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Is there a perfect running shoe?

Home » Is there a perfect running shoe?

By Podiatrist Michael Johnston

As Jay-Z and Rhianna once sang. “The only thing that’s on my mind
Is who’s gonna run this town tonight” and while their concern about running participation numbers is heart warming, they didn’t give us ANY advice about how to make sure you’re in the right running shoes?

Here are a few tips to help point you in the right direction.

1 – How far are you running?

If you are preparing for an ultra marathon you will need a different shoe than if you’re trying to smash your 5km personal best. Longer distances will require a more cushioned shoe, whereas on shorter runs you will benefit from a lighter weight, more flexible shoe.

2 – What surface are you running on?

Road running shoes will generally be slightly lighter and have more cushioning to deal with the harder surface. Trail shoes are designed to deal with rougher terrain and as such will have a more aggressive tread pattern and may have some kind of waterproofing such as Gore-tex. Avoid running on the road in trail shoes as this will wear down the sole MUCH sooner.

3 – What is your foot shape?

Every manufacturer makes shoes using a slightly different shape or “last”. This means that just as everybody’s feet are built differently, so is every shoe. Don’t worry though, just like Cinderella, there WILL be a shoe that fits your foot perfectly! This will take a bit of patience, time and research but your feet will thank you in the long run (pun 100% intended)

4 – FORGET FASHION! (controversial I know)

If you find the perfect shoe that fits wonderfully and feels amazing to run in but the colour clashes with your FitBit, just take a moment to ask yourself what is more important. Would you rather bound across the finish line with zero blisters and a smile on your face or lose a toenail but have perfectly matched activewear?

If you need any walking or running advice, whether it’s finding the perfect shoe, technique tips, training load or injury management we can help.  If you’re an elite athlete or just want to walk the dog pain free, at Pinnacle we have Podiatrists, Physios, Massage/Myotherapists, Dietitians and Psychologists ready to help you smash your goals!