Running Shoes

If you're a runner, you need running shoes. It's pretty easy to figure that out. What's not so easy is trying to find the right pair. There are so many different brands and styles of running shoes out there, it can be hard to know what to buy. So here are some tips to get you started!

1. Don't trust advertising!
Shoe companies will often promote their shoes in magazines or on billboards. That doesn't mean you should go out and buy them, no matter how good the brand says they are, because they might not be the right shoe for your foot.

2. Get your stride analyzed.
Here's how you find what shoes ARE right for your feet. Get them analyzed at a running store! Employees will be happy to help you find the perfect fit. Always try on the shoes before you buy them though, and make sure they feel comfortable all over.

3. Keep track of your mileage.
You should aim to replace your shoes every three hundred miles, otherwise they will be too weak to provide you with the support you need while running. Keeping track of your mileage helps you remember when to buy new shoes.

4. Order the same shoe when your pair gets old. 
In order to avoid spending a day shopping for a new "perfect pair," you can order the same brand and style you already own online, often for less money than it would cost in a store. Now you have extra money AND a pair of shoes that you know works perfectly!

5. Buy cross-country spikes if you want to speed up.
Spikes are shoes that are designed for speed in competition- they are lightweight and have small metal spikes for traction. Studies have shown wearing them can reduce your time by seconds. If you do buy spikes, make sure you purchase the cross country ones (longer spikes), not track spikes.


6. Don't hesitate to change your shoes if they hurt. 
If your shoes are hurting you, DON'T RUN IN THEM! Buy a new pair! You'd be amazed at the amount of people that don't realize it's their shoes that are the problem. Also, don't run in Converse. They are not running shoes.

Here are some running stores that you can check out- some of them will even give you a discount if you mention you run high school cross country!

West Seattle Runner
3727 California Ave SW #2a, Seattle, WA 98126
(206) 938-0545
http://www.westseattlerunner.com/









Super Jock n' Jill
7210 East Green lake Drive North, Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 522-7711
http://www.superjocknjill.com/