The Right Shoe

A proper fit - for your foot and your gait - are critical to injury-free speed and distance. Visit The Runner's Store for the top specialty running brands and models and the expertise to help you discover the best shoe for you. More expensive does not always mean better! Better is better; Faster is better; No structural pain is better. The Runner's Store provides free customized gait analysis and shoe recommendations for every client.

Finding the right shoe for you is a combination of physiology, function and purpose. At The Runner's Store, we understand all three components and when combined with experience will help you select shoes based on a combination of the following criteria.

Physiology

The first step in the process is to consider the physiology of your run. While this is primarily based on your feet, it may also include relevant information regarding leg length, injuries and neurological status.

Starting with your feet, we may perform an arch analysis. Do you have high arches, flat feet or somewhere in between?

A simple wet footprint test can help identify your arch. We may ask you to perform a few squats while barefoot to visually determine if your arches are falling while weight shifts.

You may even run barefoot to get another perspective. How tall are you? What type of build do you have; are you lean, athletic, overweight?

Each description has physiological relevance to how you run.

Do you wear orthotics - either prescribed or over-the-counter? If so, please bring them with you - along with your current athletic or running shoes.

At this phase, we should be able to identify you as either a high arch, normal arch or flat arch; each of which have corresponding shoes that are suited to your needs.

Function

After identifying your footstrike according to your physiology, we will suggest specific classes of shoes best suited for you.

High-arch people are commonly under-pronating (supinators) runners in need of a neutral or cushioning shoe. Whereas flat footed individuals typically thrive in a strong stability and even motion-control style of running shoe. However, most runners are in the middle, the range of a stability or structured cushioning shoe.

Mentioning any injuries or pains while running may help us precisely identify where on the spectrum the functionality of your shoe is optimized to keep you running faster, longer and pain free!

Purpose

Purpose is another dimension that guides the shoe selection process.

Are you a competitive track athlete? Are you a growing teen? Are you training for a marathon or triathlon?

Each intended purpose is associated with unique demands for shoes that The Runner's Store can ensure are supporting your success.

The Right Shoe

Are you pronator, supinator or neutral foot strike?
Need extra cushion for those long distances?
Looking for a trail shoe with responsive stiffness for desert paths?
Looking for an ultra light race shoe or spikes Don't know what shoe you need to run a PR?

...The Runner's Store has the shoe for you