The Lifestyle
Our Top Running Shoe Picks
Written by: Brad Neuerburg
Running shoes are essential for the success and enjoyment of a 25km run, let alone any run! Here are a few key reasons why they are so important:
INJURY PREVENTION
From good shock absorption to traction and stability, running in a good pair of shoes can prevent injuries! Some of the most common injuries from running are overused muscles or your body having a hard time keeping up with the repetitive impact. Having a fresh pair of quality running shoes is going to help cushion and absorb the impact and reduce the stress on all of your joints including your ankles, knees and hips. The number one reason people tend to fall off from hitting their goal is because of injuries, so make sure you have a fresh pair dedicated to running to make sure your body is responding well to the volume and impact that you are putting on it. Let’s make sure you get to January 1st, 2025 stronger than ever!
PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT
Finding a proper pair of shoes is also going to help you have better traction, more energy return, more support/stability, and also better speed and agility! If we are wearing worn out shoes or shoes that are not meant for running, we are going to be lacking in all of these qualities. A good pair of shoes is going to allow you to run faster, make you feel more stable at higher speeds and require less energy exertion when they have a great cushion and pop!
SUPPORT FOR DIFFERENT FOOT TYPES
We all have such different types of feet from actual size, more wide/narrow, excessive pronation/supination, tall arch/collapsed arches and many more! Therefore, certain shoes will be great for someone but might feel very different for you. We recommend going into your local running store, talking with a shoe specialist, and trying a few on to see what works best for you! Your running can make a massive difference if you can find out what shoe(s) are best fit for your body’s current abilities rather than just buying your favorite color online.
COMFORT AND FIT
Sometimes it can be surprising what is actually the best sized shoe for your feet. It is not a one size fits all across the different shoe brands. Therefore, again we recommend trying some on in person and talking with a specialist. Finding the right fit and comfort of a shoe can make sure that they aren’t too tight, squeezing your feet and creating pain or numbness. It can also help you prevent blisters and any unnecessary friction to make sure you feel comfortable on your run and don’t ever want to stop!
brad's top running shoe picks
Saucony Triumph 22 : Extremely comfortable, max cushion shoe, great stability and very responsive
Asics Gel Nimbus 26: One of the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn, max cushion and a very flexible fit
Nike Pegasus: Lightweight shoe, great for people with more narrow feet and both comfortable and fast
Wearing the right shoes can help you run better, longer, and more safely, making them a key part of preparing for the LSKD 25km challenge on New Year's Day!
Brad is our LSKD running shoe guru (also known as our Senior US Fitness Partnerships Coordinator.) Brad is also an LSKD Athlete, 2:40 marathoner, an endurance running coach and most importantly a shoe enthusiast. His passion is in finding new ways to push himself outside of his comfort zone while trying to inspire other athletes and runners to do the same. Brad's biggest learning from starting his running journey is that growth happens when we take that first uncomfortable step into the unknown and strive to be 1% better every day. Okay, let's talk shoes.