Running shoes are the most important part of a good run. Sure, you could grab a pair and begin running, but years down the line you could have ankle, arch, knee and possible hip problems that could have been prevented by running with the correct shoe
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Finding the right pair includes researching, running, and trying out various types of running shoes before finding the right one that fits your needs and your run.
When it comes to products, I prefer Brooks. I enjoy wearing Nike products, but Brooks suit my running needs much better than Nikes. A few years ago, I bought my first pair of Brooks GTS and fell in love with the brand. However, last summer, I bought the Pure Cadence by Brooks and that was when I fell in love a shoe. My mom prefers Asics rather than Brooks. They fit her feet better and gives her a run that she wants.
Running shoe brands have various kinds of running shoes. There are traditional shoes like the Ghost by Brooks, the Pure Cadence that molds to your foot, and the trendy barefoot running. The running shoe model is always changing. They are constantly trying to improve their products in order to improve running and the wear and tear it has on the body. For example, new products are focusing on running on the balls of your feet instead of the heel. This will reduce the strain and stress on the knees and give a more natural run. My Pure Cadence is one of the shoes that focuses on that. Make sure you research online the various shoes and their descriptions before going to the store.
After researching online, go for a run. Take whatever shoes you have and just go outside and run. Identify what hurts and what you want in a shoe. Do not focus on what is sore, that is natural, but instead focus on what is painful during or even after the run. For example, my knee gets painful at the end of a run or afterwards. That is something that I focused on when finding the right shoe.
Make a visit to your local running store. Finding a small, local running company is easy in the Pacific Northwest. They are in every larger town and always in the middle of downtown. Avoid department stores, malls, and any larger corporation stores — like the Nike store. I am a loyal customer at Skagit Valley Running Company in downtown Mount Vernon. They are reliable and have many types of running shoes. Not only that, but they are great when fitting and assessing my needs. Employees in smaller running stores understand their products better and more often host daily runs. I also enjoy Fairhaven Runners in Bellingham, but Skagit Valley Running is my favorite. Most of these small stores encourage running down the block to get the best feel of the shoe. If you are unsure about what shoe you want, describe your running habits and any problems when you run. They will have several perfect pairs in mind for you.
My chiropractor recently told me, running shoes are like bikes. You have to buy accessories and parts separately now. Like a kickstand, you need to buy the right insoles separately.
Insoles are important, they give you more arch support than the insoles that come with your shoes. They prevent various injuries and can even help with previous injuries during a run. When buying insoles, bring your favorite pair of running shoes. This is when smaller running stores are best. They will have many insoles for you to try out and chose from. Like with shoes, they will slip samples into your running shoes and have you try them out. At Skagit Valley Running Company, they have many types of “Super Feet” insoles. Super Feet are my personal favorite. They have various colors for various kinds of feet. I own the Super Feet Brown DMP. They are a premium insole at $55 and worth every single penny. The memory foam forms to my foot and provides me with plenty of arch support. With arch issues and a bad knee from a patella tendon injury in my early teens, I need more support than the average person when it comes to my run.
Running shoes are fitted to your feet and your specific run. Everyone is different. What works for one person, may not work for you. Do your own research and find that perfect shoe that works for you. My run and my knee have significantly improved by finding the correct products. The right shoe can significantly improve your fitness and your lifestyle.
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