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Lead Stories: Friday, May 16, 2008

Choose Running Shoes
by Arch Height

Posted September 17th, 2007 at 11:00 AM by Martin Kennedy

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Training Tips

running shoe store selection Check the height of your arches when you shop for new running or walking shoes. If you have high arches, you usually need shoes with good shock absorption. If you have low arches, you will probably benefit from shoes with good motion control (Gait & Posture, July 2007).

When you run, you land on the outside bottom of your foot and roll inward. This is called pronation, which helps to protect you from injury. If you landed on your foot and did not roll, the force of the impact would be transmitted up your leg to increase your chance of breaking bones and tearing muscles. However, as you roll in from the outside bottom to the inside bottom of your foot, you will see that your lower leg twists inward.

Excessive pronation twists your lower leg, which can cause stress fractures of the lower leg bones. It can cause knee pain because it forces your kneecap to rub against the bone of your upper leg. Excessive pronation can even twist your hip joint to cause pain in the hips and lower back.
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Foot type, pronation and how to choose the right shoes

Posted December 17th, 2006 at 6:09 AM by Emily Hoskins

Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Training Tips

Everyone can relate to the overwhelming feeling of walking into a sporting goods store to buy new shoes and being faced with a seemingly infinite number of choices. Sure, you want your shoes to look cool, it is of far greater importance that your shoes are right for your foot type.

Proper shoes will go a long way in preventing running related injuries and improving your long-term performance. So how do you decide?
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Changing your running shoe type . . .

Posted November 4th, 2006 at 7:00 AM by Jim Fortner

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes, Training Tips

Jim Fortner is a weekly, guest contributor to TFS. Make sure to also check out his own personal running and advice site: “Jim2’s Running Page”.

A word of caution about making too much of a sudden change to the type of shoes that you use. At least, I will offer my personal experiences, which may or may not apply to you.

In 1983, during the first year of my first running life, I developed a severe case of ITBS at my right knee which completely stopped me from running. A visit to a sports medicine center determined that it was caused by overpronation…..that was when I learned that I am a moderate overpronator, especially on the right side. Read the rest of this entry »

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Technological Evolution: Measuring & Planning Routes in the 21st Century

Posted October 11th, 2006 at 4:00 AM by Trish Monks

Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Miscellaneous

TFS is proud to welcome our newest writer - Trish Monks. She is our first writer from our neighbor across the Atlantic. Although Brits might speak a little differently and make us laugh from time to time - we still love them and we love Trish’s writing. Enjoy!

trundle wheel.jpg Back in the olden days, when a string vest was considered suitable race wear and over-pronation didn’t exist, measuring the length of your training routes was fairly torturous stuff. Depending on your preferences, it usually involved fiddling about with a bit of string on a map, driving around your route in a car (tricky if you like a bit of the muddy stuff!), or pushing a trundle wheel ahead of you: not ideal.

These days your options are rather more sophisticated. There are a plethora of gadgets available to take with you on the run, designed to tell you how far you have gone and how fast you are going (I have a Polar S625x which is a fabulous bit of kit - I’ll tell you about it some day!) or, as an alternative, software which can be used as a sort of “virtual” piece of string.

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NIKE Free 5.0 Trainers - Gimmick or Running Shoe Breakthrough?

Posted October 4th, 2006 at 12:01 AM by Trish Monks

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes

nike free womens grey red.jpg This time last year I was coming back from a 3-month, injury induced lay-off and was thinking about changing my running shoes. I decided to try an unorthodox approach; choosing to discard my newly manufactured orthotics and to buy a pair of Nike Frees! From pronation control to minimalism in one easy step – was I bonkers?

According to Nike, “Free feet” are “just like bare feet” and the Free is:

“….a revolutionary shoe that lets your feet move naturally. A shoe that awakens the foot’s sensors. Feet become stronger, more flexible. And ultimately perform better.”

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Reebok Running: Making Progress

Posted September 21st, 2006 at 7:09 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes

RBK Trinity KFS.jpg Reebok’s exponential growth and strong emergence in the running market is hard to miss. Their advertisements are everywhere - their shoe line has exploded - and their apparel can hold its own against Nike, New Balance, Under Armour and even Brooks.

For all you skeptics out there - guess which shoe was just designated as the “Editor’s Choice” by Runner’s World Magazine? Believe it or not - it is the all-new Trinity KFS - by guess who? REEBOK. This shoe is somewhat of a hybrid as it offers cushioning but is also characterized by Road Runner Sports to be a stability shoe. It is best for medium frame runners with normal to slight pronation and normal arches.

NOTE: Want to know what type of shoes best fit your body type, arch and running needs? Check out our article on the “wet test” and our shoe buying guide.

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Your Foot Type?!?! - A Simple Test To Find Out

Posted June 13th, 2006 at 11:21 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: Running & Training, Gear & Apparel, Running Shoes

Time to buy a new pair of shoes? Don’t worry - The Final Sprint has all the info you need to help you find that perfect running shoe. All you need to do is the simple water test described below, read Blake’s awesome article entitled “When the shoe fits … wear it!” and you’ll be all set . . .

The right shoe for you depends on whether you are an over, under or normal pronator. This all depends on the height of your arch. I know what you’re thinking . . . “How in the world do I measure the height of my arch?!?” In actuality - it’s quite simple. All you need is a shopping bag, water and a shallow tray or pan.

Pour a small amount of water in the shallow pan so that it just covers the entire surface.

just wets your sole.

Next, slowly lower your foot onto the surface of the water so it
Step onto the shopping bag or onto any heavy paper (Tip: paper bags from the grocery work best)
Lastly, check out the mark on the shopping bag and then read below . . .

Note: other factors like weight, mileage, etc are also factors - but your foot type is nevertheless the primary component

Normal Arch
You see about half of your arch? Then your foot has a “normal” pronation (this is most common).
In terms of buying shoes, Runner’s World, you are:

Best suited to a stability shoe that provides moderate arch support (or medial stability). Lightweight runners with normal arches may prefer neutral-cushioned shoes without any added support, or even a performance-training shoe that offers some support but less heft, for a faster feel.

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