News

Head to HAWC for advice on running shoes

  • Published
  • By from the staff
  • Health and Wellness Center
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Some say, “If the shoe fits, wear it,” but how can people be sure the shoe really does fit? 

The Health and Wellness Center here offers people tips on healthy eating, setting up fitness programs, smoking cessation and more. They also help people figure out what workout equipment, including running shoes, is right for them. 

Here are a few tips from the HAWC on caring for, and choosing proper running shoes:

Wear and tear 
     
-- People who run once a week can probably get by with regular sneakers. Those who run two or more times per week should really invest in a decent pair of running shoes. 
     
-- People should replace their running shoes every three to six months, or after running between 300 and 500 miles. 
     
-- Men weighing 181 pounds or more, women weighing 150 pounds or more and people who wear their running shoes for more than just running, may need to replace their running shoes more often. 
     
-- Machine washing and drying running shoes is a bad idea because it breaks down the inner core of shoes, thus causing the need for people to replace their running shoes more often.

Picking the right shoe 
     
-- The wrong shoe can decrease a person’s run time and give them sore feet and knees. 
     
-- People should determine what type of pronator they are before going to purchase running shoes. There are three types of pronators: normal pronators, overpronators and underpronators. 
     
-- Normal pronators don’t pronate, or turn, their feet significantly in or out but can have rigid or highly flexible feet. Those with rigid feet should buy cushioned shoes. Those with “normal” feet should choose stability shoes, and people with highly flexible feet should choose stability or motion-control shoes. 
     
-- Over-pronators turn their feet out, usually have low arches, and roll their feet inward when running. Their arches also tend to collapse when they are running to absorb impact shock. The best shoes for over-pronators are stability or motion-control shoes. 
     
-- Under-pronators turn their feet in and usually have high arches. Their feet don’t roll inward to absorb shock when they run, so the best types of shoes for them are highly cushioned shoes with single-density midsoles.

For more information, call Anthony Cook at the HAWC at 238-7161. 

(Information provided by the RAF Mildenhall HAWC)