Leading a healthy lifestyle involves some amount of exercise. Running and brisk walking is one of the best forms of exercise. Taking this one notch higher are marathon runners, who can run for miles without tiring themselves out. However, to aid them to be able to run for such long distances, their shoes are a priority.
More than men, women need to be mindful of the sports shoes they choose to wear. For runners choosing their shoes is akin to buying a house or car, there is a lot of thought that goes into the process. For this reason, while buying running shoes for women, here are a few things that you should keep in mind.
Shape of your Feet
When you go about choosing the best shoes for the job, keep in mind the shape of your feet. There are three main foot types – Flat, Arched and Neutral. If you have flat feet you should choose a highly supportive shoe, which has a strong grip. If you have neutral feet, then most shoes would suit your feet. However, if you have arched feet, then you should gravitate towards cushioned shoes, with padding under the arch of your feet. If you are shopping online, shoes for women have specifications which make it easy to buy.
Minimalism
Choosing to run in minimalistic shoes is meant to mimic the experience of running barefoot. This is supposedly very good for your stride since it helps in agility and strength to develop a better running gait. However, this is not everyone’s cup of tea. Thus, when you shift to minimalistic shoes from your usual heavy duty running shoes, make it a gradual process. Only use it for training and try not using these on a daily basis. Choose shoes that are the slip-on kind. They are easy and soft on the soles. They should be light to give you the sensation that you are walking bare feet. These are not suitable for those with a high arch. Neutral or flat feet runners can try minimalistic shoes.
Your Stride
The way you run is also an important determinant. Wet the soles of your feet and place them on a piece of cardboard to be able to see how your foot contacts with flat surfaces.
The Neutral Pronation allows runners to be able to do with regular running shoes. They could be picky about the comfort and the look of the shoe, but from a technical perspective, they can wear any shoe that they like.
Overpronation means the weight of your shoe is focusing inwards. Thus, you will need more stability. You should choose shoes which have a sturdy sole. This will give you a better grip.
Not many have Supination, however, if you do, you require a flexible shoe. One that has good cushioning and padding.
Having gone through the various things you should look into, here are 4 shoes you must have if you are a marathon runner:
1. Lightweight Slip-ons – This is for those with flat or neutral soles. They can train with lightweight slip-on shoes. They should be of a flexible fabric and comfortable on the inside.
2. Everyday Sneakers – You need your everyday shoes to be sturdy to avoid quick wear and tear. This is for everyday training.
3. Thick Soled Shoes – The soles provide comfort and stability. They allow you to hold a tight grip on your stride allowing you to run at least.
4. Runner Shoes – For your marathon runs, focus on weight, flexibility, and comfort. They should not weight your feet down, but at the same time provide enough surface area for stability.
