great running shoes

Biomechanically your feet, ankles, and knees act like a suspension system for your body. The two major areas of concern, as far as your foot goes, are pronation and supination. Pronation is the inward roll of your foot. It allows your body to adapt to uneven ground and accommodate for various terrains. It is also the culprit behind many foot, leg, and back problems.

Injuries and pain come when the foot rolls, or pronates, excessively. The more you pronate the more of a stability shoe you will need. Most runners attempt to gauge this by examining the wear on the heel of their shoes. Although a fine indicator, the real tell tale sign is the wear through the middle and front of the shoe. If the wear is on the inside, there is a good chance you over pronate. If the wear is on the outside, you guessed it, you under pronate.

To make things more difficult your heel strike angle and arch are other variables affecting what shoe is right for you. Usually high arches and under pronators go together but not always.

My best advice to you is this: Find a specialty running shoe store. Most major cities have one and it's worth the drive if yours doesn't. Unlike most specialty shops you're not going to overpay for shoes at these places. The ones I have experience with are full of tenured runners who are willing to lend a hand. You will hear terms like motion control, stability, and neutral shoes. Also, many will allow you to return them after your first run if they don't work well for you.

Shopping Advice

Wear the socks you like to run in to the store. Different brands have different widths and that can play hell with blisters. Also go after a run, or later in the day because your feet swell. At a shoe shop you will find, as perhaps no other place on the planet, people who want to see your old shoes; so take them in with you. Finally, listen to their advice. They're not going to steer you to one shoe over another to get you to spend $10 more so be open to suggestions.

Caring for your shoes

Your running shoes have feelings and they don't like being used for anything other than running. Don't wear them to the gym to lift or out to the park with your kids. Think of them as specialists that only emerge to do their specific job.

Don't wash them in the clothes machine. If they smell that bad put some powder in them and stick them outside.

Finally, they have a lifespan. I have heard estimates ranging from 250-750 miles, but they do in fact wear out. I suspect the biggest factor is your weight. If they feel flat and heavy, toss them out and go get a new pair.

For a list of top rated running shoes, visit my blog. I update this page often based on runner feedback.