When I Replace My Running Shoes
When I start to feel my knees and my hips persistently sore after a run.
How I Replace My Running Shoes
I go to the local sports shop and try a few pairs on. Mostly I buy the same ones, but it's amazing how wrong some types can feel, so it is definately worth supporting a local shop for this as if you are not 100% sure of the particular brand and type you want then you may get an ill-fitting pair that slips off your heels or feels tight over your arches. I suppose I could buy 2 pairs at a time, but then I do tend to phase out my old pair before they are totally done, and use them to run in the winter with (see "tips and tricks" below)
My local shop had a device to video your running and check that I wasn't pronating in any way so that they could offer me the right kind of shoe. I had gone in thinking I might need some fancy fangled thing so it saved me a lot of money to find out that this was not actually the case.
Tips and Tricks
- Before you have run all the wear out of your old ones, consider firing at least a dozen short flat headed screws in the soles of them (avoiding any airfilled bits obviously). This will allow you to keep running in frosty weather. They won't grip on black ice, but if you run at the speed I do and keep your eyes peeled then you should be able to spot and avoid it. Sorry I can't post a picture of my shoes, but this is where I got the idea: http://www.skyrunner.com/screwshoe.htm
