Your Running Shoes :: Preserve Your Investment

No question about it, your running shoes are one of the most important investments you make.  Good shoes can cost between $80-$170, and depending on how many miles you're logging weekly, you may need to replace your shoes 3-4 times a year...about every 350 - 400 miles.

Tips To Extend Your Kicks

1) Invest in more than one pair of shoes; rotate

If you run everyday, it's a good idea to rotate through more than one pair of running shoes.  After just 100 miles your shoes will begin to lose some of their shock absorbing ability.  Rotating shoes ensures an extended (and safer) ride.  Added benefit: Shoe companies are always changing their shoes.   When you find a pair that you love, buying an extra pair staves off the heartbreak of finding out your favorite shoe has been significantly changed or discontinued.

2) Avoid extremes

After a wet run it may be tempting to set your shoes in direct sunlight or next to a heater to dry.  This is a big DON'T!  Over time your shoes will shrink. Don't store your shoes in an unheated space like a garage or an outside porch in cold weather either. The cold will harden their midsoles.  When not wearing your shoes, remove insoles or orthotics and store them inside the house.

3) "Listen" to your running shoes

Pay attention to the condition your shoes are in.  Inspect the midsoles regularly (the part between the outer tread and the "upper" that your foot fits into).  If the midsole seems compressed, brittle or hard, you probably need to replace them.

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One of the greatest side benefits of being a runner is that you always have a comfy pair of worn-out sneakers to jump into to run to the grocery store or walk the dog...just don't use that old pair to run in!

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