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The running shoe, for most runners, is the main “tool of the trade”. Too often our choice of shoe is based solely on looks and price. Here are 3 quick tips to help you decide which are the best shoes for your feet.

Firstly look at your running needs. For the majority of us training on pavements or on the treadmill, a regular pair of training shoes is ideal. Those who are competitive runners, may like the feel of ultra light racing shoes, to help them achieve fast times. If you enjoy the rough tracks of Mac Ritchie Reservoir, then a pair of trail running shoes, with their course tread and sturdy structure, would be more suitable.

Secondly look at your foot type. Wet your feet and step onto the floor where you can see the footprint you leave. A broad, flat print may suggest low arches while a small, hollow print may indicate high arches. Regular training shoes come in 3 main models, cushioning, stability and motion control. Those of us with low arches or flat feet may benefit from the motion control shoes designed with extra dense material on the inside of the arch to help slow the inward rolling or flattening of the feet. Those runners with stiffer higher arch feet may prefer the soft cushioning models. While the rest of us with average arches may wear the stability shoes comfortably.

Thirdly, FIT. The most expensive, technical shoe can cause just as many problems if it does not fit well. Try the shoes on in a standing position as the feet elongate in weight bearing. To ensure the correct fit, there should be a thumb width between the toes and the end of the shoe. Try and pinch the material with fingers across the ball of the foot. If you cannot gather any material, then the shoe may be too tight across the ball of the foot. Finally the heel should fit snugly with no slippage.

Before buying new shoes you may wish for a detailed running shoe assessment by you Podiatrist. Take your old running shoes with you for them to assess your running gait, review the wear patterns on your old shoes, and then make an independent recommendation on your shoe needs.

Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email your questions to:
adamj@thefootpractice.com

Adam Jorgensen
Podiatrist
The Foot Practice