If you are a veteran runner you know the importance of a good running shoe. It can make the difference between a great running feel, or potential injury.
The trouble is not being informed. Most people do not know that there is a suitable shoe for your foot type. Knowing your foot type before you hit the stores can make a world of difference whether you want to do lively walking, jogging or marathons.
How do you determine your foot type? It’s really quite mere. Get a piece of dark paper and then soak your feet and step on the paper. Look closely at the imprint. There are generally three types of feet.
1) If your imprint covers most of the feet (not much arch at all) then you have flat feet. You are among the 60% of the population in America with flat feet.
2) If you show a wide arch and narrow line of your outer foot then you have high arches. You are among the 30% of the population of in America.
3) If your imprint has a medium arch then congratulations. You are among the 10% of the population in America with the ideal foot.
Irrespective of what foot type you have, there are running shoes that are right for you. As many as 56% of the 30 million runners in America, have injuries from improper shoe selection. So you can see that you do have to do your homework to protect yourself.
With all the pressure one gets from TV adds or what is popular to wear now, you really need to put the health prospect first. Most likely you will be able to find a shoe that is right for your foot type and still have style.
To determine the shoe to buy, here are some guidelines:
1) For the flat-footed person, you will want to buy a shoe that is rigid and stable. This will prevent your ankles from bending inward or outward and it will protect you.
2) If you’ve high arches, you will prefer to look for a very cushioned shoe. High arched feet don’t absorb shock very well so you’ll want that cushion to help in absorbing the shock for you.
3) For the medium arch or ideal foot, you want the combination of both stability and cushioning for your feet.
When you try on a shoe it should be snug but not tight and there should be approximately a 1/2-inch between your longest toe and the front of your running shoe. Tip: Shop for your shoes late afternoon when your feet are a little more spread. If it is not comfortable when you are in the store, imagine what it will be like when you are out on a run. So test them well while you’re there.
In summary, those shoes you bought that were such a bargain may be cause for concern in the future, so pick wisely and may your running feel will be smooth and wonderful. Your feet will be most grateful.

Buying anything new can be numerous fun, but it can also be very spoiling. Purchasing a pair of Running shoes is no unlike, and do the nature of our bodies I wouldn’t recommend rushing into a pair of shoes just because they’re cheap or ready to hand.
There is no two people have exactly the same foot; however manufactures have divided shoes into three different categories: Cushioning, Stability, and Motion Control. Within these three categories their can be a lot of version, but it is a good basis guide to start with.
Cushioning – Cushioning shoes are shoes that have little to no lateral support. These shoes are good for runners who do not need this support, and have indifferent feet. Commonly this type of shoe will be for the runner with a high arch. Examples where this type of shoe is not good is in a case where you are a pronator or an overpronator.
Stability – Stability shoes are a mid range shoe category which offer a balance between cushioning and motion control. This shoe is for a runner who has a normal arch, lands on the outside of the foot and rolls forward. If you are unsure of where else to be this category is a good place to start.
Motion Control – The motion control category is for runners who really need support in a running shoe. Extreme pronators and overpronators can take advantage of a Motion control shoe, as well as a runner with weak ankles and other foot problems that would benefit from a shoe with a lot of stability.
Of course with only three categories like I noted above, there is a lot of room for variation. This is only meant to be used as a quick guide for matters to look for in running shoes. I would recommend visiting a running store and having an employee look at your feet to give you a good idea of what category your feet fit in. If you have grave foot complications like extreme pronation, fallen arches, etc I would recommend visiting a foot physician, as running shoes by themselves might not be enough. You could require orthotics, or even just simple strengthening exercises to get and keep you on your feet.