With a slight nip in the air and the clamour all around, you know that it’s the festive season. Since Diwali is around the corner, we know that your gifting list is midway in progress. What would complete the list is a gift for yourself. Yeah, yeah- you heard it right! While we know that you think the best for others, its’ time you think for yourself too! So, add a running shoe to that list and complete it. Running shoes, you say incredulously- what? Don’t you think we know how much you have been procrastinating getting back to your running, blaming it on the shoes? Your health is within your hands and the sooner you get into the habit, the better it is for your body.


Now, the first step to getting back into an old habit is to equip yourself with the right accessories, and your old running shoes don’t make the cut. Perks of running is that it requires no lessons- it comes instinctively to us. Also, running is a minimal gear-high impact activity, which requires the simple investment of sticking to it routinely, and a good pair of shoes. Shoes are important in running as they accelerate the impact of running and prevents muscle fatigue, as well as injuries. Wondering how to choose a pair of good running shoes? Follow these steps and you would be up in no time:



  1. Know your surface

First, you need to determine and understand the surface that you are going to run in. For hard surfaces like roads, cushioning is important, to decrease muscle fatigue. For running on mud and trails, shoes that provide great traction come of use. For running in the gym, you can have shoes that are similar to that of the hard surfaces, but a little less cushioning works as the treadmills provide a more comfortable surface than the road. The Run’s range of shoes at Decathlon is perfect- the provide you with the right traction and cushioning.



  1. Know your gait

Post understanding the surface, you need to analyse your gait. What is gait, you wonder? The gait is essentially how your foot strikes the ground as you walk. Even for running, gait is pretty important, especially when you want to prevent injury. Your gait and the amount that your feet roll inwards or outwards, determine what kind of shoes are best for you. Running shoes often specify the gait that they are fit for and can also be used for gait correction. More often than not, too much rolling inwards can cause your posture and gait to change, creating great discomfort for the longer run. Some shoes help correct that, of course, you need to pick judiciously. Ask around and if confused, come to Decathlon. Kiprun’s range of shoes can aid in this situation.


  1. Ask about the cushioning

Post checking for gait, follow the important aspect of cushioning. While barefoot running is touted as most comfortable and easy, with all the debris and shrapnel lying around, you wouldn’t want to run barefoot. For such experience, you can choose barefoot shoes, that are thin, almost sock-like shoes that allow your feet maximum freedom. To protect your feet, they provide minimal cushioning, keeping debris and injury away. This, alongside minimalist shoes, are a huge hit amongst people. Yet doctors advise against prolonged use of these, as not only would the lack of support leave you in dire need of a foot massage, but these can lead to a stress fracture. Here neutral cushioning shoes are the best to start with. They provide a good amount of cushioning while being lightweight and flexible. Progress from the neutral ones to motion control shoes. These have a lot of cushioning and can aid those with irregular strides while positioning the foot better as it hits the ground. But remember, these shoes are often heavy and can weigh you down greatly while running. Run’s Active Range fits the bill perfectly as they provide the right cushioning.



  1. Fit is king

“Why are they not talking about the fit?” you must wonder. Here we are, talking about it, after all, the most essential factor needs to complete the entire set. As you can understand, fitting is of utmost essentiality as we all know how uncomfortable shoes have made us suffer. Not just the pain, an ill-fitting shoe can cause more damage than we could imagine, starting from incorrect gait, to possibilities of muscle strain and worse, deterioration of bones. You need to wear shoes that feel comfortable to jog and chase the wind. Size also plays an important role as they vary widely between shoe types and manufacturers. You need to try the shoes on, while purchasing, to ascertain the fit. Here’s a surprise- running shoe size is larger than that of the regular. There should be a space the width of your thumb between your big toe and the end of your shoe, and your heel should fit securely in the shoe- a golden parameter that you should follow by heart. Essentially, you should run and skip wearing the shoe, while at the trial session.



Conclusion

A bad running shoe is detrimental for both fitness and general wellbeing of your feet, so choose judiciously. This is a great Diwali gift that only you can gift yourself, so make a belie to your nearest Decathlon store, today.

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