Shoes

Shoes are the most important piece of equipment you will ever buy for running. If you buy the wrong type of shoes then it will almost certainly end in tears through injury.

Trainer technology is incredibly advanced and very confusing to the beginner. So how on earth do you go about choosing the right shoes?

The two most important things are:

1. Know your own foot type.
2. Buy your shoes from a specialist retailer who understands what your requirements are.

Foot Type:

To find out your foot type do the “wet foot” test. Wet your feet then stand on the floor or a on a piece of paper. Then take a look at your print, it will almost certainly be one of three shapes as shown below:

1. A full print indicates that you have a flat or low arched foot and means that your foot strikes the ground on the outside of the heel and rolls inwards excessively. This is Overpronation

Shoe Type: Stability shoes

 

2. A curved print indicates a normal foot and means that you have a neutral gait. You land on the outside of the heel and the foot rolls inwards and is perfectly normal.

Shoe Type: Neutral Shoes

 

3. An extremely curved print means you have a high arched foot which causes the foot to remain rigid and not roll inwards (pronate) enough and therefore offers very little shock absorption. This is Underpronation

Shoe Type: Cushioned shoes and a shoe that promotes foot motion.

As well as the “wet Foot” test look at the wear pattern on the bottom of your shoes: wear towards the inner side of the shoe and the big toe area indicates that you are an overpronator. Wear on the outer side and the little toe area means you are an underpronator and wear in the middle means you have a neutral gait.