Are Your Shoes Ready to Go to the Donation Bin?
One of the most common questions runners ask is, “When do I need to replace my running shoes?” Many runners and walkers don’t realize that their shoes shouldn’t reach their first birthday. There are multiple ways to tell if you need new running shoes. Here are the top 5 signs that it’s time to replace your current pair.
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- New Shoes
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- Worn Out Shoes
5 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Running Shoes
- Your Feet Hurt – This is often a telltale sign that your shoes might be worn out. Keep in mind that pain in the feet can also indicate an injury. When you start to notice that your feet hurt, check the date of purchase for your current running shoes. If they are 6 months or older, it’s time to replace them. If they are less than 6 months old, there could be something else going on and we recommend consulting a specialist if the foot pain persists.
- Your shoes have exceeded their mileage – All running and walking shoes have a certain number of miles specific to their lifetime. The average running shoes at a running specialty shop will get you anywhere from 300-500 miles. Shoes breakdown over their lifetime. That’s why it’s best to replace them every 300-500 miles (depending on the model), or every 6 months if you’re not tracking your miles.
- The tread is worn down – As you check your tread patterns on the outsole of your shoes, you’ll start to notice the tread breaking down over time. When it starts depleting, it’s time to replace.
- The shoe is easily bent upward – When your running shoes are new, it’s difficult to bend them. If you are able to easily bend them upward that’s a sign the midsole has broken down enough to require replacement.
- The shoe is easily bent downward – This means you need to urgently replace your running shoes! It’s very difficult to bend the shoes downward when they are new. If you’re able to do this, run (don’t walk) to your nearest local running specialty shop. Easily bending the shoe downward means your shoe is on death’s door.
When you recognize that your current running shoes have reached the end of their lifespan, it’s important to get a proper shoe fitting for your new pair.
Come see us and experience the StrideSmart Shoe Fitting process.
While you’re at it, visit our brand new second location and get yourself a coffee at our world-class espresso bar!
You may have had a shoe-fitting experience in the past. Even if you’ve had your shoe fitting with us at St. Pete Running Company, we encourage you to come back and get your gait re-checked. You might be surprised that over time, your gait can change! Things like injuries, adjustments in training habits, weight gain or loss, etc., can affect your running stride. We’d love to take you through our one-of-a-kind StrideSmart Shoe Fitting again, or for the first time. Our shoe gurus will help you find just the right shoes.
Do you still have questions about when it’s time to replace your running shoes? We can help! Call us at 727-800-5043 or come into the store where our shoe experts are ready to provide the high-quality customer service you expect from a Top 50 Running Store in America.
