Since we have our running group started up, and we will be participating in a lot of races these upcoming months… I felt it appropriate to give you some advice on how to choose the correct running shoe for your feet.

What is the best running shoe?
Because each runner is unique in how much they train, and what their running style is, there is no “perfect” running shoe. The best running shoe for you depends entirely on the shape of your foot, your bio-mechanics and on the amount of running you do. Running shoes are designed to protect your feet from the road, provided traction on different surfaces, cushion the landing shock and support your feet.

Buy shoes designed for running:
Running shoes are designed to handle the shock of 2.5 times your body weight that is created by the impact each time your foot strikes the ground. When you’re running, you want to have excellent cushioning in both the heel and forefoot to handle this impact. If you plan on running three times a week or more, move up to a real running shoe.

Why buy a real running shoe?
Running shoes provide the best protection for your feet, legs and body from the repeated stress of thousands of foot landings per mile. Each time you take a stride and land, your foot has to absorb two to three times your body weight. This repeated impact is different from other sports. Running shoes have built-in features that enable you to run day after day more comfortably and with less chance of over-use injury.

Here are some of the advantages of running shoes:

• Superior Cushioning
• Flexibility in the right places
• Stability or Motion control
• Traction on road or trails
• Tortional stability – stiff where needed
• Night-time reflectivity
• Breathability

Even before you step inside a store, you need to know what type of foot you have.

For the best fit and the most comfortable running, match your foot type to the shape and components of your running shoes.

Feet can easily be divided into three categories; low, high and neutral arches

Low: Stand up and put weight evenly on both feet. Look at your arches. Does your arch almost touch the floor? Does your foot or ankle roll in? People with low arches tend to have stability issues like over pronation.

High: The high-arched foot usually has the opposite problem. Can you almost fit a golf ball under your arch (don’t try it!)? That means your foot rolls to the outside or “supinates”.

Or

Neutral: Lucky you, you’re somewhere in the middle. The neutral foot is the easiest to fit and assuming you have no other structural issues you can run efficiently and comfortably with a lot of shoe designs.

(http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/running-shoe-guide-for-du.shtml)

So, now that you have more or less determined what kind of foot structure you have, there are a couple of places that I know of, where a specialist will actually look at your feet and the way in which they move. They can then help you by recommending the correct type of sneaker for you. Here is their info:

Runners High

11209 S Dixie Hwy, Miami, FL 33156, (305) 255-1500

Footworks

5724 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33143, (305) 667-9322