Running Shoes

CHOATECROSSCOUNTRY
SUMMERTRAININGINTRANET

Thoughts on Buying Running Shoes

What should I look for in a new pair of training shoes?

Don't cut corners when buying training shoes. They are the most important investment you can make in staying healthy during the season. Cushioning and proper fit are both important; in the course of your summer training, padding is more important than lighter weight. Buy a pair of shoes designed for running and made by a well-known athletic shoe manufacturer. Running in tennis shoes or cross-trainers is a bad idea, since they are not designed to take the pounding that distance runners will give them. Unless you know exactly which model and what size you want, it's best to make such a purchase at a specialized running shoe store, where the sales staff usually are experienced runners themselves and know the product lines quite well. Wear new shoes around for a day or two before running in them to minimize the blisters that may appear when you christen the new pair. Remember that it takes between 50 and 100 miles of running before the shoes are really "your own."

What are racing flats? Should I get a pair? What about spikes?

Racing flats are ultralight shoes with a minimum of cushion that are designed to be worn only in races. In fact, after 100 to 150 miles of wear, they are no longer usable, so they should not be worn in practice, unless you are breaking in a new pair before a race or you want to use them in an occasional speed workout. Spikes are simply racing flats with small spikes attached, which can be useful in cross country, depending on the terrain of a course or in wet, muddy conditions.

Once the season arrives, new runners will notice that some of the experienced varsity runners use racing flats for meets, and sometimes even spikes if the course calls for it. I'd recommend new runners NOT getting racing flats or spikes until you have the chance to talk to some more experienced teammates about how and when to use them. We can discuss in the fall the appropriateness of racing flats and spikes. In the summer, training shoes are all you will need, even if you decide to run a road race.

[ CRH CC Summer Training Home Page ]