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The runner’s shoe would probably be the most important investment a runner should make. Choosing the right shoe could spell the difference between happy feet or painful feet… or sometimes ugly feet… dahil may patay na kuko.
Based on the literature i’ve read in Runner’s World, the results of the wet test determines your foot type, you either have a foot that has a high arch, normal arch, or flat arch. People with high arch should wear shoes that provide cushioning. Those with normal arches could wear just about any type of shoe, or shoes that offer some form of stability. Flat footed people need to wear motion control shoes, as they provide maximum arch support.
I had my foot type evaluated in a Mizuno store sometime in October 2008. The specialist said that I had normal to high arch. Since people who have normal arch could pretty much wear any type of shoe, I decided to get myself a pair of new balance 903s, a neutral lightweight running shoe offering medial stablity
I generally don’t experience any pain when running short distances, with my 903s, but on distances over 30kms, my inner ankle starts to hurt. The pain was at its worst when i ran a full marathon with it, my ankles felt like they were jackhammered after the race. The 903s may not be the right shoe for me.
The day after the Singapore Marathon, i took a trip to the Running Lab. The name RUNNING LAB itself elicits images of athletes running on the treadmill like lab rats with oxygen masks strapped to their heads. It turns out, that the Running Lab is just a regular sports store, the only difference is that it has a treadmill for runners to run on to get a ‘feel’ of their shoes while running.
Taxi CAB with GPS enabled interactive TOUR GUIDE.. coolness!!
The specialist (who by the way ran a 3:52 marathon) evaluated my foot type, he said that my arch was normal in height. He then asked me to run barefoot on the treadmill. By running barefoot on the treadmill, he was able analyze my gait, he told me that both my feet have the tendency to overpronate, and that I would need shoes that provide for maximum stability. He recommended two shoes, the Gel Kayano 14, and the Wave Elixir, I tried both shoes on and felt that the Kayano was stiffer in the ankle area, while the Wave Elixir was a softer, more cushioned shoe. I ended up getting the Kayano.
Since then, I’ve been running with the Kayanos and they seem to work fine for my ankles and feet. I think they will be ideal for my long runs. I’ll use the New Balance 903s for short distance running.
In case you’re interested, the Running Lab is located at:
Shop unit#03-20, Funan Digitalife Mall
109 North Bridge Road
Singapore 179097.
