How to Pick Running Shoes for Beginners

Selecting a running shoe as a beginner runner can be an intimidating process. It seems easy enough to walk into a sporting goods store and pick the most attractive pair of shoes and take off. The success of your continued running program, comfort and prevention of chronic pain can be helped by knowing the simple mechanics of your own feet, and picking a quality shoe appropriate for your level.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper
• Water
• A pair of your own well-worn shoes
• Sporting goods store

1. Wet your foot and take a stand up straight on a piece of paper on the floor.

2. Take a step, placing your wet, forward foot onto a clean piece of paper to leave a foot print, and compare it to the standing paper.

3. Compare the foot prints to determine if you turn your foot out (underpronation) or in (underpronation) during your stride. Looking at the wearing of your shoes will help you determine this as well. Is the inside or outside more worn?

4. Decide where you will be running most of the time: pavement, grass, track, etc.

5. Armed with this information, visit your local sporting goods store, and compare various running shoes, and select a variety of shoes designed for the mechanics of your foot and the terrain where you will be running.

6. Try on several pairs, walking and jogging in each one, before selecting your new running shoes.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to select a price range that is comparable to the amount of running you will be doing. If you are a beginner and running shorter distances, choose a shoe in a slightly lower price range.
• Remember to rotate your shoes regularly. Consult the advice of the store personnel to determine how many miles you should run before replacing the shoes. This is usually 300 to 500 miles.

Resources

• Runner's World magazine