Things to Know When Buying Running Shoes

by Jenni in

Being a [somewhat] new runner, I have had to research and ask all sorts of running related questions and myths. But, the thing that seems to get the most questions and the most research are the types of shoes that are best, and how to pick them.

Shoes of any sort are a very personal choice, everyone's feet are different and what fits one person will not fit another. This has been drilled into my head since my ballet years when my Mom and I would make special out-of-town trips to our shoe fitter any time I needed new pointe shoes. Thank goodness, I have not found that kind of crazy to be necessary for finding good running shoes.

Most athletic stores have a wide variety of shoes that will be perfect for almost any activity. When it comes to running shoes, there are a few criteria that will make your search much easier. Plan on spending $50 to $125 for a good pair of running shoes.

Know Your Activity

The type of shoe you purchase will first depend on what you intend to use them for. I use my running shoes for training and for non-running workouts. If you will be completing marathons, your needs will not be the same as a person using theirs for a few mile runs a week. Distance runners will work best with lightweight shoes. The lighter the shoe, the less support it will give. If you, like me, are training for your first distance race, something semi-light weight with average support will be best.  The Nike Luna Racers are my go-to for training because they are ultra lightweight but still give full ankle and foot support, useful in running and other fitness related activities.

Know Where You Run

The amount of cushion and traction varies greatly depending on where you run. Runners who mainly use the treadmill do not need shoes with as much cushion as those running on pavement. Likewise, pavement and treadmill runners do no need to worry about traction like trail runners. If you are running outside on pavement, opt for shoes that have more cushion support like the ASICS Gel-Kayano running shoe that has memory foam. This shoe is also water resistant and gives added balance support while running.

The Saucony Kinvara 3 is a fantastic shoe for trail runners and is still extremely lightweight, at about seven ounces. These shoes range in price from $65 to $105 dollars and come in almost any color combination your can imagine.

Know Your Foot Type

Knowing your foot's shape is key to picking out a good pair of running shoes, and the best part is, you probably already know more than you think. The four main things to know about your feet are toe size, width, arch size, and whether your foot is crooked at all. Once you know these, you will be able to pick a shoe that supports the most needed areas of your foot.

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Let's talk about toes first. If you have acrylic nails on your toes or find that the nails bruise easily, you will want a shoe that has some extra space in the toe region, but is still able to secure your ankles. Long toes or toes with longer toe nails will need some extra space at the front of the shoe as well. The Adidas Feather 2 is an incredible running shoe. It is ridiculously light and has an extra large toe box. This is the shoe that Geoffrey Mutai wore when he set the World Record at the NYC Marathon. Extra perk, it is only $85!

If you are not quite sure where your arches measure, do this quick arch test to find out. ​Once you know your arch, you can decide what shoes work best. The Brooks Pure Connect running shoe is great for those who have high arches but want a minimal shoe that still gives great support. Asics are great shoes for runners with wide feet. These shoes will give enough support, but do not load too much extra on the weight.

Know Your Weekly Distance

For the average distance runner who trains between twenty and fifty miles per week, ​any of the brands listed above should work great for your running needs. Those who run more than fifty to seventy-five miles per week will most likely need something higher quality that is meant for extreme wear.

This Month's Reading: Foodist

by Jenni in ,

So, I know I am a bit late to the game in reading Foodist. But, this month has been a bit busy. And is two weeks really soo bad? Anyway, as tardy as I may be, I am still super excited to be reading Darya Pino Rose's first book, Foodist. ​Darya has a Ph.D in neuroscience and uses it to come to some pretty incredible conclusions about food. Darya had plans of going into medical research in hopes of finding cures for neurological diseases. What she found was that food had more effects on health than medicine.

Darya now runs SummerTomato.com along with writing other published works and publicly speaking about food and health. ​This book is something I have been super excited about reading and cannot wait to see what is beyond the cover. Foodist ​focuses on staying healthy and loosing weight without dieting. Let's see what tid-bits of genius we can learn from this one!

Meat Free Mondays: Veggie Burgers

by Jenni in

When done right, veggie burgers are fantastic. There are a few ways to cook veggie burgers that I absolutely love, and some that are not so much my favorites. These veggie burgers top my must-eat list for those hot summer nights when a backyard barbecue sounds like perfection. Try adding some liquid smoke to any of these recipes to seriously kick-up that delicious grill taste! To make these healthy burger options even healthier, you can always swap out the bun for an English muffin, pita bread, or lettuce. Trust me, it will taste so good, you won't even miss the extra calories!

Mediterranean Burgers

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This Eating Well recipe looks fantastic and the ingredients list does not take learning a second language. ​Yes, the burgers take a bit longer to make than your average hunk of meat put into a ball, but these are much healthier for you. If you are having a problem keeping them together, try adding a little cooked quinoa. Both millet and quinoa work as a type of veggie burger glue to keep it all together.

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Veggie Mini Burger Pita with Cucumber Yogurt Sauce

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You had me at cucumber yogurt sauce, the mini and pita just sealed the deal. This burger looks fantastic and is the perfect dish when you are wanting something both hearty and refreshing. ​Just to make these sound even more incredible, the list of ingredients includes fresh cilantro, chili powder, and garlic. Yum.

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White Bean and Sweet Potato Veggie Burger

This white bean and sweet potato burger sounds like one of the most incredible burgers out there. The mix of the beans and the sweet potato make this burger a power house of nutrition. Add in the super simple recipe and we have a winner! ​These guys should only take a few minutes to cook, but you just might be able to fool people into believing they took all day.