| As a runner the most important piece of | | | | Pronation is the natural movement of your |
| equipment you can have are your shoes. | | | | feet when they touch the ground. |
| | | | |
| This is the reason that runners spend a great | | | | All feet roll inwards as the ball of the foot |
| deal of time checking out shoes, until they | | | | touches the ground. You can either check this |
| find the best running shoes for their feet, | | | | out yourself by looking at the wear patterns |
| not only for the fit, but also for the kind | | | | on your old running shoes. |
| of running, and training they will be doing. | | | | |
| | | | If you tend to wear out your shoes first on |
| Whatever you do, you must not pick a shoe | | | | the outside, you probably tend to |
| because it looks good in the shop, so what | | | | underpronate; if you wear out your shoes |
| are you to do to make sure you pick the right | | | | first significantly more to the inside, look |
| shoe, because be reassured there could be | | | | for a shoe for over-pronators. |
| several shoes that will be right for your | | | | |
| feet and your running requirements. | | | | It isn't complicated but you would do well to |
| | | | find someone with experience as a runner to |
| How do you find the right shoe, and why is | | | | watch you running from behind before you make |
| that so important? | | | | a new purchase. |
| | | | |
| The scope of this article is limited, so | | | | There are four categories based on the degree |
| rather than try to make recommendations, | | | | of pronation. |
| which will probably be wrong, as I don't know | | | | |
| anything at all about your feet, or your | | | | 1. Neutral Pronation, require shoes with a |
| requirements. | | | | good balance of stability and flexibility. |
| | | | |
| In other words, are you going to use them as | | | | 2. Under Pronation has not enough foot |
| track shoes or trail shoes. There is a huge | | | | motion, and they require good cushioning and |
| difference between running on a flat track, | | | | flexibility in their running shoes |
| and on a boulder strewn, wet, muddy trail!! | | | | |
| | | | 3. Moderate Over Pronation require Stability |
| Add to this the fact that your feet will hit | | | | Trainers |
| the ground hard over 1600 times every mile | | | | |
| that you run. | | | | 4. Severe Over Pronation requires |
| | | | Motion-control trainers. |
| If your footwear is the wrong size or | | | | |
| unsuited to your biomechanical needs, you are | | | | You should by now have worked out your |
| going to find it uncomfortable, probably | | | | pronation factor, so your shoe selection must |
| annoying, and even worse it could lead to | | | | be governed by this. |
| injury. | | | | |
| | | | The other consideration is shoe fit, and the |
| What is the right shoe for my feet? | | | | easiest judgement, is does it feel good, and |
| | | | is there room between the end of your longest |
| A combination of a good fit and excellent | | | | toe and the front of the shoe. The shoe needs |
| biomechanics. | | | | to feel snug at the heel, and comfortable. |
| | | | |
| The fit is obvious, but what do I mean by | | | | At the end of the day, if you have used and |
| biomechanics? | | | | liked a particular make of running shoe, then |
| | | | stick with that brand, but make sure you are |
| Put simply it is all about a word called | | | | buying the correct shoe model bearing in mind |
| pronation. | | | | your pronation factor. |
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