Hey marathoners, listen up. Unfortunately, your running shoes may only last you a running season or two before you have to replace them. It’s very important to pay close attention to the signs that your footwear needs replacing because this could prevent an injury that could keep you on the sidelines during the next marathon season, which we all know would be very frustrating!
So what are the signs that your running shoes are on their last leg? (Pun intended.)
- You’ve had them for a long time. A good rule of thumb for running shoes is if you’ve worn them for about 300-400 miles it might be time to let them go. If they still feel comfortable and are offering the right cushioning and support you might be able to stretch that out a bit longer depending on your body weight and activity level.
- You are feeling pain. Pain shouldn’t be something you feel when you are running and if you are experiencing discomfort of any kind you might want to consider getting new footwear.
- You can easily twist your shoe. If you grasp your shoe at either end and twist you shouldn’t be able to twist it far. It should feel firm, not flimsy.
- Your treads are wearing out. If the soles on the treads of your shoes are worn out it’s well past time to invest in a new pair.
- New shoes feel better. If you notice a difference between the way your old shoes feel and the way a new pair feels, then you know it’s time to ditch your old shoes. Always have a new pair on hand just in case so you can gauge the difference.
If you continuously pay attention to how your shoes feel and get new ones at the sign of wear and tear then you can avoid many overuse injuries. For more information on running shoes please call Dr. Mitchell Wachtel at (978) 794-8406 to schedule an appointment with us in one of three Massachusetts office locations: North Andover, Lowell, or Haverhill. We want to help you make the right choices when it comes to the health and safety of your feet.