Shoe Suggestions

While many women may love shoes, trainers/running shoes can often be a completely different story. It may be socially acceptable to put looks before comfort when buying a pair of shoes, but when it comes to tennis shoes this is completely unacceptable. I for one am extremely picky about shoes no matter what their purpose is. I had bunion surgery in the 10th grade and a lot of subsequent foot problems so this is quite the issue to me and I encourage you to make it an issue as well.

Here are some tips to picking out good shoes. *Note* This is my personal opinion, no one person's foot is the same. Always consider yourself not others.

1. Money Matters: Don't be stingy about your shoes. Find a shoe that is comfortable. That if need be, you could spend all day in them and not want to saw your foot off. Otherwise you're just asking for more problems. So many body aches and pains originate from your feet. Don't set yourself up.

2. Try Them On: Never. I repeat NEVER purchase a pair of shoes without wearing them. That's just stupid. The only time this is acceptable is if you have a particularly trusted brand of shoes, and they are not meant for working out.

3. Don't Rush It: You should never plan a quick trip to get a pair of trainers. Take as long as necessary to find the right shoe and do not settle for anything that is less than perfect for you.

4. What's Your Foot Type?: This is crucial to buying running shoes. Many shoes don't offer proper support for your feet. You shouldn't have to buy inserts if you get the proper shoe in the first place.

4b. A common foot type is high arches, or it's opposite flat feet. To find out what type you have try this simple foot test from runnersworld. When you have high arches like I do and you don't have good arch support in your shoes, your heel, toes, and the ball of your foot absorb all the shock from your feet slapping the ground as you run.

5. Size Matters: Keep into consideration that your feet swell when you run. If the shoes you are trying on fit your foot too snug, they will probably feel too tight and painful when you are running. This can also be felt as random numbing in your toes or other parts of your foot resulting from pinched nerves.

6. Insoles: If you wear insoles bring them with you. Otherwise how would you know whether or not they will fit in your new shoe?

7. Get Some Help: Many people like to be left alone while making a purchase. I know I do, but don't be afraid to ask for help. Salespeople know what products are on the market and they know feet. They can help you make an informed decision. So help them out by giving them the right info...what type of running you do, how often you run, where you typically run, and what type of surfaces you run on.

8. NO!: Don't be afraid to say no or give yourself a day or so to digest what you've tried on. You'd be amazed at how your mind will lead you to think shoes are better than they are because you are carried away by either their looks or all the wonderful things the salesperson said.