I used to HATE running. I suffered through it in PE class in school and only ran when I was required to run my mile. I tried picking up running in college and hated it, but it was only when I was starting to lose weight that running actually clicked for me.
Want to know something funny? I chose to pick up running because I thought it would be the cheapest form of exercise. That I wouldn’t have to pay a monthly gym fee. And it is relatively cheap, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned in the 6 years I’ve been running, it’s that you cannot buy cheap shoes.
I wore some cheap tennies from Academy when I first started “running”–I say that loosely because it was more like jog 30 seconds and walk a minute. But when I really started to commit myself and build up my endurance, I learned that I needed shoes that were correct for my feet. These shoes aren’t cheap but they are worth the investment to protect your knees, feet, hips, etc. The ones I just bought were $135 and that money was totally worth it.
Sorry this is blurry, but this was a 5 mile race!
My number one tip for buying running shoes is to visit your local running store to get fitted for shoes. I have a Fleet Feet in my area and I purposely make the drive to buy my shoes from them.
I just finished my first half marathon!!
If you don’t have a running store near you, here are a few tips I recommend in order to find shoes that work best for you.
1. Have someone video yourself walking away from the camera.
When you go to a running store, they’ll put you on a treadmill (or watch you walk) and video you walking or running. Then they’ll play it for you and show you how you walk. You need someone to get down on ground level and zoom in to video you walking away.
2. Figure out your gait (walking style).
Look for your ankles turning in a little as you walk (pronation), staying neutral, or turning out a little as you walk (supination or under-pronation). I pronate so I need extra support and stability in my shoes–especially by my heels. Regardless of how your gait is, you cannot expect to buy any type of running shoe and it fit you. It’s important to know exactly how you walk so you can buy the shoes correct for you so you can avoid an injury!
3. Research shoes for your gait.
Google the best running shoes for you. You can google “running shoes for pronation” and lots of options for the best types of running shoes with detailed reviews.
4. Buy bigger.
Go up a half size to at least one size larger than your normal shoe. You need the extra room in the toes so your toes don’t hit the end of your shoe as you run. This could lead to lost toenails!
5. Wear the right socks.
I am very particular about the socks I run in. I wear these exact socks and own multiple pairs of them. These help protect my feet from blisters and help keep them padded while I run.
I hope this advice was helpful to some! Overall, don’t forget to stretch properly because even with the correct shoes for your gait, if you don’t stretch then you open yourself up to injuries!
