When it’s time swap shoes.
by Lacey Kniep
Winter weather storms put a damper on anyone’s running schedule. The days warm enough to step outside in shorts and a tank top for a run kick-start a summer full of training.
But before you run back into your routine, check out the mileage wear on those shoes.
One important task of running is to know when it’s time to replace your running shoes. Running in old shoes is one of the leading causes of running injuries. The following guidelines will help you have an injury-free season.
Running shoes are designed to absorb any or most of the impact when your foot hits the ground through the inner cushioning. If unusual aches or pains start happening during your runs, it’s a sign the cushioning is worn out.
A good rule of thumb is to replace a running shoe typically every 300 miles or so, or every season for lower-mile runners. A good way to keep track of the age of your shoe is to write down the date it was purchased on the shoe itself.
Although the feel of the cushioning is the number one way to tell the life of the shoe, the bottom tread also can dictate when to get new shoes. If the tread is almost gone or flat, it’s time for new shoes. Keep in mind running on rougher surfaces may wear the tread more quickly than softer surfaces such as grass.
To get more miles for your buck, some running shoe retailers suggest running with two or three pairs for you more frequent runners. Switching shoes after a run allows the cushioning to regain its shape again before being out on the road again.
April is finally upon us! With warmer weather and faster paces be sure to check your shoes routinely to get the utmost performance out of your shoes and yourself.
Lacey Ellen Kniep is a junior at the U of U studying Communication with an emphasis in Journalism, interning at CATALYST this semester. Before moving to Salt Lake last fall she ran and swam for a college in Idaho and now enjoys both recreationally.