Yes. They are your single most important piece of gear.
That could be the end of this post, but, that wouldn’t say much for my blogging skills. So, I will actually give you reasons and a personal anecdote. I have been having a hard time getting up in the mornings here lately which means that my runs have been taking place on the Greenway after work. I usually just stuff whatever running clothes are handy into a bag in the mornings before I rush out the door. In my disorganized state, I tend to grab whichever pair of running shoes are closest as well. Yesterday, I grabbed my least favorite pair and I felt it every step of the run. Shoes have always been sticky for me. I am cheap, so dropping upwards of 100 bux or more on running shoes is painful for me each and every time. Therefore, I always try to cheat. I really wish I would quit that.
Currently, I have three pairs of ‘running shoes’ in circulation. I have a pair of green brooks that I was fitted for at a running store, a pair of white new balance that I picked up at Dick’s on sale and a pair of yellow Nike’s that were in the discount bin at Marshall’s … hey, they fit … sorta. Let me just say that the difference between the shoes that I was actually fitted for and the shoes that I picked out for myself is astronomical.
The basics of shoe fitting are this: Most people tend to over or under pronate which means you roll your foot out or in when you run. In a perfect world where everyone had perfect feet, your heel to toe strike would fall evenly down the center of your foot, in a straight line.
The reality of shoe fitting is this: GO TO A RUNNING STORE AND GET FIT FOR SHOES BY A PROFESSIONAL. The difference in your injury and pain level in your feet and legs will be very noticable. If you are super concerned about getting a good deal then you don’t have to actually BUY the shoes there (although it would be nice if you did, most running stores are locally owned and you should support them as they generally do great things for the community) but they do know what they are talking about. And going to a big box sporting goods store is not a solution. The kids that work there get a few days training, sure, but they are generally not runners or walkers and haven’t been trained in the specifics of the sport. Bottom line is that the folks who work at running stores live and breathe the sport. They read about new technologies and exactly what they do for your feet, they attend seminars and training camps. And a running store will often have special machines to test your foot out and see where your weight falls. Take advantage of their hard work and obsession.
As for me, I am going to shelve my new balance and Nike’s. At least for running*. They will make great cross training shoes. My legs and feet deserve better than to get stuffed into any old shoe. Besides, it makes me feel better, run faster and go longer when I am comfortable.
* One more note: When you do get that just right pair of running shoes that you has been fitted for you … don’t use them for anything other than running. Don’t walk around town, go to the gym or, heaven forbid, ride your bike in them. All of those activities wear down the shoe in a different way than running and break down the sole faster. Make your expensive shoes last!