Happy 2021! I still am finding it hard to believe yet another year has gone by!
One of the main questions I continually get DM’s about on instagram is what the best running shoes are. My response is always the same – there is no ONE best running shoe! The best running shoe is the shoe that works best for your unique body. What works for me might not work for you and what works for you might not work for me.
On top of that – depending on the day or type of run you might want to wear different shoes. The shoes I like to run in for long runs aren’t always the same shoes that I want to run in for an easy 5 miler.
So how do you find the perfect shoe for you if someone can’t just give you a blanket answer?
First, most brands will have the type of shoe you need, so once you figure out the type of shoe you need you can then find what shoes in that category might work for you.
If you want to give ASICS a try, a brand I’ve been running in since 2000, they have a SHOE FINDER on their website! The only caveat is that it’s helpful to know if you need a stability or neutral shoe.
First the SHOE FINDER asks your gender, so it knows what shoe you would prefer, men or women’s. If you are a woman who prefers men’s shoes click men’s or vice versa if you are a man who prefers to run in women’s shoes for fit or color reasons, etc.
It then asks you what terrain you plan to run on – trail or roads. Trail shoes are different than road running shoes. Pick whichever place you plan to run on more. I occasionally run on trails but more often than not wear my regular running shoes for those runs. Trail shoes are not going to be comfortable in the long run if you primarily run on the roads or a paved trail like I do.
It next moves on to what your typical weekly mileage is. This is important because “Beginning runners and runners logging long distances may want extra cushioning to provide comfort and protect joints. Paired with your specific goal, distance can inform which materials and technologies will suit your needs.” That being said you might like extra cushioning even if you are an experienced runner who runs a fair amount of mileage each week. You can explore that later, but for now just stick with what you typically run weekly and let the calculator do its job!
Want to give ASICS a try? I have an awesome giveaway over on my instagram page today to enter to win a pair of ASICS running shoes of your choice!
Your running goal is up next – further or faster? Many of us will say but wait – I want both. I hear you – I too want both! My suggestion would be to pick faster if you are looking for shoes to wear during speed workouts, to possibly race in, or if you plan on running shorter distances. Pick further if you are increasing your mileage on singular runs or your weekly mileage or if you are training for a long distance event such as the marathon distance. Again this is an option you can go back in and play around with later if you want to see what options the SHOE FINDER will give you if you change this variable.
Lastly you chose the level of cushioning you prefer – regular, extra or maximum.
It’s that easy! The SHOE FINDER then gives you recommendations based on those choices!!
