I was wearing a pair of Dr. Martens, which are very comfortable for work and the soles last forever, but they don’t provide any cushion.  About half way through the parking lot I was winded, achy and tired.  I thought to myself, “Why am I so exhausted and worn out just running through the parking lot?”  I knew that if I put on a pair of running shoes and some shorts I could easily go and run five miles.

I thought about what Rich Harris explained, that the best running shoes are the best because they provide the right cushion, in the right place.  It’s true that there are a lot of things to consider, like pronation, distance and frequency, but the long and short of it is that office shoes and running shoes are very different, and running in office shoes is a real pain!

It then occurred to me that I should keep a pair of running shoes in my car.  In the event that I ever broke down and needed to cover a large distance to a gas station or some other assistance, I would sure welcome a nice pair of comfortable shoes.  I would also find it a real grind to cover many miles, walking or running, in my Dr. Martens.

So, when I get my next pair of running shoes, rather than toss the old ones in the trash, I’m going to throw them in the trunk.  I might even find that they help me get on to my next meeting a little quicker on those busy days.

Technorati Tags: best running shoes, dr martens

Run in the shoes

First up is running in your new running shoes.  Let’s face it, you can’t really know how a shoe will feel when running by just trying it on in the store.  I’ve been shopping for shoes for years and I’ve made a few mistakes in this area.  I finally found the Nike outlet in Park City, which was a bit of a drive from my home in Salt Lake City.  Their store was large enough for me to get a full run across it and get a much better feeling for how I would react to a shoe.

Now that I live in Boise, I’ve had to start over.  But, to my delight, I have found that the specialty running stores actually encourage me to run outside on the concrete and asphalt when trying shoes on.  This is a huge difference and let’s me know exactly how a shoe will feel over a couple blocks.  To quote Jeff’s book “Some stores do not let you run in the shoes - but you really should.  This is the only way to tell how the shoe fits and works.  Look around for a store that allows this”

Cushion

Next up is shoe cushion.  This has a lot to do with where you run.  Someone that does all their running on a treadmill, which has some built in shock absorbing mechanisms may not need as much cushion as someone that runs only on concrete.  Remember to anticipate changes in surfaces, such as training on asphalt but racing on a track with cushion built into it.

Jeff points out that

• A rigid foot needs cushion and flexibility, especially in the forefoot.
• A floppy foot needs stability and just enough cushion to take the edge off the shock.  Too much cushion may be bad and promote excessive pronation.

Too much cushion can cause instability and so is a potential risk for the runner that tends to pronate.  If you’re an over-pronator, beware of shoes with too much cushion.

Lacing

Finally, one method for reducing the slippage of the heel is shown here on my blog: best way to lace running shoes.  Other methods that he outlines in his book include relieving lace pressure, releasing spot pressure, creating more toe room and isolating individual laces.  He includes figures that I can’t duplicate here on my blog, but I’ll try to produce a video with some of these methods in the future.

So, that’s it.  There are a lot of things to consider that will influence the choice you make when buying shoes.  Each one has to do specifically with what you need and how you run.  In my next few posts, I’ll talk about the shoe shopping experience and what to ask for when you’re at the store.

Technorati Tags: best running shoes, nike running shoes

He explains that the a straight shoe, when looking at the soles, will look almost identical, while a curved shoe will have visually different soles.  As we’ve discussed before, the best running shoe is the one that fits you best, and so if you find that a shoe applies too much pressure on your foot, take a look at the soles of the shoes you’re trying on.  If they appear to be more curved, ask the clerk to show you a shoe that is more straight.  Likewise for a straight shoe.

Even though many manufacturers have moved toward a compromise shoe last, you may still find that some favor one or the other and so this might be a good point on which to compare different shoe brands.  As always, make sure you take a short run, preferably on a surface that is as close as possible to where you will actually run.  This is the best way to make sure you know how they will feel.

Keep running!

Technorati Tags: best running shoes

Duration : 0:2:51

Technorati Tags: best rated running shoes, discount running shoes, new balance running shoes

Well, as it turns out NONE of them would let us make a video in their stores, even when we presented the exact list of questions to them.  A couple tried to be helpful, but ultimately weren’t able to help us out.  It always came down to the same one issue “corporate said no”.

This got me thinking, how could they possibly have the best running shoes when each individual store has no input into the selection of their shoes.  For example, I remember Rich Harris talking about how he chose what he considered to be the best running shoes for trails here in Boise because he had run the trails here.  Even it someone at the store level had run the trails here, would they be able to tell corporate what to buy?

Well, the stores we tried included Sports Authority, Big 5, Champs, Foot Locker and Finish Line.  Here’s the video we made from our failure.  We’re still trying to get an outlet store to let us make a video, so make sure you subscribe to our feed so you see it when it comes out.  Meanwhile, it looks like your best bet for the best running shoes is a specialty running store.

Keep running.

Technorati Tags: best running shoes

Jeff suggests that there are two types of feet, rigid and floppy. The rigid foot moves forward and backward with little lateral motion.  There is less pronation and a tendency for supination in those that have a rigid foot.  This can put strain on the supporting tendons and ligaments on the outside part of the foot.

The next is a floppy foot, which exhibits more side-to-side motion.  You’ll remember from the Rich Harris video and interview that a typical movement in running is to land on the crash pad and roll inward slightly (pronate) and finally push off of the big toe.  This movement can seem exaggerated in someone with a floppy foot, and there is risk that excessive rolling can result in knee and shin problems.

OK, so how do you use this to find the best running shoes?  In his book he mentions some details of what to expect in terms of shoe wear and shoe type, but I can’t fit it all into this article.  He does say that the rigid foot tends to show more wear on the outside of the shoe and needs a lot of cushion in both heel and toe.  A rigid foot may benefit from a flexible shoe and doesn’t require as much stability as the floppy foot.

The best running shoes for a floppy foot runner are slightly more complicated, depending on the motion observed.  As with the rigid foot, the wear pattern of the floppy foot runner indicates what type of motion and shoe will be most beneficial, but the wear patterns are more varied.  Some of the factors that come into play include board or slip last, arch support and careful choice of the amount of cushion.  A podiatrist may be able to suggest orthopedic devices in extreme cases.

A final point that influences your choice for the best running shoes is the amount of pronation you experience.  Pronation is a natrual mechanical shock absorption mechanism and doesn’t necessarily indicate that something is wrong.  To say that you pronate isn’t to say that you have a problem, and your body very likely uses pronation to your benefit.  If someone has said you’re a pronator, don’t get the impression that you aren’t then built for running.  The right pair of shoes will help you to maintain a healthy stride.

In the next post on individual considerations I’ll discuss shoe shape and shoe fit.  See you then.

Technorati Tags: best running shoes

The lady seems pretty knowledgable, but I don’t really care that the top of the shoe is called a toe box.  Regardless, if you watch this video you’ll get some great ideas about what to look for to find the best running shoes.  Here it is:

Always remember to rate content you find on the internet (including my blog and youtube). By rating or sharing content on social sites you help other users on the internet to know what’s good and what’s not. That’s part of how I knew I wanted to watch and then post this video about best running shoes. I hope you enjoy it.

Technorati Tags: best running shoes

This is actually a small clip from the Rich Harris video that you can get in high quality by signing up here on Running Shoes Expert.  Notice that he explains the difference between the type of cushioning material in the heel vs. what’s in the toe.  That’s really important stuff, so take note.

He also explains that the best running shoes have to do with your individual needs and how much you run.  For example, the biggest difference between less expensive and more expensive running shoes comes down to cushion and the quality of the shoe upper.  The more the shoe costs, the higher quality the materials, but keep in mind that it won’t always be obvious just by looking at it, so make sure you’re talking to an expert like Rich and pay attention.

Best of luck finding your best running shoes.

Technorati Tags: best running shoes

Technorati Tags: best running shoes, tips and tricks

First off, it’s important to understand what a last is.  A last is a metal or plastic form which is shaped like the human foot and the shoe is shaped around it.  Well, there are two types of last; Board Last or Slip Last.  In his book Jeff suggests that the board last will typically provide extra support and reduce flexibility.  On the other hand, the slip last is more flexible but offers less stability.  When deciding which type of last will make the best running shoes for you, you’ll need to first understand whether you need more flexibility or stability.

Keep in mind this is a personal choice and that the shoe companies are constantly revising the last that they use based on research and feedback from a panel of runners that try new shoes.  One reason that you might argue that one particular brand makes the best running shoes for you is because their last best accommodates your foot shape and stability vs. flexibility needs.  Don’t let a good history with a particular brand prevent you from exploring other brand shoes, since they all make changes periodically.

That’s it for today.  I’ll continue on with additional terminology and definitions in my next post.  Meanwhile you can check out Jeff’s book here: Jeff Galloway book on running.

Technorati Tags: best running shoes