Stop Spending Money....Start Thinking

Lets spend some time talking about running shoes. What is the best shoe to wear? How much cushioning do we actually need? Should I believe all the claims marketing companies print? Researchers specializing in sports biomechanics have actually already answered these questions.

Research has not shown the superiority of expensive shoes! In fact, in one study, wearing shoes that cost more than $95 was associated with a doubling of risk of an injury. A study that looked at 4358 runners found that those who wore shoes that cost more than $95 had a 123% greater chance of having an injury than those runners who spent less than $40 on shoes (Marti B. Relationship between running injuries and running shoes - Results of a study of 5000 participants of a 16 km run - The May 1984 Berne "Grand Prix". In: Segesser B, Pforringer W, eds. the shoe in sport. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers, 1989: 256-65). Now what does that mean. STOP SPENDING MONEY AND START THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU RUN. Shoes do not make the runner.

The average runner has up to an 80% chance of becoming injured in any given year DESPITE advances like thrust enhancers, gel pods, air chambers, progressive-rate polymer columns, variable-density-foam mid-sole platforms, even metal springs buried inside the heels of high tech running shoes. My advice, be frugal (and skeptical) when shopping for next pair of training shoes and buy the shoe that fits you best and lets you feel your running.

Upcoming Perfect Form Running Clinic

Training errors and bad running form both contribute to the high rate of injuries among recreational runners. Reports indicate that approximately 65% of runners develop an injury each year, many of which could be avoided. Learn how to increase your performance and decrease your chances of injury using the training theory of how to design an efficient plan to improve your fitness and speed as well as the proper running technique and footwear. A video will be shown on running form analysis, running drills, introduction to dynamic stretching and more. Open to runners of all levels. Wear comfortable running clothing appropriate for the weather and an old pair of running shoes for wear pattern analysis. Please include shoe size when registering.

Clinic will be held April 4, 2009, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm at FVPT's Unionville Office for a fee of $35 per person (or $50 if registering two people). Call 860-673-0223 to register by credit card or for more information about the registration process.