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Running shoes are designed to aid a person in various activities that include running. This could be jogging, short distance races or sprints, workouts, or any such exercise that requires a person to move at a relatively fast pace.
A good pair of running shoes protect the feet from injury, reduce the pressure and shock placed on the feet while running, enhance performance, and provide much-needed support. This means that without a good pair of running shoes in your arsenal, you are opening yourself up to some risks and injuries that could have been avoided. Wearing the wrong type of shoes can also make you feel weighed down and increase fatigue.
To get the right pair of running shoes, there are several factors to consider.
Know your Pronation
Pronation refers to the inward movement of your feet as you engage in normal or natural movement. There are three main types of pronation which are neutral or normal pronation, overpronation, and underpronation or supination.
Normal or neutral pronation refers to a situation whereby your feet do not lack inward rolling or have excessive inward rolling as you move. For overpronation, your feet roll inward excessively and underpronation occurs when there is not enough inward rolling of the feet when moving.
The type of pronation you have can determine the design of running shoes you wear since some shoes are designed to support and help your pronation. For instance, while a normal pronator can wear almost any type of running shoes depending on their need, an over or under pronator may need to consider stability shoes that are meant to support their type of pronation.
Knowing your pronation can easily be achieved by conducting a gait analysis at your local health center or getting it done at an Asics store in AU before you buy your shoes. This way, your shopping can be streamlined to only those options that suit you the best.
Make Sure it Fits
When we find a pair of shoes that attract us physically or has been highly recommended by friends, it is easy to want to walk away with it without testing it out to see how it fits. This should be avoided when buying running shoes.
Even when the running shoes you find at the AU Asics store tick all the boxes for you, the final test to determine whether or not you make the buy, should be how comfortable it is for you. Get your feet measured and use the measurements gotten to choose your correct size. It is best to shop at the end of the day or late afternoon where your feet are relatively swollen from the activities of the day. If you are shopping in the morning or buying online, get a pair of shoes that is a half size bigger than your regular shoe size.
The next thing to do is to try the shoes on. Since you intend to use the shoes to perform various activities, it is best that you test them out on a treadmill or try to perform various activities with it when there is no treadmill around. Get a good idea of how flexible the shoe is and how breathable the materials used are. Once you have tested it out properly and are sure of what you want, then you can purchase it.
Where you are shopping online, make sure you buy from a reliable brand that will deliver exactly what you ordered. In case of unforeseen issues with the running shoes, the brand should have a good return policy that allows you to send the shoes back if you are not satisfied with what you got.
Make Use of Specialty Stores
It is easier to shoe from a specialty store than a departmental store. The consultants or staff working at such stores are knowledgeable and are trained to answer your pressing questions. Also, they have a good idea of what is in stock and which pair of running shoes will be the best for you. You also get much-needed attention from these consultants which is important when you are shopping for the first time.
Take your Favorite Pair of Running Socks
If you enjoy wearing socks along with your running shoes, take your favorite pair along with you when shopping. This way, you get shoes that perfectly fit and can avoid discovering later issues.
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