About the Different Types of Running Shoes

The history of sneakers or tennis shoes go back a century. At the end of the 1700s, people wore shoes with rubber soles. They were uni-shaped, with the same mold fitting the left and right foot. At the end of the 19th century, the first Keds were made by the U.S. Rubber Company. These were rubber sneakers with canvas tops. They were called "sneakers" because someone could actually sneak around in them and not be heard. In a couple of decades, these shoes were being mass produced. About the time of World War I, Marquis Converse made the first sneakers for basketball called the Converse All-Stars. After the war, a German named Adi Dassier began producing a shoe called Adidas. It soon became more popular than any other shoe in the world. When Jessie Owens won his four gold medals, he was wearing Adidas shoes. Adi Dassler's brother, Rudi, started his own shoe production called Puma. Converse, Adidas and Puma remain popular today.

Considerations

There are so many different kinds of athletic shoes for different sports these days that it can be confusing when going out to buy a pair of "typical" running shoes. There are shoes for jogging, running, pronation and supination. There are shoes for motion support, roads, trails, or fast or slow racing. To protect their feet and bodies, runners should not skimp on their shoes. They should go to a store that specializes in running shoes and explain their type of running. Pronators, those whose ankles turn inward when they run, and supinators, whose ankles turn outward, need different types of athletic shoes. Whether the runner has a flat or high arch will also help determine what shoe to buy.

Identification

To determine your arch, step barefoot into a bowl of water and then step down on a piece of paper. If you have a normal or medium arch, you will leave an imprint of your heel and forefront of your foot with a large empty band in between. This foot will pronate inward in order to absorb the shock. If you have a flat or low arch, you will see your whole foot on the paper. Your foot probably leans in considerably when running. This can lead to injuries. You need firmer support shoes and flatter soles. If you have a high arch, you will see your heel and the front of your foot with only a thin, empty band in between. This foot does not absorb shock well. It needs a softer sole and flexibility.

Function

The first type of shoes, cushioned, have the most flexibility and are most advantageous for natural pronation. The cushioning helps with additional shock absorption. These shoes do not have stability or motion control features; they are not rigid and have a high degree of stability. Cushions are best for runners with a normal or high arch. Motion control shoes, instead, offer high stability and rigidity to control overpronation for flat arches.

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Benefits

The shoe also has different parts. The outer sole is the tread found on the bottom of the shoe. It is normally made of carbon rubber in order to extend wear and tear and offer maximum traction. Some shoes have a studded or waffle design to add to this traction when running on softer surfaces. The most important element of the shoe is called the midsole, because it provides the needed cushioning and stability. Manufacturers spend a great deal of research to determine the best design for this part of the shoe. The upper part of the shoe is what wraps over the top of the foot. The tongue is usually padded to protect the foot from the laces. The heel counter is a non-moving cup that surrounds the heel. Finally, the post or footbridge is a firm area of the midsole that enhances stability along the inner side.

Prevention/Solution

Once you try your shoes on, you have to make sure that they fit well. First, see if there is enough room in the toe area by pushing down with your thumb right above your longest toe. Your thumb needs to fit into the area from the tip of your toe to the top of the shoe. Second, is there room enough where your foot is the widest? You do not want the shoe to be too tight or too lose. Third, the heel of your foot needs to snugly sit against the shoe back and not rub up and down when moving. The upper part of your shoe should also fit securely without rubbing. When you believe you have found the right pair of shoes, walk and jog a little around the store. Some places actually have a treadmill for this. Do not buy the shoes without feeling how they do when actually moving.

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