If you run long enough, there will come a time when your running shoes need to be replaced. Running shoes are made of materials like foam and rubber that will break down over time due to excessive wear. Unfortunately, there is no magic number of miles or length of time that applies to all running shoes.
There are, however, some signs that it may be time to purchase a new pair of running shoes. Take a minute to look at your shoes and see if they show any of the following signs:
- The outsole (bottom of your shoe) is completely worn down. When the treads on your shoes are worn, you will lose the ability to gain traction on certain surfaces. Decreasing your traction can potentially result in injury.
- You notice the white mid-sole peeking through the outsole of the shoe.
- You have logged a couple of hundred miles and your shoe doesn’t seem to have the same “bounce” it used to. You may feel like your running on “dead” shoes. You’re not imagining it! The materials in your running shoes break down over time, losing their ability to rebound or “bounce” back.
- You have recently given birth–no I’m not joking! Pregnancy changes your feet, so make sure that you are wearing the right size and right shoe for your foot.
- You are feeling some soreness in your legs or feet that’s not attributable to a change in training, training surface, etc.
- You notice your toe poking through the front of your shoe (just kidding, well sort of :-)).
- Your shoes do not stand upright when placed on a flat surface, demonstrating uneven wear on certain parts of the shoe.
Leave a Reply