JogBlog

With such a vast selection of shoes on the market, it can be difficult to figure out which is the best option for you.

There are a variety of different types of shoes that are specially designed to cater for various foot types and forms of fitness training, which begs the question – as a runner, does it matter which shoes you wear? And if it does matter, which shoes are the best?

For people running outside or in gyms, there are three basic types of running shoes, regardless of the brand. These are as follows:

Cushioning Shoes

If you are what is typically known as a supinator or high-arched foot, you run on the outer side of your feet, making a cushioned shoe your best option.

This type of shoe provides shock dispersion in the midsole and outsole, and the New Balance MT1210 Leadville is a great example of a cushioned shoe that contains additional material to give even greater support where it is needed most.

Stability Shoes

A neutral pronator or neutral/normal arch is someone whose foot lands fairly evenly, albeit with more of an emphasis on the inside of the sole.

The Mizuno Wave Musha 5 is a fine example of a stability shoe that provides cushioning in addition to enhanced support in the sole.

Motion Control Shoes

Over-pronators or flat-arched feet land with a far greater emphasis on the inside of the foot.

Motion control footwear provides support to the inside of the sole with designs that include features such as roll bars, foot bridges, or dual-density midsoles to reduce over-pronation. The Brooks Trance 11 is a great example of a motion control shoe.

But Does it Really Matter?

If you can afford to invest in a decent pair of running shoes that are suited to your running style, then the answer would definitely be yes.

Far from being a fad or gimmick, these different types of footwear are specifically tailored and modelled to provide the support your feet will need in the long run to prevent strains, injury, and to also minimize the amount of wear and tear on your joints in the long-term.

Before spending the money on a new pair of shoes, be sure to read a few reviews that provide feedback over a period of weeks or months so you can see how reliable the shoes will be as you progress and begin running more.

By spending a little extra money and taking the time to find exactly the right type of footwear for your needs, you will have a much more enjoyable and successful running career, free of potential injury and discomfort.

If you’re interested in learning more and teaching people about fitness. Then check out this superb personal trainer course provider http://www.hfe.co.uk

I’d only had the vague notion of going to the parkrun this morning but, after being awake from 4am to 5:30am (luckily then falling into a sleep deep enough for me to sleep through the 6am kitty-puke-o’clock), I didn’t wake up until 8:50. That was that vague notion unvagued then. But, as the parkrun organisers still haven’t sorted out my time from last week – they’ve got me 90 seconds faster than I actually was, which I wouldn’t mind so much but it’s flagged up as a PB and I’d prefer my PB to actually be my PB – I don’t want to go back until my time is corrected anyway.

So, where to run? As it was a beautiful morning, I decided I needed to see some greenery and water, so I told Shaun I was going to do my six mile route up to the lake and back. He said ‘you can’t do six miles, you’ll break, you’ve only been doing three miles’ but I reminded him I wasn’t famous for overdoing things and most of it would be walking.

When I got to the lake, I decided to carry on and continue through the park then go back past the local-ish shops. When I got round the park though, I changed my mind and went back past the lake and back the way I came. This turned out to be a 7.63 mile run.

Yay.

I have blisters now though.

Bah.

And because tomorrow’s supposed to be another beautiful, sunny day, tomorrow I’m cycling to the beach and back – a twenty mile round trip.

Your back is a very important part of the body, as it carries a great deal of weight in your day to day life. Back pain and back injuries are very common, and once you’ve injured your spine in some way it can have negative implications for the rest of your life. However, there are things that you can do to reduce the likelihood of injury and keep your back limber and healthy.

Why Do I Have Back Pain?

Back pain usually occurs because you’ve put too much pressure on your spine. This includes lifting and moving heavy objects and sitting in an awkward or hunched position for long periods of time. Some back injuries are the result of heavy exercise, but it’s becoming more and more common for those who spend long hours in front of the computer to experience back pain. Poor posture is a major contributing factor and slouching will exaggerate the natural curves in your back and cause muscle fatigue. Those with a high-stress lifestyle will find that their muscles are generally more tense and tight, and will therefore be more susceptible to back pain. If you’re experiencing back pain, it’s important to visit your GP and get it checked out. They may then refer you to a specialist practitioner like Black Swan Osteopathy.

Add Some Light Exercise

If your back hurts, exercising is often the last thing you feel like doing. However, leaving the muscles dormant is not a good idea and light exercise is encouraged to keep your back fit and healthy. Consider adding some stretches in the morning to warm up the back and increase the flow of blood. This will make you less susceptible to strains and pulls. If you spend most of your working day in a sedentary position, make sure you get up and move around periodically. Walk to the printer or the water cooler and stretch your legs during your lunch break.

Adjust the Seat

When you’re driving, it’s definitely worth adjusting the driver’s seat so that you are supported and fully upright. This will reduce the strain on your back. Try not to slump your shoulders and keep your buttocks at the back of the car seat. If your office chair isn’t correctly supporting your back, raise it at work. It’s likely that your Human Resources department will be able to replace the chair with something more supportive.

If you’re thinking about joining the gym this year, (or in fact any year), choosing the right one for you is important. You don’t want to pay for a membership and then not go back again after about visit number four. Look at all the ones that are on offer in the area that you live in and see which one suits you best. Here are some things that you might want to consider:

Think about the kind of gym that you want to go to, and what you want to use it for

While it can be tempting to simply sign yourself up at the facility that is closest to your house, but that shouldn’t be all that you take into account before you sign your membership forms. Think about the kind of workout that you want to use the gym to get. Do you want to go purely for weightlifting or cardio, or would you rather go to a gym that also offers loads of classes and facilities for all kinds of exercise?

Look at what equipment they offer

When you’re having a look around the gym; pay attention to the equipment that they have there. If you’re not really sure what these might be, or what they can be used for, make sure that you ask. You could also do your research beforehand by looking at websites like Fitness Warehouse to get an idea of the things that a gym might have in it before you go.

The staff

Ask if the staff have any qualifications and take into account how approachable and friendly you would find them if you needed to ask them for help or advice.

Choose the gym that works best for you

When choosing your gym, try and avoid just choosing the one that offers the best prices. Look at the types of classes that they offer throughout the day, and check what times they are open so that you know if you will be able to easily fit gym visits into your existing schedule.

What other things does it offer?

Have a look at the other things that the gym might be able to offer you. If it doesn’t have a pool, does your membership include free or discounted access to your local pool as part of your fee so that you can add swimming to your work out?