Finding the Right Shoes For You
On the search for a good pair of running shoes? You might be tempted to search online. In fact, here you are now reading a great article about finding shoes! While it’s great to do some research before jumping into a pair of new running shoes, when it comes to buying the shoes, online purchasing is not the best practice. Why? Because your feet haven’t gotten inside the shoes yet! The best thing you can do is go in person to your local running store.
If you’re in the Tampa Bay area, visit St. Pete Running Company. We’re one of the top 50 Running Stores in America. Plus we’re a locally-owned small business. But since you’re here, we’ve got some advice for you! Check out these 6 tips on how to choose running shoes for beginners.
6 Tips For Choosing Running Shoes
- START WITH AN IN PERSON SHOE FITTING
- Seriously, start here! This is the very first step and it’s an important one. At St. Pete Running Company, we’ve tailored a one-of-a-kind StrideSmart Shoe Fitting for walkers and runners alike. Our shoe experts take a full body approach to evaluating your gait and stride. And best of all, our in-depth shoe fitting is absolutely free! This evaluation will also help you understand how to properly run, which means avoiding injury as you’re just getting started. We will also have the top running shoe brands in the country for you to get your feet inside to see what shoes will be best for you!
- GO BY FEEL, NOT BY FASHION
- When you first start trying on running shoes, you will be tempted to notice how cute some of the shoes are to you. Fight this urge! In fact, when you stand up in a pair of shoes you’ve never tried before and start walking around in them, or jogging around the store in them, don’t look down at your feet. Let the feel of the shoe guide you, not the look of the shoe. Trust us on this one! Your feet will thank you.
- SHARE YOUR RUNNING GOALS AND BUY ACCORDINGLY
- If a shoe feels really good, that’s often an indicator that it will work for you. However, keep in mind that there are different levels when it comes to distance running shoes. A shoe that’s ideal for shorter distances, even if it feels great in the store, will not be ideal for your marathon race. But there’s a great solution to this! Get two pairs of running shoes: one pair for shorter distance runs, and one shoe for longer distance runs, such as a Hoka One One (pictured below). Be sure to learn which shoe is which from a running shoe expert. You can also get yourself recovery sandals such as Oofos (also pictured below).
- AVOID THE TEMPTATION TO MATCH YOUR BESTIE’S BRAND
- Here’s what this means: buy the shoes that work for you, not the shoes that work for someone else. You may be familiar with certain brands. You might even hear all about your friend’s love affair with Brooks or Nike or Saucony or Hoka. But remember: they don’t have the same feet you do. They don’t have your gait, stride, alignment, past or current injuries, genetics, shape…the list could go on. Every foot is unique, so be prepared to discover what brand and models work for you based on YOUR shoe fitting, not someone else’s.
- GET THE NEXT PAIR FROM YOUR LOCAL STORE, AND THE NEXT
- The shoe model you last purchased gets upgraded every year. You might think you’re getting the exact same shoe that you purchased last time with a new number, but sometimes the changes are significant. You need the shoe experts to let you know what has changed, and get your feet in the latest model to make sure it’s still the best shoe for you. Don’t switch to buying online because you’ll likely find yourself sorting out the return process instead of getting on your way in the right shoes for you.
- RUN AND WALK IN THE SHOES FOR A WEEK
- You’ve done all the previous steps. Great job! Now you’ve taken your brand new, wonderfully comfortable running shoes home. Now it’s time to “break in” your new shoes. This let’s your feet experience the full effect of the shoes. When you first go out for a run, keep in mind it might feel off when you try a new model. Then go running again at least 3 times to help you adjust into what might become your favorite running shoes ever.
Do you have more questions about how to choose running shoes for beginners? We can help! Call or come into the store where our shoe and running experts are ready to provide the high-quality customer service you expect from a Top 50 Running Store in America.
My girlfriend and I want to start working out next week, and we’d like to find the right shoes to help us avoid any injury. We liked what you mentioned about feeling your running shoes and choosing a pair based on their comfort and not their looks, so we’ll keep this in mind when we go shopping soon. Thank you for explaining how to pick running shoes that match your needs.