Question:
I am planning to buy running shoes.
I took up running as hobby (1 yr
still counting ). I run 3 to 4 miles
4 or 5 times a week at 5.5 to 6
miles/hr. Current Shoes (New Balance
475) are not comfortable. I was
wondering if there are any moderately
priced shoes out there. I am not
trying to run a marathon, I just
want to run.
Answer:
Sure there are cheap shoes. A couple
of last years' Vitruvian models
were on sale for $30 last I looked:
The Vitruvians are perfectly reasonable
running shoes. The only snag is
that they might be completely wrong
for you and contribute to an injury,
which would prevent you from running
for a while and probably cost you
more in doctor's visits than you
saved on the shoes.
So - at least once, at the dawn
of your running career - why don't
you go to a good running-specific
store and let someone who really
knows what he's doing and can see
your feet and see you walk and run
etc. - let him or her tell you exactly
what type of shoe you require, and
from there, help you determine which
brand, model, and size (you might
be surprised) best suits you.
In future years, knowing that you
need say a motion control or light
stability shoe or whatever, you
can choose to shop sources like
online clearances with much less
risk of hurting yourself to save
a few bucks. And
even the running shoe stores have
discounted shoes (discontinued or
last year's models).
Now you didn't say what moderately
priced means to you. For me that's
$60-70 when I shop for running shoes.
I buy from local stores with a rare
exception of buying a model well
known to me in one of those discount
factory direct stores.
So follow my advice here. Treat
yourself to a really good pair of
shoes to start your running career
off right. You'll find it is money
well spent.
