Times Of Swaziland: BUILD UP TO MBABANE HALF MARATHON: 7 DAYS TO GO! TIPS FOR SELECTING RUNNING SHOES

BUILD UP TO MBABANE HALF MARATHON: 7 DAYS TO GO! TIPS FOR SELECTING RUNNING
SHOES
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Ntombikayise Gwebu on 18/11/2023 06:47:00


MBABANE – With one of the country’s long distance events dubbed Mbabane Half
Marathon race drawing near, it is essential to have the right running shoes.
Running shoes are a runner’s most important athletic purchase. An athlete does
not want to walk out of a store with shoes that seem to fit, only to find them
uncomfortable when they are already at the starting line. Meanwhile, T-shirts
and race numbers will be distributed next Wednesday to Friday at the Municipal
Council of Mbabane. The registration numbers were 1 107  at the time of
compiling the report, as confirmed by assistant Information and Public Relations
Officer (PRO) Buhlebenkhosi Dlamini. Following, are tips on purchasing the right
running shoes.
Make running shoes an end-of-day purchase to ensure fit.
Did you know your feet actually enlarge as the day goes on and you’ve take
more steps? Your feet swell when you’ve been on them for a while, so buy your
running shoes near the end of the day – not in the morning.
Bring the socks and inserts you wear with your running shoes.
Socks vary widely. This includes wool to cotton to synthetic, and thin to
extra-thick, they can change the fit of your running shoe. Bring the socks
you’ll be wearing with the new running shoes, along with inserts or orthotics
you normally wear to have the best run.
Get your feet measured before you buy
Athletes do not want to tiptoe amidst a race due to foot pain and discomfort as
a result of not selecting the right shoe size. It is essential that even if you
think you know your shoe size, have your feet measured before buying new running
shoes. Your feet tend to get wider as you age. If you’re a recreational runner
and there’s been a hiatus since you last ran, whether because of an injury or
another reason, your feet could be a different size. Pregnancy can also change
your shoe size; your foot may be bigger after the birth of your child.
Your feet may not be exactly the same shape and size; the two sides of your body
may not be exactly symmetrical. Some runners buy a different size for each foot.
Too, if you’ve had foot surgery, your foot size may have changed.
Make sure you can move your toes easily
Road Runner Sports says you should be able to “play the piano with your
toes.” The shoe should be wide enough at the top and around your toes and the
front of your foot for you to wiggle your toes freely. If the shoes are too
narrow, you won’t be able to distribute pressure correctly when you’re
running. Experts advise to have about a half an inch between your forefoot and
the front of the shoes. Your big toe shouldn’t feel tight against the wall of
the shoe, and your little toe shouldn’t be wedged against the side.
(Information sourced from
https://www.rockymountainfootandanklecenter.com/blog/7-tips-for-selecting-the-right-running-shoes)
Know your foot arch
If you have medium arches, you can wear a variety of running shoes. These
“neutral” shoes provide a moderate amount of cushioning and arch support. If
you have high arches, you likely place more force on the outside edges of your
feet (called under-pronation), so a shoe with extra cushioning helps reduce the
shock of impact. Some running shoes can provide up to 50% more cushioning than
others.
If you have low arches, your feet roll to the inside to a significant degree
(overpronation) when they hit the pavement. Look for running shoes that provide
stability. These shoes may include a “post” of firmer material on the side
of your shoe at the midsole where your arch is. If you have flat feet or very
low arches, you may want to ask for running shoes that have motion control
features that include firmer heels and a design that counteracts your
overpronation.
Choose lighter shoes
Running with heavy shoes increases the load on your body. This may decrease
running speed thus causing one to lose out on possible prizes when they could
have avoided facing such a challenge. If all else is equal, choose the shoe that
weighs the least. (Information sourced from
https://www.rockymountainfootandanklecenter.com/blog/7-tips-for-selecting-the-right-running-shoes)