecause of the ways a runner's foot moves when it hits the ground, shoe manufacturers make three types of shoes to counteract that movement. During running, most runners land on the outer side of their heel and then their body weight shifts towards the center of the shoe. Many runners have the correct amount of shifting of body weight, and those runners have a neutral gate. Some runners suffer from pronation, where the weight shifts too much and your shoes have excessive wear on the inner side of the heel/sole. Other runners suffer from supination, where the weight doesn't shift enough and you get excessive wear on the outer side of the heel/sole. In the following article, Andr� Zapatos discusses the three types of shoes and explains the effect of pronation and supination on your body and the type of shoes you should use. http://www.adamhodges.com/Runner/ShoeGuide.htm Here are additional articles about buying shoes.
http://www.ivillage.co.uk/dietandfitness/getfit/sportsacts/articles/0,,258_171135,00.html
http://www.locorunning.com/dummies.php Your Shoes are CollapsingAs we run, our bodies are subjected to heavy shock and pounding. A number of years ago, I had surgery and couldn't run for about six weeks. I had been running an hour during my lunch period, so I used that hour to walk. After my recovery period, I resumed my running. On the first day that I ran, I had knee pains. The pains weren't serious and didn't lead to injury, but they helped me realize that running really does pound our bodies! Running shoes are built to cushion our bodies from that shock and pounding. However, after many miles of use, shoes lose their cushioning and should be replaced. In my case, Runners typically replace their shoes after about 500 miles. Following is a statement I gleaned from a running newsletter that gives a suggestion about reducing the collapse of the material in the soles of our shoes.
Shoe-collapse is probably the main reason why runners only get 400-500 miles on a pair of shoes.
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