Should You Spend More on Running Shoes?

I stumbled onto this video, of all places, on the yahoo finance page Should You Save or Splurge on Running Shoes?

Bottom line is they recommend that you splurge, and I could not disagree more. For the most part, I've been able to stick to the $50 or less for running shoes rule for as long as I can remember, with few exceptions. I routinely look for shoes marked clearance, discount, discountinued, 20% or more off, sale, you name it.

My guess is it's more important for you to run more off-road if you want to reduce injury.

Check out one of my posts from 2009 Why Expensive Running Shoes May Be a Waste of Money.

Shoes and Running Injuries-Follow-up

Over the course of three large studies, the most recent of which was published last month in The American Journal of Sports Medicine, the researchers found almost no correlation at all between wearing the proper running shoes and avoiding injury. Injury rates were high among all the runners, but they were highest among the soldiers who had received shoes designed specifically for their foot types. If anything, wearing the “right” shoes for their particular foot shape had increased trainees’ chances of being hurt. -Phys Ed: Do Certain Types of Sneakers Prevent Injuries?

MY COMMENT: I work for the Army- the reasons for a high rate of injuries in this population is obvious to me.

1. Amazingly, many bases have limited or no opportunities for running on any surface other than asphalt.

2. More active duty are overweight than ever before.

3. It seems to me that a large percentage of active duty simply aren't runners- they run because they are forced to. They have body types that simply aren't able to handle any kind of mileage period, and as a result break down easily.

4. Active duty often take extended leave or other duty assignments- without their running shoes. Weight gain and deconditioning during extended time away from their routine is the norm, not the exception. Then they come back and guess what happens?

I could go on and on but the bottom line is this- look for a correlation between body weight and injuries, and I think you'll find one much stronger than anything you'll find related to shoe type.

If I had a say, every soldier that cannot meet weight or run standards should be required to take a minimum of 3 spin classes per week.

Shoes and Running Injuries

194 missed training days were reported by 32% of the running population with the stability shoe reporting the fewest missed days (51) and the motion control shoe (79) the most -The effect of three different levels of footwear stability on pain outcomes in women runners: a randomised control trial

MY COMMENT: The authors apparently don't think much of the old wet test theory for selecting shoes.

Running Shoe Deal

adidas Men's Supernova Cushion Size 7 Running Shoe

$49.99 List Price $89.95

Knee Osteoarthritis and Shoes

Flip-flops and sneakers with flexible soles are easier on the knees than clogs or even special walking shoes, a study by Rush University Medical Center has found. And that's important, because loading on the knee joints is a key factor in the development of osteoarthritis.- sciencedaily.com

MY COMMENT: So I guess this means if you want your knees to last, hang on to old racing flats for walking around. "Our study demonstrated that flat, flexible footwear significantly reduces the load on the knee joints compared with supportive, stable shoes with less flexible soles."

Running Shoes and Injuries

“We’ve evolved to run on compliant surfaces, not on asphalt or concrete. You run on something hard, your body has to work that much harder to help absorb those forces, and that can lead to stresses and strain, wear and tear, really throughout the whole body.” - Dr. D. Casey Kerrigan, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation (The unglamorous truth about running shoe technologies BY ROME JORGE Lifestyle Editor, Manila Times)

MY COMMENT: More negative press about conventional running shoes, but there is little doubt about the need for protection when running on hard surfaces. Run the trails whenever you can.

Running Shoes and Arthritis

These findings confirm that while the typical construction of modern-day running shoes provides good support and protection of the foot itself, one negative effect is the increased stress on each of the 3 lower extremity joints. These increases are likely caused in large part by an elevated heel and increased material under the medial arch, both characteristic of today's running shoes. -Running shoes may cause damage to knees, hips and ankles

MY COMMENT: I wouldn't throw away your shoes just yet. It will be interesting to see how the shoe companies respond, if at all.

Running Without Shoes-Comparison

Watch the dramatic change in running style with and without shoes in the same runner! Some believe this is just one of many factors contributing to the dominance of African distance runners, many of whom reportedly do lots of barefoot running as youngsters.



Before you go off and try to convert to a mid or forefoot strker, read what The Science of Sport has to say.

Why would you want to change your foot landing to begin with? Science has little to offer you in support of this. And so my advice, having read this far (well done!), is to forget about the possibility that you're landing "wrongly", and just let your feet land where, and how they land, and worry about all the other things you can when you run!

If there is one thing you change in your running, don't focus on your footstrike, but rather on WHERE your feet land relative to your body

Running Shoes Under $50

Today I decided it was time to order some new running shoes. Sticking to my policy of not paying more than $50, I eventually ordered 2 pair from Amazon- one for racing and one for training.

Men's Adidas Supernova CHS 7- $37.76



.... Brooks Mach 9 Spikeless -$34.95-












I also ordered a 3 pack of New Balance socks for $12