Good News When Choosing A Running Shoe!
For those of you who know me, you know I am not a runner. I have never been a runner. The movement I perform could more appropriately be defined as a convulsive lumbering. But there is good news when choosing a running shoe! Overall, my cardio workouts have been bike related and geared towards trying to get back to jogging, which I can eventually convert to running of some sort at some point. In the meantime, what shoes do I need to start looking to purchase to start my workouts and running program? My wife has already vetoed the Jimmer Fredette 361s, (but maybe I can convince her on the Orange and Slate NOBULLS).
How Should I Choose?
There used to be a large emphasis placed on foot arch height, pronation, and latest trends. Most people fall into one of three arch types: flat foot, neutral foot, and high arch. They used to suggest motion control shoes with arch support for a flat foot, a stability shoe for a neutral foot, and a neutral shoe for more cushioning for a high arch. But recent studies do not really support any of these selections as necessarily better or worse. Pronation is a normal movement of the ankle when running, and I am big dude, so I pronate a good bit when my foot hits the ground. But its hard to tell what my foot is really doing inside of my shoe, so again, studies are not really conclusive on how much or little pronation is really needed.
And lets be honest…trends will come and trends will go. First we were on an extra supportive shoe kick (see what I did there?), then we were on the barefoot kick (ooops I did it again…), and then those toe shoes? What they heck were those things? The moral of the story is pick what works for you ans stick to it!
ONE THING I LEARNED TODAY:
A good running store will have a good shoe selection and even a treadmill for you to try out your running shoes on. Try a few, see what you like, and once you find one that works, stick with it. I have previously pledged my allegiance to New Balance 991s, the problem is finding older versions of that model in a size 13 as they no longer seem to make them. There are still some available here and there, and I try to buy them up, but those are what work for me in a running/workout shoe. Find what works for you, and stick with it. I am very excited to see what Waco Running Company has to offer on their Grand Opening this Saturday, October 14th!