The Reasonable Runner

At the base of this long-legged shadow is a critical piece of equipment for any runner, shoes! I heard this at the beginning of my running journey and it has proved itself to be true, always make sure you are taking good care of your feet when you run.

Thinking practically, your feet are taking a consistent beating when you run. Your are exerting the force of your body weight through the soles and balls of your feet stride upon stride, and it’s important to make sure you’ve got your feet supported and well protected. I had no idea what kind of sneakers I needed when I first started running, and there are SO many options, how do you know what you need and what’s good?

When it comes to running shoes, be sure to always keep the following in mind:

1. Do not buy flat sneakers! These will provide absolutely no support for your arches, and be detrimental to your form, your knees, your hips, and your heels. Make sure your sneakers have good arch support.
2. Make sure your shoes are the right size, not too small and not too wide. If your shoes don’t leave enough room for your toes or rub against the sides of your feet because they are too narrow, this can cause blisters or even the formation of bunions. Shoes that are too large/wide can also cause blisters as your feet will be moving around so much inside them as you run. Take your time and find a comfortable well-fitting sneaker!
3. Comfort and style matter. No matter how much time you spend in your shoes, you absolutely want to make sure they are comfortable and right for you. Do you like the color? Will your laces stay tied? Can you pull the tongue up far enough that it doesn’t fall into your shoe? Is the back of that sneaker so tough that it may create blisters on the back of your heel? These things certainly matter, and it’s worth making sure you will love those shoes for the long haul 👍

With these things in mind, I will post a few of my favorite sneaker brands below. I have tried a number of shoes, and I will happily say I am an Asics girl. They provide the best support I’ve found in a sneaker, hold up incredibly well in quality, come in a number of fun colors, are quite comfortable, and VERY affordable as far as running shoes go. I have gone through at least a dozen different pairs of Asics, and have loved them all!

As shoes are so important, be sure to replace them as needed! The sole doesn’t need to fall off to buy yourself a new pair of shoes. With use, the arch support of a shoe will eventually ‘give out’, and most seasoned runners recommend buying a new pair of shoes every 75-100 miles or so. You can get 200 out of some, but you are always safe to replace them if you feel your old pair has run its course 😉

A great indicator that you need to replace your shoes, or find a new pair, is knee or hip pain. I can always tell when my shoes have ‘given out’ as my knees will hurt, throb, or be sore in the hours following a normal run. You should not be experiencing knee or hip pain when you run, and if this starts to happen suddenly, your shoes may be the culprit. Take care when picking your next pair of running shoes; your knees, hips, and joints are well worth the investment, and your feet will thank you too!

If you are looking for some running shoe suggestions, here are a few of mine! 👟

ASICS Gel-Excite 9
ASICS Gel-Excite 8
ASICS Gel-Venture 5
ASICS Gel-Contend 5