Aren't all running shoes the same??

When my mom buys running shoes, she walks into a store, looks for shoes that are "cute", and buys the first pair that fits. This is not the way to pick running shoes! Improperly fit shoes can lead to blisters, loss of toenails, and can even cause injury due to alterations in running form. It took me several years to find that perfect shoe. I have been running in the same model of shoe, the Brooks Adrenaline, for 6 years now. Putting on a new pair is like walking on clouds - everyone should have this type of Zen moment with their shoes!

Most cities have running specialty stores where they fit people into shoes. They will look at your feet, your arches, your stride, your tendency to pronate, and find you that perfect pair. What is pronation? As you run, you land on the outside edge of your foot and roll in. If you roll too far in, that is called overpronation. There are motion-control shoes to fix this.

Some things to remember when purchasing running shoes...
-Try on shoes at the end of the day - your feet swell as the day goes on.
-Don't shop for looks - if they fit and feel good, it doesn't matter if they are purple with green and pink polka dots.
-Most running stores will offer a discount to members of the local running club.
-It's not about cost. $110 running shoes are not automatically better than $80 running shoes. Be prepared to spend about $90-100.
-Try them on - don't assume since you are always a size 9 that your running shoes are a size 9.

Remember, running shoes do not last forever! They need to be replaced about every 300 miles.

Next week - socks
Good luck!

Jennifer