Running Shoe FAQ – Do you have any recommendations for any super-narrow shoes I could buy?

Do you have any recommendations for any super-narrow shoes I could buy? I am very narrow footed and because I have to lace my shoes very tightly since I’m narrow footed, my legs easily sleep off.
The narrow versions of many shoes do exist, though they may be difficult to find. A majority of the major shoe producing companies now offer narrower versions of shoes, including the narrow A, 2A, 3A widths, though for a while New Balance had had the best reputation for offering a wide range of widths in their shoes. So check for the version that fits your legs at your local specialty running shop and if they do not have them, I am sure they should be able to order them for you. Another option will be to put a flat insole (any over the counter insole) beneath the sock liner of your shoes to provide an additional layer of cushioning and take up some more space to make them feel like a narrower version.

I get some kind of very mysterious rash after running, and this gets worse the longer I run. What’s happening and what am I to do?
Your reactions could be caused by Lycra. Many other runners also suffer from this. Lycra is one of the very popular fabrics used in apparel including socks because it gives stretch to your socks and prevents them from falling down when stretched. To prevent having these rashes, wear a very thin silk sock under your normal running sock. This will not affect the fit of your shoes neither will it cause your feet to heat up on long runs or you can apply some foot powder on your foot before wearing on your socks. The powder will work as a buffer between the sock and your skin. Blister Shield, a silicone based powder should also provide the very much needed relief.

I’m just getting back into the sport. I’m 6’1” tall and weigh 245 pounds, a really big guy you can say. Do you have any recommendations for a guy my size?
Until you get into shape, you will have to take it slowly so as to avoid the risk of being injured because the forces produced during running are relative to the runner’s weight and without a doubt, you are big! You will need to get shoes that have great impact protection for your own protection. If you have high arches a great option for you will be a big guy’s cushioning shoes such as the New Balance 993. But if your arches are flat or even normal, you should look for shoes that are in the motion control category because they will give your foot enough arch support and also offer you maximum impact protection.

I have tried cushioned shoes to help soften the blow to my feet because I have plantar fasciitis but my feet still hurts. What do I do? I need recommendations.
The simplest way to overcome the pain you feel is by using the conventional ice prescription, stretching and strengthening your plantar fascia. Though it was wrongly said that getting a more stable shoe will help relieve the pain you feel just ahead of the heel. You can also get more treatment recommendations from your sports medicine doctor. Again it is very critical that you that you use the right type of shoes for you foot type.

Is there any kind of repair for shoes that help to extend the life of the shoes? The heels of my shoes seem to wear out faster than I can even run.
You’ll really have to be quite choosy in picking your next pair of running shoes because you seem like a heavy heel striker and there are no replacement parts for shoes like there are for autos and other stuffs. You can either go with shoes that are very ideal for heavy heel strikers like the Saucony Progrid Echelon or the Asics Gel-kayano 15 which have durable heel designs. Shoes with fewer flex grooves in the heel will give you additional durability, because they offer more outsole rubber in the landing zone. Again you can use Shoe Goo. Simply apply a thin fine layer to the wear zone of your shoe and you would have gotten yourself some more miles.

What type of shoes would you best recommend for my daughter who is an overpronator and also has very high arches? Any ideas?
Your daughter should probably run in a stability or motion-control shoe, depending on how severe her overpronation is. This is because her arches are more flexible and her foot type essentially multiplies the risk of overpronation since her arches collapse a greater distance than flatter arches do and because high arches relative to your daughter’s arches inherently prevent the ankle from moving inward excessively. She can also buy an aftermarket supportive insole in a neutral cushioned shoe. There are lots of runners similar to your daughter buying similar combinations from a lot of running shoe retailers to fix this problem.

Is it through that one should buy a pair of running shoes that are a half size larger than one’s street shoes? If it is so, why should that be?
It is most definitely true. Because running necessitates that the foot flex without unnecessary restrictions and the toes move forward freely at each stride running shoes therefore need an additional quarter of an inch space. To identify a good pair when you go to buy one, ensure that when you stand in them, you have a minimum of a thumbnail’s space between the tip of the shoe and the end of your longest toe. Also, depending on the shape of the shoes, the ball of your foot may rest too far forward into the shoe occasionally causing the toes to jam against each other in front.

More running shoe manufacturers don’t produce shoes in wide widths. Why is that? I’m limited to just a few options but seriously need the extra room.
Well specialty running stores may not necessarily stock every option but you actually do have options. Some of the most popular shoes in our guides which include the Nike Air Pegasus+ 26 and New Balance 1225 are readily available in at least one width option. This could be ordered for you by your local shoe running store. To answer your question of why more companies don’t produce more width options, one word does it: ECONOMICS. Yes, economics! For every width a manufacturer adds to a style of shoe, new midsole and outsole molds must be built. This translates into higher manufacturing costs and lower profit margins. So simply put, there’s less money to be made in widths because there are too few runners like you.

Has there being any study carried out on the effects of whether or not the weights of running shoes affects performance and if they do, how?
Yes there have been researches along this line and researchers have discovered that lowering the weight of your shoes makes a very little impact on how you perform. Reason being that because your shoe is only a fraction of the total weight you have to transport while you are running but it also showed that while running with lighter shoes, you use less oxygen meaning that when wearing lighter shoes, you can run a bit faster, or have greater endurance at the same speed. Though not because your VO2 max increases, but simply because it takes lesser energy to carry your shoes on and off the ground. Hence you may go faster in a lighter pair but won’t get any fitter in them.