How To Find The Perfect Running Shoes

If you are a runner, you know the importance of the comfort of finding the absolute perfect shoe to run in. Running is hard enough on your body. The basic purpose of a running shoe is to protect the foot and correct abnormal movements that we make during the motion of running. It is a lot of pressure to be placing on our feet and legs. When we are running, it is normal to have slight pronation and slight supination. It is when we over pronate and over supinate that we can cause injury to the ankles and feet. Add in having a pair of unsupportive shoes and you are setting yourself up for a world of extreme pain. Many factors come into play when deciding which shoes are best for you to run in. Unfortunately, finding quality running shoes for $40-$50 is most likely not going to happen. I am sorry to be the bear of bad news, but that is the reality of it. That has not been the case for me. Running shoes are an investment but I will have a few tips that I use to save a few bucks later on.

Where are you running?

If you are running on a treadmill or a track keep in mind it is a little easier on your joints, therefore you do not need as much support. I primarily run on pavement so I choose to select shoes that have a little more support. If you are doing trail running, there is more of a need for heavier design and more support to protect the foot on rough surfaces. So that is the first thing you need to decide; where will you be running?

how do you run?

I was unable to assess this on my own and I visited a store in Hudson, Ohio called The Vertical Runner. They watched me walk, jog, and run. After they did this they told me what shoe would be best for me. I have worn those running shoes ever since. There are many of these stores all around Northeast Ohio. I read tons and tons about this and tried and tried to assess myself and figure out my foot type and how I ran. Let me tell you, it is almost impossible to watch yourself run and be looking down at your feet from the back. I even tried wetting my feet down outside and running in the driveway to assess my footprints to see what my arches looked like.

types of runners

There are a few different types of runners. Some are neutral and their feet are aligned. Their footprints would look normal with a normal arch. When they run, their legs, ankles, and feet are aligned. Then there are over pronators. Their footprints would look "flat footed" and their feet/ankles roll inwards. There are also over supinators. Their footprints look "high arched" and their feet/ankles roll outwards. The goal of running shoes is to correct these and protect the feet and ankles from injury. You can also look at shoes you have worn for awhile and see how they are worn on the bottom to see where they are worn out the most to see which areas you put most weight on to assess your arches.

Bottom line

Running shoes have to be comfortable and they do not need to be cute or pretty. Do not cut corners when it comes to purchasing running shoes. God willing, you will have your feet/legs the rest of your life and it is best to spend the money and invest the money in good shoes to prevent injury. Drive the distance to the store to get assessed to see which shoes are best for you. Try them on, wear them around the house, and see what that stores return policy is. I once bought a pair of Brooks (good brand, nothing against them) and I got THE WORST shin splints. They were on sale and I was trying to save money. Big mistake. I was able to return them, thankfully.

I wear Mizuno Wave Inspire Womens shoes. I do size up one size, since my feet tend to swell when I run. I also get them in wide (D). This is something I have stuck with even since my weight loss. I lace them in a special way (personal preference). These shoes are $130. The best money I spend and I never regret spending it. I usually buy a new pair every six months. They come out with a new style each year. What I do is hop on Amazon or Holabirdsports.com and get "last years version" for a cheaper price. Sometimes if they are unavailable in my size or the wide, I will spend the $130. It is what it is. Then to get the most "bang for my buck," before tossing them I will still wear them to run errands. They are still supportive enough for me to wear them to work 12 hour shifts.