| When you go shopping for a new pair of sneakers, if | | | | and causing blisters. If necessary, ask the staff if you |
| you are a serious female runner you will need to find | | | | can try them out on the treadmill to see how they |
| a store that sells specialized running shoes for girls. | | | | perform when you are actually running. Here are |
| Simply going into a general sports store and buying a | | | | some of the major brands to look for, and they are |
| pair that looks good will not necessarily be the best | | | | divided into the three running gaits with examples of |
| option. Most dedicated running outlets will have highly | | | | which model to try out. Do listen to the staff and |
| trained staff, who will generally be runners | | | | take advice though; new models are made each year |
| themselves. They will be able to help you pick out | | | | to enhance the comfort of runners and correct minor |
| the perfect pair of girls running shoes, which will feel | | | | imperfections in the preceding versions. |
| comfortable to go jogging in, but also play a crucial | | | | Asics Models - GEL-Kayano (neutral); GEL-Evolution |
| role in minimizing injuries. | | | | (overpronation); GEL-Nimbus (supination) |
| Because women tend to have wider hips than men, | | | | Saucony Models - ProGrid Triumph (neutral); ProGrid |
| the top parts of their legs join the knee at a bigger | | | | Stabil (overpronation); Grid Launch (supination) |
| angle - called the Q-angle, or quadriceps angle. This | | | | Mizuno Models - Wave Creation (neutral); Wave |
| makes the female runner more prone to joint injury | | | | Alchemy (overpronation); Wave Rider (supination) |
| than her male counterpart. The slightly different | | | | Brooks Models - Glycerin (neutral); Addiction |
| anatomy also means that girls are more likely to need | | | | (overpronation); Glycerin (supination) |
| running shoes that correct problems caused by the | | | | New Balance Models - WR441 (neutral); WR749 |
| feet rolling either inwards or outwards during the | | | | (overpronation); WR769 (supination) |
| running action. | | | | Nike Models - Zoom Vomero (neutral); Zoom |
| Most proper running supplies stores will have a | | | | Structure Triax+ (overpronation); Air Pegasus |
| treadmill and high-speed camera set up, to help | | | | (supination) |
| determine which way your feet roll - if they collapse | | | | Many brands have versions of their running shoes |
| inwards, you are said to overpronate; if they roll | | | | which fit for a range of gaits, so you might find that |
| outwards, you underpronate or supinate. So do not | | | | often, a particular model be fine for neutral runners |
| be surprised if you are asked to get on the running | | | | as well as underpronators. This is why it is always a |
| machine by staff, so they can do a so-called "gait | | | | good idea to go to a specialist store, where the staff |
| analysis" on your action. | | | | can guide you towards the most suitable ones. |
| Once you know whether you are an overpronator, a | | | | The brands and models I have included are examples |
| supinator or have a neutral gait, you will be happy to | | | | only, and offer you a start point for your search for |
| hear that most of the main running shoe brands will | | | | the perfect girls running shoes. There are many more |
| provide something to fit your style. Take your time | | | | models offered by each brand, so keep pestering the |
| and try on several pairs to get the ones that fit | | | | staff for a good selection to try out for yourself until |
| perfectly for length and width, without sliding around | | | | you are satisfied you have found the right ones. |