Selecting Running Shoes for a Marathon

If you are training for a marathon, then it’s a high possibility that you know that you should not run in old, torn running shoes. During your marathon training, you should get new shoes when you have exhausted the limit of the typical running shoes, which is about 400 to 500 miles.


During the day of the marathon, it is obviously not a great idea to run with torn running shoes, but freshly purchased running shoe are not also better. You should use shoes that are just slightly used, for about 50-60 miles, so that they still have the appropriate padding and fit. Thus, you can purchase a new pair of running shoes about two to three weeks before the marathon and run several miles for you to be acquainted with them. If the training is fine, you can get another pair, exact design and size of your current shoes. There’s not enough reason to try other running shoe when the marathon day is just days away. Like in automobiles, you should have a breaking in period.

Using your running shoes before the actual marathon will just compress your shoes. Instead, wear a different pair of shoes or flip flops when you are walking around before the marathon day.

Maybe you are bombarded with different advertisements claiming that each kind of shoe is the best for marathons, such as Nike, Adidas, Rebbok and etc. However, there is no best brand for everyone, since people have different type of feet. Generally, there are three factors to consider when you are purchasing a shoe for marathon.

The first factor includes what foot type you have (high arch, flat, neutral/normal). The second one is the athlete’s strike (heel striker, mid-foot striker, forefoot striker). Lastly, the stride rhythm (pronator, supinator or normal). However, we will discuss the common consideration in selecting running shoes for a marathon.

• Buy running shoes from shoe stores specializing in running shoe or from a professional well-trained on determining the right kind of running shoes based on your foot type and stride pattern. 
• Try out shoes later in the day when your feet have swollen to its maximum capacity. 
• In determining the appropriate size of your shoe you need, make sure that there is about at least .5 inch of room between the front of the shoe and your longest toe. 
• On the day of your purchase, carry your socks you will use for the marathon. It is recommended to wear synthetic socks since cotton socks traps dampness. 
• Consider the need to buy running shoe depending on the miles you have done your run using your old pair. Never base your decision to buy a new pair by spotting how much stumps are left on the exterior sole. The middle sole of most running shoe deteriorates at 400-500 miles, or lesser on certain factors and deals minimal or zero protection after the maximum mileage. It is essential to remember that running shoes offer the premium line of protection against future injuries during the marathon. 
• Buy new running shoes that you will use on the day of the marathon at least two to three weeks before the actual marathon. These running shoes should be the exact design that you find you are comfortable with during your running training. The key idea here is to have enough time to compress the new running shoes, by running 50-60 miles involving one marathon-like run before the marathon day.