There are so many choices and so many variations in shoes, types and needs that it occasionally becomes humorous thinking "I just need an average pair of running shoes". How is anyone supposed to know what is the right running shoe when there are so many considerations?

Well, here's a thing or two to verify if you have a normal type foot. Your arch is probably an average height, which fundamentally means when your foot is wet, the yet foot print looks wide at the top, narrow in the middle, and not quite as wide as the top but bigger then the center part. When you walk, your step rolls from the heal forward, the weight is slightly to the outside, or up the side of the foot.

If what was just mentioned is your foot, consider these characteristics and designs when buying your running shoes. Look for words like 'good midsole support' or moderate, normal or average support in the sole. You need a middle range type of all around support. Lightweight is a general preference lately, with a combination of 'breathable fabric' and leather. You may want to consider buying new socks and keeping them only for your running shoes as well. It always provides a nice little pick-me-up.

Tags: running accessories, running shoes

The best women's running shoes are designed to give the feet control, stability and cushioning. If a woman's shoe has all these features, it ranks among the best shoes. A shoe with control provides a good grip while the woman is in motion or halting, thereby reducing foot injuries and falls. Shoes with motion control are especially recommended for women with flat feet or overpronator. A pair of shoes is considered stable when it controls excessive side-to-side motion and provides less flexibility in the toe area. These are definitely recommended for women who have toe problems and tend to twist their ankles or lose their balance often. Shoes with cushioning are good for women with high arches or underpronators, and women who suffer from heel pain or have poor natural padding. Cushioned shoes have excellent shock absorption qualities. But the cushioning properties of a shoe get eroded after about 400 to 500 miles of running.

The fit of the shoe should be good enough to make any pair worth its price. The best running shoes for women would have a little bit of extra space to wiggle the feet. The shoe should have about a thumbs' width of space more than the full size of the feet. The middle foot area should have a secure and comfortable resting place beneath it. And there should not be any slippage at the sides near the heel area. If they are also lightweight, they will tire you less and help in running long distance.

Many popular shoe manufacturers make women's shoes with most of these features. Nike, Brooks, Mizuno, Avia, Saucony and Asics are the brands offering the best women's running shoes. Their prices range from about $25 to $150 and are offered in a variety of attractive colors and designs. To find out which shoe is best for you, check the fitting thoroughly and discuss your running plan with the store attendants. A shoe that might be best for me may not suit your requirements. So it is advised to search for your best option by seeking the above features in your running shoes. You can find the best running shoes either in a shoe shop or on the Internet.

Tags: girls running, running shoes

If there is one thing I didn't want to do as a young man was loose weight. My nick name at school was Stick. Others were Skinny Ribs and Skelator. There were a couple of reasons why I was so thin. One was simply because I was full of energy and always running around, and the other must have been down to me having an ultra fast metabolism. Oh how I hated those nicknames back then, but I would have loved to have them back once I hit my mid 40's as I became as fat as a barrel. Alas, I was to become a couch potato and my poor ole metabolism began to slow down with age. But I did eventually find a solution to the middle age spread and that was simply by running to lose weight.

The thing I like so much about running to lose weight is that it's easy. Apart from decent footwear there are no machines, gyms, or other fitness expenses to suffer. It can be practiced at your own pace, in your own time, at a schedule that suits you. There is a downside though which is I sometimes have to miss my run if there's a torrential downpour or worse still a snow storm. But even with the unpredictable elements, there are very few days lost to inclement weather conditions.

Running to lose weight and to get into shape gets a bad wrap from some fitness gurus as being hard on the joints. No one can argue that poor footwear slapping down on hard concrete won't take its toll over time, but with a good quality pair of running shoes and a nice grass surface, no one is going to be turning into a cripple overnight. As I'm neither practicing for nor running a marathon here, the harm is done by this form of exercise. 20 minutes of running or gentle jogging every other day has seen a healthy steady weigh loss with this Fatty Arbuckle and as a bonus to shedding those pounds, I feel absolutely fantastic too.

On average I lost around 2 Kg a week for 3 months then the weight loss became much more gradual after that. My obvious physical appearance changed in a relatively short space of time which impressed my neighbor so much that he now accompanies me on my runs most days, and the weight is dropping off him just as it did with me.

I will just finish by saying that I have not been on any kind of diet regime. I've always enjoyed my meat and 2 veg and continue to eat as much, if not a little more, than I did before I began running to loose weight. Having said that, I've never been a fast food junkie, nor do I have a sweet tooth, but I do get stuck into big helpings at meal times. So for me, loosing weight was not so much about putting less in my mouth and getting more exercise, but more to do with just the exercise bit. Everyone is different, and only you know what you have to do, but what I can say is that running to lose weight has really worked for me and my neighbor Roger D.

Bye the way, if you don't fancy the outdoor jogging scene, you can always use a treadmill instead. Just remember, if you're serious about losing weight, there are only 2 times when you really need to exercise ? One is when you want to, and the other is when you don?t! Get out of that one if you can!

Tags: jogging, running for beginners, running workouts

Are you ready to start a new healthy habit of running or a seasoned runner looking to replace an old pair of shoes? Either way, it is very important to buy the right pair of shoes for you not necessarily the ones that are the most technically advanced or on the sale rack!

At least for me, it is so tempting to hit the sale rack when I begin my search for new shoes. It kills me to spend anymore than I absolutely have to, but with running shoes, I have found, it is one thing to not spare any expense. Finding a great pair of running shoes is sure to save most people money with comfort and safety. Finding a pair for $49 does not do a lot of good if you hurt your knee the next day! There are so many brands and styles of shoes that its hard to know where to start when you walk into a retailer. If youre not sure where to start in the process, note the techniques listed below for finding the perfect shoe for your needs.

Find Your Foot Type:

Figure out how you run (outside of your foot, outside to inside, or straight down the middle). The easiest way to determine how you run is to look at an old pair of running shoes. If the shoe is worn on the outside of the heel and rolls inward excessively, you have a pronated foot type the majority of the population (60%) fits into this category. Youre more likely to have this foot type if you are flat footed.

If you have high arches, your foot is rigid and doesnt pronate (roll inward) so there is not an effective shock absorber. Roughly 30% of the population has high-arched or supinated foot types.

If you land on the outside of your heel and roll inward slightly to absorb shock, you are of normal weight, you are considered the most sound (biomechanically) runner. Only about 10% of the population has neutral/ideal feet.

Tips for Your Trip to the Shoe Store:

• Examine your old shoes for tread wear.
• Socks are important. Wear your running socks when you try on.
• If your feet are different sizes, buy for the larger one.
• Shoes with better breathability will help curb sweating.
• Grooves in the sole offer more flexibility.
• Flat feet need support rather than flexibility.
• If you tend to overpronate, look for shoes that will lace higher up so you can better customize the fit of the shoe.
• Shoe should feel comfortable right way they dont need to be broken in.

When to Buy New Running Shoes:

• Look at the soles. If they are worn out or very unevenly worn it is time for a new pair.
• If youve traveled roughly 400-500 miles on your treadmill or its been six months, it is time for a new pair. Remember, if you are wearing your shoes for other activities, those miles count too!

What questions should the salespeople ask?

• How long have you been running?
• How much mileage are you doing per week?
• Are you training for a particular event?
• Where do you do most of your running?
• How much do you weigh?
• Are you aware of any foot problems?

Make sure that your shoes fit properly, below are some tips to help:

• Check for adequate room at the toebox by pressing your thumb onto the shoe just above the longest toe. Thumb should fit between the end of the toe and the top of the shoe.
• There should be adequate room in the widest part of foot. The shoe shouldnt be tight and your foot shouldnt slide around.
• You heel should fit snugly against back of shoe without sliding up and down when running.
• Run around in the store try on a hard surface, not just on the carpet to get a true feeling on how the shoe will react outside.

Simple solutions will get your running. The more you know about your feet and what activities you will be partaking in, the more prepared you will be to find the right pair of shoes. Shoes are important for the health of your feet, but for the rest of your bones and joints as well.

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Tags: running apparel, running shoes, running tips

Running Tips

 by: Ryan Campbell 

Its a good idea to consult your doctor before beginning any physical activity. The information in this article is not meant to be technical, its just a guideline. Use the information as you like. With that said, lets talk about running and its benefits.

 The wonderful thing about running/jogging is that I can be done just about anywhere in the world. All you really need is a good pair of shoes and some determination.Running is a great stress outlet and it promotes weight loss and fitness all at the same time. You are probably wondering why its not a part of everyones everyday life. That is the purpose of this article, to encourage running as a means of physical and mental health. 

The challenge of getting out there and pushing yourself is the kicker for most people. When you decide to give it a try youll quickly see how enjoyable it really is. Every time you finish a run you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment, this is because you've pushed yourself to your limits and you know what you've done is good for you.

 The mental work out I refer to is the mental training and control it takes to make each stride and to push yourself. When you become tired your mind starts thinking of other things youd rather be doing that are less strenuous. You tell yourself not to listen and to focus more. So you focus on your breathing and your form. You are training your mind not to give in. When you are focused before you know it youve conquered your run for another day. It's a great sense of accomplishment!

 I recommend having 3 or so different places to run, the variety will keep it interesting and more fun. The distance you cover is totally up to you, run distances you feel comfortable with. When you feel that you are ready to add more length to your sessions, then do so, in small increments. 

Always remember to stretch out before you begin running, this will prevent injury and ensure your muscles are ready for the work ahead. You should be stretching for at least 4 to 5 minutes before starting. Dont forget that running uses more than just your legs, so stretch everything, not just your legs. If its cold out, its a good idea to stretch more than regularly and to go for a quick warm-up walk.

 Drinking water will keep you hydrated and help you go the distance. I like to drink 3 tall glasses of water before I go for a run and roughly the same amount immediately after I finish the run. You can even take water with you and drink it while running, keep in mind that youll need something to hold the water unless you dont mind having the bottle/container in your hand. 

Some key elements to think about and remember while on your run are good pace and proper form. These 2 factors will hugely affect your ability keep going. If you push yourself to much off the get go, you wont have any energy left for the middle or end of your run. If you ever get the feeling that you NEED to stop, DONT!. What I recommend is, slowing down your pace to almost walking speed, but keep the running form. Soon enough youll have your breath back and you can pick up the pace again. The importance of form is related to efficient use of your energy. You should try to keep your back reasonably straight, to keep from hunching over; this also helps in proper respiration. Also dont move your arms excessively, this is a common mistake and its easily fixed. Try to keep your arms reasonably limber and if you move them while taking strides, try to move them in a forward-to-backward motion. Moving your arms side to side causes you to waste energy, keep your momentum going in the direction you want forward. 

When youre finished, make sure you cool down properly. This will keep away muscle cramps and its all around easier on your body. Walk for a few minutes and remember to stretch well when youre done. And remember you can never have too much water after a long run!

See you out there! 

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