What are the Right Shoes for Me?

Selecting the right shoes is the first and one of the most important decisions that you will make for your running experience. It could be the difference between many years of enjoyable running or pain and misery!

What you should know before you go

1. If you have any foot problems (pronation/supination). It is a good idea to consult with a medical professional such as a chiropractor or physical therapist to identify if you have any issues. Pronation is a common problem which may or may not be corrected with specialized exercises. You do not want to get a shoe that artificially supports improper running patterns which can be corrected naturally.

2. Mileage you are running each week. This will determine the type of shoe you will get.

3. Type of surface you are going to be running on. This will determine the type of shoe you will get.

What to bring when you are buying new shoes

1. Your old running shoes. This gives the person helping you a better understanding of how you typically wear down your shoes.

2. Your orthotics. If you wear orthotics, bring them to make sure they fit in the shoe. Remember fit the shoe to your orthotic, don’t modify your orthotic, let a professional do this.

General Rules

1. Go to a local specialty shoe store. Often times these places will have a treadmill that your gait can be evaluated on.

2. You usually get what you pay for. If it is a really cheap shoe, then it probably did not cost a lot to make and there was not a lot of time put into developing it. I am not saying that this is always the case, but typically it is.

3. If it does not feel comfortable right away, it probably is not the right fit. You should not expect the shoes to “break in”. If your first impression is not good, run away!

4. Stick with what works. Always stay one step behind the new industry fads. If a certain type of shoe has worked in the past, don’t change!

Josiah Thunshelle, PT