1.  Why does it matter if I am in the “right” running shoe for me?  Running shoes have grown increasingly more technical over the years.  The good news is that more and more runners and walkers can exercise pain free.  The bad news is that there is a higher risk of injury if you are in the wrong shoe.  Typical discomfort that could result from being in the wrong shoe are shin splints, arch pain, knee pain, back pain, illiotibial band syndrome, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures and the list goes on.

2.  I have never been fit for running shoes and all of the sudden I feel like I am injured all the time.  Is it my shoes?  What people generally tend to forget is a change in distance.  Many people can run in anything for a mile but as the distances increase so do the magnitude of inefficiencies in your gait.  This is why it is important for the recreational jogger who is training for her/his first marathon to be properly fit.

3.  Does weight matter?  We like to say it is all about gait not weight.  If you are buying running shoes based on your weight, please stop.  Your running and walking gait will determine your fit.  It is true that weight can exacerbate gait tendencies but that is all.  We have seen too many people with stress fractures and ITB syndrome that have bought shoes based on being a “heavy runner.”

4.  Do support shoes have less cushioning?  There are three general categories of shoes: Neutral, Stability and Motion Control shoes.  Neutral shoes are also called “cushion” shoes, a term that leads to understandable confusion.  The answer is an overwhelming “NO”.  Shoe manufacturers do not remove cushioning when they add support.  As a matter of fact some of the most supportive shoes have the most cushioning.  It is true that they may not feel as cushy because often times support technologies are a little rigid, but make no mistake, you are not sacrificing overall cushioning when you go to a more supportive shoe.

5.  What is your best shoe?  We do not have one or all of them.  The key and beauty about running specialty is that the customer makes the final decision.  It is our job to get you in the proper selection set.  In order to do that we analyze your gait, look at all the “fit” and “feel” aspects of your foot and interview you to determine activity level.  Based on that we narrow it down to 3 or 4 of our top choices.  However, the final decision is yours.

6.  How many miles can I get out of a pair of shoes? 300-500 miles is what you can expect from a pair of shoes.  Your gait, the surface and the type of training you are doing, is what determines what end of the range you will be in.  For a recreational runner (15 miles a week) you are generally looking at two pairs a year and our customers generally buy them in the same months every year.  For one marathon, you will train through two pairs.

7.  How do I know if I need an orthotic?  An orthotic is a rigid, semi-rigid or soft insert that goes in all shoes to help with your alignment and gait thus alleviating, foot, knee, leg or back pain.  If you suffer from heel pain or shin splints and have never been fit in the proper shoe, try that first.  There are often times when a shoe alone cannot do the job and we must refer people out to get orthotics.

8. Does having orthotics affect my shoe choice?  Absolutely and you must bring your orthotics with you when you are fit for running or walking shoes.  The combination of the shoe and orthotic must offer the correct amount of support.  In many cases an orthotic is prescribed for a patient requiring considerable support.  Often the orthotic corrects most of the inefficiencies but not all.  However, the orthotic becomes the first line of defense and this individual that would ordinarily need a motion control shoe now only needs a stability shoe.

9.  Do I need an insert? We only recommend an insert if there is a need.  For instance, let’s say a runner or walker is a tough fit but we have found the perfect shoe.  Unfortunately, that shoe lacks the required support needed.  This would be an instance in which we would want to add an insert.  We would also add an insert if the customer has grown accustomed to one and likes having it in their shoe.  It can also be a good idea when a customer must have the maximum amount of cushioning for a specific health problem.  However, there is no reason to assume that everyone would be better off with an insert.  This is not true.

10.  Do my feet get bigger when I run?  Yes, most runners purchase running shoes that are a full size larger than their everyday shoe.  Your feet swell a lot when they “heat up” so they generally do get larger in the summer time.  Also your feet splay when you run.  You are striking the ground at 4-5 times your body and those “toesies” need a place to go when you are “pounding”.  Also consider that the running shoe companies build their shoes assuming you will be properly fitted, so if you do not get the right size, chances are you will be misaligned on the forefoot cushioning and in the arch.

11. What should a “properly fitted” running shoe feel like?  Shoes should not feel like cleats and if you are a soccer player, you are the biggest culprits.  Shoes should feel nice and snug in the heel.  In the mid-foot, the laces should be resting flush across the bridge of you foot.  However, there should be no cutting off of circulation, no yanking of shoestrings with your fists when you are tying them.  In the forefoot, there is a release of the foot.  In a standing position you should not feel any part of the shoe.  You should be swimming in an ocean.  There should be no touches on any side of the foot or in the front, roomy but not sloppy.  You should not feel like a clown either.  There should be a full thumb nail between the end of your big-toe and the end of the shoe.

12.  Who should I see for an injury?  This of course depends where you live and your community.  We have had success with Physical Therapists and Certified Athletic Trainers that run or are in the sports medicine field.  You want to see someone that can help you train out of it.  In other words, not someone that wants to take you straight to surgery and someone that will tell you not to run, but an individual that can recommend the proper active treatment to allow you to get better while maintaining your training level.