If “take up running” was one of your New Year resolutions, then there are a couple of things you should bear in mind… And they all relate to footwear! Choosing the correct running trainers is vital in making sure you enjoyed the discipline to its maximum potential whilst avoiding injuries: 1. Think about the distance you are going to run: if a marathon is the ultimate goal, then your trainers need to be comfortable enough for at least a 5 hour run. And they need to have been well and truly “broken” before the event. Buying a pair of trainer the day before the marathon is never a good idea! 2. Bear in mind your age: very young runners, even those still in their physical development prime, must be aware of footwear that excessively compress their toes, impairing or altering their normal development 3. Bear in mind your gender: women must always take into account the extra range of motion and flexibility their joints tend to have (due to particular hormones) and should choose footwear that will offer support accordingly 4. Evaluate your step: we step in three phases – heel, sole and toes. However we also tend to either prone the foot (stepping with our inner edges of the feet) or supinate (stepping with the outer edges) and these need to be taken into account when choosing footwear, as otherwise your hips and spine will be compromised. If in doubt, visit a podiatrist, who will evaluate how you step and prescribe insoles/orthotics to correct any deviation 5. Think about the surface you will be running onto: it’s not the same to run on soft grass than on hard cement; ankles and knees react differently and you need a footwear that will cater for that 6. Choose the right size: try the shows on with the socks you will normally wear, and try both feet. Be mindful that, in the afternoon, your feet will tend to be slightly bigger than during the morning. All these apply to pretty much any activity that requires you to wear or buy specific footwear (dance-fitness, circuit classes, etc). Happy Monday and happy running!
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 09:04:32 +0000
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