The pandemic has taught all of us the importance of living a healthy life. Exercise is gaining more prominence in every individual’s priorities. However, not everyone can go to the gym (either due to a lack of affordable options or due to plain and simple laziness). In this context, running is an exercise that doesn’t require much investment on your part – apart from running shoes.
One thing that is common among everyone who wants to run as an exercise is that they always buy running shoes before they start it. This is because you cannot use your regular shoes as your running shoes. Further, your running shoes need to be selected after due consideration because they will impact your safety and performance while running.
While there are numerous brands that have a separate running collection that you can peruse, here are a few tips that might help you in selecting the best running shoes for your newfound fitness enthusiasm. Let’s get running.
- Factor in your bodyweight – When you are running, your feet are carrying the whole weight of your body and therefore you need to factor in your body weight when selecting running shoes. In fact, while running, the pressure on your feet, joints, and muscles is more than two times your body weight.
This means that your running shoes must have proper cushioning or else every time there is a jerk while running, your body will experience shocks that are certainly not good for your body. You might end up doing more harm than good. When looking for cheap running shoes that provide proper cushioning, it makes sense to look for air sport shoes wholesale so that you can save a few bucks. - Decide where you will be running – The next thing that you need to do is decide where you will be running. By this we mean, you need to at least have a general idea about the surface on which you will be doing most of the running. While most running shoes are built for standard terrain, if you are going to be running on a specific terrain or surface, it makes sense to buy shoes that are a better fit for that terrain.
There are three types of surface based on this factor: - Plain surface – These shoes are best suited for road running or running on plain surfaces. They are characterized by good flexibility and cushioning.
- Rough surface – These shoes are best suited for hilly terrains and provide protection for sharp rocks.
- Treadmill – These shoes are best suited for treadmills or indoor running and come with a soft sole.
- Consider the frequency of your runs – This is a really important tip when we discuss how to choose the best running shoes. Once you have had a few running sessions, you need to ascertain what will be the average frequency of your runs. If you are someone who will run quite frequently, then you need running shoes that provide you with maximum comfort.
- Determine the type of arch of your feet – Very few people are even aware of the fact that all of us have a particular shape of the arch of our feet. Our feet may have a high arch or a normal arch or they may be flat. The running shoes that you select must compliment your arch so as to prevent any accidents or discomfort.
How do you find out what the arch of your foot is? There is a very simple test called the wet test. You need a tub of water and a piece of cardboard. Then you need to dip your feet in the water and stand upright on the cardboard after dropping off the excess water. After a few seconds, you get off the cardboard and see the shape you left behind and compare it with the image below (which is self-explanatory).
- Do go for stylish designs if that is your thing – For a lot of runners, it is necessary that their shoes look great too apart from just being functional. This makes them feel good about themselves while running which in turn helps them maintain healthy habits.In today’s online world, you can literally buy from china if you want. So the availability of options is not a limitation that can stop you from buying the perfect running shoes for yourself that not just keep you safe but also make you look great.
At the end of the day, if you are just looking to start a running habit and are not sure if you will go through with it, it might be okay to buy a pair of basic running shoes at first. Once you are sure that this is something that you will like to do long term, investing in that perfect pair of running shoes makes more practical sense.
Your perfect running shoes will be those which suit your feet type, the terrain on which you will be running, and the frequency and intensity of your running sessions. Apart from that, you also need to look at various parts of a shoe that protect you from shocks such as cushioning. Stability and flexibility are very important components of a good running experience and neither can be compromised at the altar of the other.