Sole-ful Advice

Sole-ful Advice

Origins of competitive running evolved out of religious festivals in Eastern Europe and Africa with the first recorded games tracing back to 776 BC. Since then, the cost of a good pair of athletic shoes has gone up!  Whether you like to walk over your lunch break or you’re preparing for your next 26.2 mile competition, consider the following 9 quick tips before you purchase.

1   Make sure your foot has room in the toe box. A poorly fitted shoe will cause blisters and chronic problems long term.

2  Your toes should be able to wiggle, so allow one-half inch between the end of your longest toe and the end of the shoe.

3  Your foot size will increase over the course of a day, so get fitted on your way home from work or later in the afternoon after running errands on a Saturday.

4  Cotton socks cause blisters because they hold moisture. Consider using socks made with synthetic fibers.

5  A walker’s foot lands heel first, so look for a supportive heel that rounds inward. Shoes with thicker heels slow down forward motion and increase the occurrence of shin splints.

6  If you’re walking or running longer distances, buy a half size larger to compensate for foot swelling.

7  Breathability makes a difference with comfort. Shoes made with mesh, for example, allow to flow through the material providing a cooling effect that reduces moisture.

8  For most of us, our feet are different sizes. Have both of your feet measured standing up and always go with the size that fits your larger foot.

9  Don’t overlook style. The happier you are with how your shoes look, the more often you’ll use them.

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