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Running Shoes: Your Options & Their Merits

Running takes a toll on your body so comfort and support from shoes is important. There are many different types of running shoes but on this page we’ll focus on training shoes, racing flats, spikes, and the novelty of running barefoot. Runtastic.com covers the difference between training shoes and racing flats. According to the running blog, a training shoe is a type of running footwear with ample cushioning and is heavier because of all of it. Training shoes also have a large offset, the measurement in height from the forefoot to the heel -"Run Your Best Race And Pace". Training shoes are what many runners wear to train every day. Spikes and racing flats are worn primarily in races. The goal for both spikes and racing flats is to minimize weight and allow for greater mobility. John Davis, the master behind “The Science of Racing Flats,” explores how racing flats can help you get off the ground quicker in the “toe-off” phase of the stride, but one must be careful not to run in a pair “with a very thin or very flexible forefoot because it might decrease performance by robbing your forefoot of that springing action” -"The Science Behind Racing Flats". While racing flats and spikes are very similar, spikes have “pins” on the bottom (the actual spike on the shoe). Spikes are made for both short and long distances and one can tell the difference by looking at the heel (Sprints = No Heel, Distance = Large Heel). Erik Heinonen, a contributor to Runner's World, says that “a spike should feel like it was meant for your foot, a little more snug than a training shoe feels” -"Everything You Need To Know About Spikes". Training shoes, racing flats, and spikes are choices that many runners swear by but barefoot running is becoming a new trend. Roger Collier, editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, describes this new fad stating in a Daytona State College database article that, “Many runners are shedding traditional running shoes--with their padded heels and gel sacks and air pockets and arch supports and "motion control" technology--because these shoes may weaken the muscles in the feet and encourage runners to forcefully strike the ground on their heels. Running barefoot, on the other hand, encourages people to take shorter strides and to land more softly on the middle or front of their feet, which some people believe reduces injuries and strengthens foot muscles” -"Low-tech Running Shoes in High Demand". Running barefoot isn’t for everybody but you can also try minimalist shoe brands to imitate running barefoot. Whether choosing to run in training shoes, racing flats, spikes or going barefoot, make sure you listen to your body and stay comfortable.