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Lead Stories: Friday, May 16, 2008

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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BLISTERS: What They Are and How To “Win the War” Against Them

Posted October 25th, 2006 at 4:00 AM by Trish Monks

Section: Running & Training, Injury & Rehab, Gear & Apparel, Miscellaneous, Health & Fitness, Injury & Rehab

Trish Monks, writing all the way from England, is a wonderful addition to our team. 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!

A Blister is defined as: “A defence mechanism of the human body. It consists of a pool of lymph and other bodily fluids beneath the upper layers of the skin. It may be formed in response to burns or friction, and helps to repair damage to the skin.”

As runners, we all know about blisters. We know that although they seem to be such a small, insignificant ‘injury’, they can hurt like hell, really spoil a run, and - as an added bonus - have more far reaching impacts if not taken care of. Read the rest of this entry »

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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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