Before Buying:
-The right footwear will help prevent injuries and stimulate correct technique.
-Start listening to your body and paying attention to what hurts when you run.
-A $15-shoe will not be as good as an $80-shoe
-Place your shoes on a flat surface and look at them from behind.
If the wear is on the inside of the heels, you likely need a more stable shoe to keep from pronating, or rolling inward as you run.
If the wear is on the outside of the heels, you may be a supinator, and roll to the outside. This is even more likely if you have high arches. In this case, you may benefit from shoes that have good cushioning and shock absorption.
-feet change as we get older, so have your feet measured twice a year.
-Running shoes offer a wider variety of cushioning and support features than an be found in most walking shoes.
-Shop toward the end of the day. Feet swell over the course of the day; they also expand while you run or walk, so shoes should fit your feet when they’re at their largest.
-When to hit the shops again? The guidelines say after 400 miles of use. Use your judgement. If the padding (e.g. gel or air) has gone, the sole is worn or the comfort level has disappeared, it’s time to shop for a new pair.
-Running shoes are built to support and cushion your foot while in the specific act of running and walking. While running, the impact of each foot strike is three to five times your body weight. Your Keds just can’t cut it!
-shoe options: one designed for stability to one with motion control.
-Your ideal exercise shoes should feel comfortable instantly. Run away from anyone who tells you they need “wearing in”.
-Clear inserts, filled with gel, Freon, or air, provide extra shock absorption, as do those springy-looking things.
-Be careful about buying a shoe for looks.
-Once the back of the sole is worn out or the shoe feels uncomfortable or less supportive, it’s time to take those tootsies shopping again
Good shoe stores will:
-run at pace and then asks these questions: How does the shoe feel on initial contact? How does it transition? Is there anything that’s rubbing you wrong or hitting wrong on the shoe?
-sales people Looking at the bare foot, we can better see the shape of your arch, as well as evidence of blisters or hot spots, calluses, corns, bunions, or other things that need to be considered when fitting a shoe.
-Many running stores offer foot type analysis where you run across a computerized surface or run on a treadmill while they video tape your foot motion during running.
-Look for socks made of moisture-wicking acrylics or polyester blends, which absorb moisture, keep feet dry, and help prevent blisters. Cotton socks get wet and stay wet, causing friction that contributes to hot spots and blisters.
-Bring in your old shoes. so the salesperson can help the salesperson determine what kind of running shoes you need by having him look at the pair you’ve been wearing
-will likely have several options for you. Try them all, says Isphording. Don’t rush. Take your time trying on and testing shoes.
Feet Test:
-One way to determine your foot’s shape is to do a “wet test”— wet your foot, step on a piece of brown paper and trace your footprint. Or just look at where your last pair of shoes shows the most wear.
-Inspect the soles of your current running shoes. The location of the wear can tell you if you land on the heels, roll in or out or have a neutral foot strike.
-Wear what you would wear to run, especially wear the right sock. And if you have special shoe inserts or orthotics, bring those
-It’s important to determine where a person first comes in contact with the ground. Is it the outside of the heel? Is it at the inside of the forefoot?
-If the point of initial contact is mainly through the forefoot (as for many athletes and sprinters), then there’s not a lot of shoe needed behind the forefoot
-Start out with a short run and stop if you have any hot spots, which are a warning sign that a blister is on the way.
-The running shoe shouldn’t squeeze the foot, and the entire width of the foot should be touching the base of the shoe.
-The shape of your arch helps determine whether you pronate (roll to the inside of the foot), supinate (roll to the outside of the foot) or remain pretty neutral when you run.
-If a person has really flat feet, they’re going to need more of a stability shoe but with a higher arch, they’ll need more of a curved shoe.
Fit Tests:
-your whole foot should fit on the platform of the shoe
-If they hurt in the store, don’t buy them.
-Your heels should fit closely, without any slipping. Check for any rough edges that may rub against the top or sides of your feet.
-you need about a thumb’s width of room between your longest toe and the front of the running shoe for the footwear to function properly.
-Buy for your larger foot (feet are rarely the same exact size).
-palpate 360 degrees around the foot to make sure that all the bones are sitting on the shoe platform
-pay close attention to how the shoes make your feet feel, without worrying about how you think the shoes are supposed to feel.
-Walk or run around the store a bit to make sure they feel good in action.
-Expect your running or walking shoe to be anywhere from one-half size to two sizes larger than your dress shoes.
-you should be able to freely wiggly all of your toes when the shoe is on.
-Some shoes allow you to pump up the tongue, which lets people with difficult-to-fit feet achieve a more customized fit.
After purchase:
-try to use your running shoes only for your workouts.
-Ask about the store’s return policy. Most running stores allow returns on shoes that are clean and have not been worn a lot. Take the shoes home, wear them around the house, run in them. If they don’t work, you should be able to return them. Keep your receipt and the box they came in, and work with the staff to find the shoe that’s right for you.
An additional personal note, I learned a couple of new things to add to the list.
1. Once you have selected your shoes at your want to have asked the clerk if they have last year’s model of the same shoe because the last year’s model can usually be purchased for cheaper price.
2. If the shoe is tight around the lower width of your foot, then skip the first couple of holes before you start lacing up the shoe. That will loosen up the front half of the shoe.
3. If the shoe is loose around the heel, then look for the two holes at the top of the shoe. The first hole lines up with the other lace holes that trace up along the foot, but there is of the second hole about a fourth inch in that is used to make the shoe tighter around the top of the foot and helps prevent the hill of the first from moving around.
Links: thank you
http://www.fitsugar.com/Tips-Buying-Running-Shoes-20513024
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/beforeyoubuy/a/aabyb_shoes.htm
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/how-choose-athletic-shoes
