Clean Shoes

Asics GT-2140

Get The Right Shoe For You

Yesterday I stopped by Running Wild, a specialty running shop in Highlands Ranch where Michael, the owner, took great care of me. I needed new shoes and I wanted to get them from a professional who has been matching shoes to feet for a long time. He pulled out ten shoeboxes and set me to running laps. Here’s a few details about getting the right shoe. There are three basic arch types out there: high arches, normal (medium) arches, and flat (low) arches. Once you know your arch type, you can match it to the right shoe type. You’ll need either a neutral cushioning shoe, a stability shoe, or a motion-control shoe. The typical footfall impacts on the outside of your heel and rolls across to the inside of the ball of your foot. If you rotate too far to the inside with each stride, you overpronate and need some additional structure on the inside of your shoe to maintain more neutral alignment. If your foot doesn’t roll far enough to the inside you need a shoe with some extra flex. It’s important to match your foot to the right shoe to avoid injury so it’s worth taking some time with someone who knows their job to get it right. After experimenting with a half-dozen shoes at Running Wild I left with a fresh pair of Asics GT-2140s, well suited for my foot (high arch with moderate overpronation). I got them dirty today on the South Platte Trail, an urban bike path that traces the route of the South Platte River through the heart of Denver. The fresh shoes felt great, especially beacause the pair I’ve been using are trail shoes that are less cushioned and more stiff than road shoes. Today’s highlight on the 45-minute loop were the spirted screams coming from the thrill-seekers riding roller coasters at the downtown Six-Flags. My legs felt worked at the end of the day and I’m looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow.