When to ‘Kick’ Your Old ‘Kicks’
Posted May 23rd, 2006 at 3:05 PM by Allyson Rosen
Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes
There’s nothing like a fresh new pair of shoes, but how often do you need to get new ones? Replacing your running shoes depends largely on a number of factors; including weight, height, the surface you are running on, your running style, the type of shoe you are wearing, etc. Typically a shoe is good for 300-500 miles.
A good rule of thumb is to change your shoes when your legs and/or joints feel achy, or when you are not recovering as well as you should. Notice the wear on the shoes. If the soles are wearing down and the bottom of the shoe becomes very pliable, and/or the midsoles have a lot of wrinkles, toss them. Running with an old pair of shoes puts you in risk for injury.
It is important to wear a properly fitted running shoe. In addition, they should only be worn for running. After finding the right shoe, many runners buy a couple pairs at once and alternate them from day to day. Some runners, after putting about 300 miles or so on their shoes, begin wearing the old ones for short runs and the new ones for long distance runs. It is important to keep in mind that shoes do have a “shelf-life.” Eventually the midsoles will lose their ability to absorb shock, even if the shoes are barely worn or have not been worn for years.
So many miles…how do you keep track? Simply. Average the amount of miles you run per week and multiply by the number of months they have been used. You can also easily input numbers into an excel sheet. Not technologically savvy? Write them down on paper! If using more than one pair at a time it is wise to number the shoes with a permanent marker.
Buy the right shoe, track your miles, and run happy!
Related Stories:
- TFS Running Podcast: Jordan Hasay on How To Deal with Success at a Young Age
- Opt for an outdoor run to chase away the winter blues
Tags: old shoe, running shoe, running shoes, shoe, shoes, sneaker, sneakers, training, worn
Like what you see? Subscribe to our feed!
The Final Sprint
[…] When to ‘Kick’ Your Old ‘Kicks’ […]
December 17th, 2006 at 8:04 am[…] [Via The Raw Feed, image via The Final Sprint] […]
December 30th, 2006 at 10:55 pm[…] [Via The Raw Feed, image via The Final Sprint] […]
December 31st, 2006 at 8:11 pm[…] The average shoe should be replaced after about 350-500 miles. [For more information on when to replace your shoes, check out “When to ‘kick’ your old ‘kicks’”]. Stridekick will alert users when they have reached a certain mileage mark (pre-set by the users). Although we recommend that everyone keeps a training log and track their mileages, the Stridekick is very exciting as it will deliver a critical reminder to replace your footwear and prevent injury. A runner’s shoe is the most important piece of equipment he/she will buy. Running is considered to be a high impact sport. Each foot bears a significant amount of body weight with each stride. The repeated relief and pressure on the joints is known to cause injuries starting as low as the foot and reaching all the way to the back. Proper footwear is one way that an enthusiast can reduce the risk of developing such injuries. The Stridekick may be one more piece of hardware that runners can use to keep their bodies from falling into unneeded injury. The two students (whom The Final Sprint will be interviewing later this week) came up with the idea for the Stridekick while taking a course on technology entrepreneurship. Under the tutelage of Professor Brian Abraham, Peavey and Biggins were able to utilize the curriculum to the fullest. The class centered on understanding current technologies and finding ways to apply them to available market niches. The school is noted for having an innovative approach to educating their students. Babson College clearly has another accolade to add to their already well-respected reputation. […]
January 15th, 2007 at 7:04 pm[…] The Final Sprint has a post full of advice on this. […]
May 25th, 2007 at 1:30 pm