If the Shoe Fits...

Simply put... the right shoes can make your race and your training. It is usually recommended that you only use your running shoes for running and no other activities (ex. yard work, cross training, etc.). Most shoe experts and coaches utilize the 300 mile rule for replacing shoes. The rule simply states that as you approach this accumulated distance of 300 miles, you get a new pair of shoes. I apply this rule to myself, but believe that the life of a shoe can vary with a lighter or heavier runner. Running studies show a typical footstrike can have as much as 3-5 times your body weight. So, it makes sense for a lighter runner to have a longer shoe lifespan as compared to the heavier runner with the same shoes. I also listen to my feet... shoes that tend to be near the end of their life often make a different sound then a new pair because the shoe has lost most of its internal integrity and support system.