Whether you're training for your first 5k or your next marathon or ultra marathon, you have two vital pieces of equipment. One are your feet. The other are your running shoes. Now, our feet, there's not much we can do with those. We're stuck with them, but your running shoes have to be changed. How often do we have to change them?
Hi, I'm Houston podiatrist, Dr. Andrew Schneider. And I wouldn't call it a pet peeve, but something that I see consistently in my office are people who don't switch out their running shoes as often as they should. They figure they look good, they still feel good, why should I have to change them out? Well, here's the thing. Running shoes have a limited lifespan. And if all you're doing is running in the shoes, they're only good for between 300 and 400 miles. That doesn't take that long for a serious runner.
And if you're not doing other things other than running in them, then maybe you're not going to track your mileage, you should change out your running shoes at least every six months. Certainly no more than that. The reason is the mid-sole of the shoe, which is the part of the shoe that actually has the support, the cushioning of the control, ends up compressing down as you run. And even though the shoe still looks good, especially if you're a treadmill runner, and it may feel good because you're used to it, it's no longer providing you the support and the cushioning and, quite frankly, what you bought the shoe for in the first place.
So do this. If you use an app to track your mileage, then it's pretty easy. You know when you're going to hit that 300 to 400 mile. But if you don't, then write a date on the outsole of the shoe and that'll give you an idea of when it's time to replace your shoes. Again, litmus test is every three to 400 miles or every six months, whichever comes first. If you find that you're having any pain when you're running, feel free to give us a call at the office or visit our website for more information at www.Tanglewoodfootspecialist.com. Thanks so much for watching and have a great day.
