Here at Sport Seasons, even the non-runners among us are feeling pretty inspired by today’s Women’s Half Marathon in Nashville. We are ready to get out and run! (or at least take a long walk with the dog) Heading into fall, if you are like me you’ve worn down that new pair of running shoes bought in the spring and it’s time for a new pair. A lot of people will go out and try running shoes and go with what feels good without really knowing if they are running in a neutral or stability shoe. It’s worth it to take some time to examine your shoes and stride and see which category you fall into so you can get the best experience possible. To help you understand each category, we found some great videos to share.
There is a lot of talk about overpronation, so what exactly is it? Overpronation is when after the heel strike, a runners foot rolls more than 15 degrees inward before it hits the ground.
Each of your top brands will have great stability shoes for overpronators.
Underpronation is when a runner’s foot does not roll inward enough after the outside of the heel hits the ground.
Normal pronation is when, after heel strike, the foot rolls about 15 degrees inward to make contact with the ground.
Runners with normal pronation or underpronation generally need a neutral running shoe. If you are in the normal pronation range, but are heavier or very tall, you’d do well to get a stability shoe to give your body a little extra support.
Be willing to try on shoes across several brands to find the right one for you. Even if you are a die-hard Asics fan, try on Brooks, Mizuno, Nike, Saucony, and new brands like Altra. You never know when one of these guys will come out with the perfect shoe for your feet. A good salesperson will be happy to pull all these styles out for you.
Whatever you do – get out and get moving!