To a tennis player, the racquet is important. To a swimmer, the goggles are important. To a baseball player, the glove is important. For every sport, there is one piece of equipment that can either make or break how the athlete performs. To the jogger, this all-important piece of equipment in the running shoe. With the right pair of shoes, you could run forever, but make a mistake when choosing your shoes and you could end up with a serious injury. Let’s look at some important factors you need to consider when choosing the perfect pair of running shoes.

The right pair of shoes will maximize your running experience and keep you from becoming injured. A good pair will give you good traction and help your feet grip the ground firmly without wobbling and slipping. When shopping for running shoes, ask plenty of questions. Ask about the shoe’s traction and how it performs on wet surfaces. Try them on and test them for traction as best you can in the store.

Make sure the shoes you choose are durable. Running shoes go through a punishing routine every time you put them on. You need to choose a shoe that is made for durability and can hold up to your rigorous routine. For every 15 minutes you run, each shoe will strike the pavement approximately 900 hundred times. If you are an especially fast runner or you run longer distances, it is even more. You can see why you need to choose a shoe that was built for durability, not just good looks.

Try on all of the running shoe that you are considering to make sure they are comfortable. You are going to be spending a lot of time in these shoes. While your shoes obviously take a pounding when you run, so do your feet. Make sure your feet are protected and the shoes are designed for shock absorption. For proper fit, the shoes should be soft but firm. Try running in place in the store to see if you feel any jarring sensation when you run. If you do, avoid those shoes.

Even the best-designed shoes will toughen up over time and the rubber cushioning will lose its spring. You need to be aware of this and purchase a new pair of shoes when it happens. The damage you can cause to your body with a bad pair of running shoes just isn’t worth it.

Along with these other factors, when choosing new shoes you need to be aware of what type of feet you have. There are three types of feet – flat, normal, and high-arched. If you don’t know what type of foot you have, do the wet test. Wet your feet and then step on a dry surface. If your whole foot shows, you have flat feet. If you see a "C" shaped arc from the balls of your feet to your heels, you have normal feet. If you see a "C" shape connected with only a tiny sliver, you have a high arch. If you have flat feet, you need a shoe with greater control. High arch feet need well-cushioned shoes because they have more trouble keeping their balance.

When choosing your new jogging shoes, take your time. Find a knowledgeable sales person who is preferably a jogger and ask them plenty of questions. Above all, make sure you get the shoe that is right for you – after all, it is your most important piece of equipment.

Jason Ladock

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