Why Love Shouldn't be the Only Criteria for the Perfect Fit in Running Shoes

Finding the perfect pair of running shoes is like finding the perfect mate. Six years ago, I went on Match.com to find a potential boyfriend while living in New York City. The site was instantly gratifying offering thousands of profiles and pictures of handsome (and not-so-handsome), smiling men. I sifted through their profiles like resumes carefully examining their occupation, income level, interests, and perspectives on life. And of course, I looked at their pictures. Too short? Next. Too old. Next. Too bald. Next. 

After all the rejects, I quickly saw that my choices were quite limited. I decided I would just have to take the plunge and meet a lot of different guys. I went on tons of dates and most of them were awful. The guys I did fall for ended up hurting me. I almost gave up finding somebody but one day I went back to my initial reject pile. I said to myself this is the last time. If this doesn’t work out I give up. I emailed one guy and asked if he wanted to meet. The next day we met for dinner and six years later we are now happily engaged. And, in case you’re wondering who I ended up with—well, it was the short guy.

Okay, so after all of that, what does it have to do with finding running shoes? First and foremost, if you pick your shoes solely based on how it looks, chances are you are in for trouble. And in my dating example, you could be missing out on the right shoe that you simply overlooked because of its “flaws.”

With so many running shoes on the market these days how do you choose? Running shoes are different than cross trainers, lifestyle shoes, basketball shoes, and tennis shoes. They are constructed to support linear movements and most traditional running shoes have a lot of cushioning. 

A properly fitting running shoe should be comfortable with the appropriate amount of support. The break-in time should be short and the shoe should not cause blisters or bunions. Most problems that runners encounter are that they are wearing the wrong shoe or one that does not fit properly.

The shoe could also have too many miles on it and no longer has enough cushioning or outsole to support the terrain or current mechanics of the runner. Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), the cushioning in the midsole of the shoe decompresses over time, even if you never use it. (Hence, the shoes you see on sale that were last year’s model has significantly less cushioning in them and will wear our faster.) Traditional running shoes have an average lifespan of 400-450 miles. 

There are three different types of running shoes: neutral, stability, and motion control. And, within those categories, there is a range in the level of stability and cushioning. The key is to try and match a running shoe with your foot type, its unique characteristics, and your fitness goals. Often times, the right shoe isn’t the one that you thought it would be (e.g. short guy.)

In my next post, I will discuss the major foot types, run mechanics, and more about running shoes.