Fit Mom's Blog

Guide to buying new running shoes

Recently a friend asked me about running shoes. What type should she buy, how much should she spend, how do you know what is the right type of shoe to buy?? Can you get a decent pair of shoes for $60 or less?

The importance of running shoes is tremendous. A cheap shoe can turn a nice run into a torture festival. Cheap shoes can make you injury prone, specifically for shin splits, but also for knee and hip pain. If you’re going to start a running program, you need to start with a decent pair of shoes. Running as a sport is cheap- you only need a good pair of shoes and a jog bra and the rest you have in your closet. So, invest in a good pair of shoes, you body will thank you. Also, a good rule of thumb is to replace your shoes every 6 months depending on how much running you actually do. If you’re running 3-5 days a week with high mileage you might need to replace them sooner. Your body will let you know knee pain, shin splits, etc..

Road Runner Sports has a really cute interactive program to help you find the right pair of shoes. I did it several times and each time the computer gave me 6-8 choices for shoes depending on what I said I would be doing with the shoes.

Question 1. Male or Female

Question 2. Type of terrain

Question 3. Arch type

Question 4. Foot mechanics (roll inward moderately or roll outward)

Question 5. Injuries (bunions, big toe callusing)

Question 6. Body Frame (small, medium, large based on weight)

Question 7. Type of running (low mileage, fast mileage or fast running)

Based on these questions, the Shoe Dog, came up with my favorite pair of shoes! The Asics Gel 1130. I love my Asics. The last few years, I’ve bought two pairs at a time and then swap out every other time I run, so they last longer.