Q&A for How to Choose Running Shoes

If you use the wrong size shoe for running, you may get ankle pain. Sometimes if you tie the shoelaces too tight, it can suffocate the ankles a bit and cause pain. If the shoes are broad in the front and narrow at the heel, they may make running uncomfortable.

Runners should protect their knees. If you are a runner, you should not do squats past 90 degrees or when your quads or thighs are parallel to the ground. Do not overuse your knees by doing deep squats.

In this case, it might not be the type of shoe that is causing the pain. Consider going to a doctor to find out what's wrong and/or get a prescribed sole for the shoe.

Over-pronators need a shoe that provides stability (this is different from cushioning). Stability will provide support under your arch to help keep your arch from collapsing during your gait cycle. Stability can be found in various degrees: mild, moderate, or severe, depending on how severely you over pronate. I would recommend visiting Running Warehouse.com, where you can submit a gait-analysis video (totally for free!) and they can determine the level of stability you need. Some popular stability models include the Asics Kayano and the Brooks Adrenaline.

This indicates that you have a tendency towards under pronation, which means your arch remains stiff through your gait cycle. It's problematic in that under-pronators do not absorb impact as well. While many running shoes can correct over-pronation, there's not much a running shoe can do for under-pronators, other than to provide excellent, high-quality cushioning. My recommendation is to purchase highly-cushioned shoes, such as the New Balance 1800, the Asics Kayano, or the Nike Pegasus. Runningwarehouse.com has excellent prices and selection!

Tendinitis is generally aggravated by too much impact and/or increasing intensity of training too quickly. You should probably have this evaluated by a doctor. Pre-run stretching, post-run icing, and exercises to strengthen your ankle will be very helpful. However if you're just looking for shoe recommendation, getting a highly-cushioned trainer should definitely help to alleviate some pain. A great shoe in this category is the Asics Kayano or the Brooks Ghost. These are available at Running Warehouse.com for great prices.

This can be caused by a number of factors! I would recommend going to a store that specializes in running shoes. An associate there will be able to look at your feet and your stride to determine what kind of shoe would help to alleviate your pain.

Sketchers with memory foam work great for me. If your local department store doesn't have a good selection, then you can find tons of them on shoes.com. I've had a few knee surgeries, and they work very well by giving some extra cushion to my joints.

Try your local shoe and sporting goods stores, and if you can't find anything there, look online.

Depending on your level of competition, a spiked shoe is probably worth purchasing. Even in longer races, spikes are a solid investment. They will not only change your mentality into a more serious race mode, but they also will provide more traction and a lighter step, allowing for a more rapid turnover and, therefore, a faster time.