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Specialty Shoes

When one plans on buying running shoes most people just want to get a proper fitting shoe that works with their foot type. These everyday shoes are designed to provide the needed support and cushioning for those every day runs. They also are designed to last an average of six months or 300 to 500 miles, with regular use. These shoes come in three major categories; stability, neutral or motion control. Examples of stability shoes are Asics 2140, Brooks Adrenaline, and Nike Structure; Examples of neutral shoes are Saucony Triumph, New Balance 1063 and Adidas Supernova Glide. A good example of a motion control shoe is the Brooks Beast. These shoes will work for any exercise routine from walking to running a marathon.

There are shoes designed for special categories like triathlons, road racing, and track workouts. The construction for these shoes can be quite different than the every day training shoe. Shoes that can be used in a triathlon are light weight trainers such Asics DS Trainer or Mizuno Precision. Some of these light weight shoes come with special features such as drain holes to assist the shoe in expelling water. Another special feature is a secure elastic lacing system that allows the runner to slide their feet into the shoes like a slipper but maintains a snug fit for running. This feature also expedites transition from getting off the bike during a triathlon and starting the run. Triathlon shoes also come in the form of racing flats. The tri flats are very light weight usually about 5 to 7 ounces. A tri flat is usually used for shorter triathlons because they offer no support. An example of a tri flat is a Saucony Fastwitch. When participating in a triathlon one should buy a shoe that will work best for the distance that will be covered. If you’re doing mostly sprints and Olympic distance events a light weight trainer or tri flat can be used. However, if you are doing longer events such as a 70.3 or a full Ironman it might be best to use regular training shoes for maximum support and cushioning.

The other area of specialty footwear involves road racing or track. The road racing shoes can be very similar or the same as a triathlon shoe. Light weight trainers work well for fast paced workouts or tempo runs. This type of shoe would also work well for road racing from distances of a 5K to a half marathon. If you are an efficient runner you can use them to train in or for marathon racing. The racing flats as mentioned earlier should only be used for track workouts and short distance racing from a 5K to maybe a 15K. The reason they are lighter is because they take the support and cushion features out of the shoe to reduce the weight. Without the support features there is more opportunity for injury.

The last of the specialty footwear we will discuss is trail shoes. Trails shoes come in many different materials from nylon mesh to leather uppers. If you are running where they are lots of rocks you need a shoe with a harder outsole to protect your foot from bruising. In Florida we are running on sand and roots so generally a regular running shoe will work. Some models of shoes have a more aggressive out sole and might work better in sand.

These unique shoes discussed here are designed to perform better in some unique situations, but always remember they must fit properly.