Picking the right shoe is such a personal preference that it can also be hard to say with certainty how often we should be buying new ones.
Let’s start off with how to pick the right shoe in the first place! I highly recommend finding a local running store to help you make the proper decision, at least for your first purchase. Some stores have technology to assess your gait to give you some proper options for your body. You may be able to run around the store or on a treadmill to get a feel for each shoe before buying.
Knowing what events you have coming up can also influence your decision. You may find you do not need as much support/cushion while training for shorter events or while focusing on speedwork over distance. I really enjoy training in a much lighter shoe for those shorter events whereas when I’m training for a marathon a little more cushion is welcomed!
So how do we know when it’s time to replace our shoes? Again, this can vary from runner to runner with preference so I’m going to discuss what I do personally. I like to utilize my Garmin connect app to keep track of my distance in each shoe. Over the years, I have realized that I like to replace my shoes around the 400mile mark. Other ways to determine proper replacement include paying attention to any unusual pain or soreness. Talking to other runners, shin splints can be a big indicator of needing to replace your shoes. An easier method may be to just replace before any new training cycle begins. For most of us, that would mean purchasing 2-3 pair each year. (Yay shopping!)
It’s always fun choosing a new color and/or pattern of running shoes! Sometimes new gear can be the extra motivation we need to get started!
Happy Running!
