Cecille's Creativity

I bought a pair of running shoes that perfectly fit my feet. I was at a specialty running store where a fit expert evaluates my gait. She watched me run on a treadmill and around the store. Then, she recommends the best pair of shoes for me. Maybe what the fit expert just did for me was just exactly the right thing.

According to Amanda Smith, Editorial Assistants in Women's Ger Guide (2008), there are three things to consider in choosing the right running shoes: Stability/Support, Motion Control and Neutral Foot Cushioning.

Most runners are moderate overpronators, meaning their feet roll inward excessively. Thus, if they experience shin splints, or chronic kneel lower back pain, overpronation may be the culprit. "Combat overpronation with a pair of stability/support shoes which are designed to counteract your feet's inward roll by blocking the movement with thicker materials at the midsole or heel," says Smith. On the other hand, if you're flat-footed, motion control shoes is best for you because it has built-in stability which provide support on both sides of the shoe. Furthermore, runners who often have high arches and normal pronation, neutral shoes works best for them. In as much as underpronators (which specifically called supinators) Smith advised them to avoid buying shoes with a stability device. "Shoes with stability device for supinators encourage the feet's outward roll," says Smith.

As a result, experts recommend buying a running shoe half a size larger than the dress shoe to avoid feet well when running. Also, shop for shoes in the afternoon. Your feet swell during the course of a day, and by afternoon they are at their largest, added Smith.