Types of Running Shoes

There are 3 types of running shoes. These are essential for any runner who takes their running seriously and wants to avoid unnecessary injuries. They're designed for a specific foot type as this can cause a particular running action. Once you know your foot type then you can choose the correct running shoe for you. This will enhance your running and you'll have fewer injuries. Here we give you a guide to the 3 types of running shoes and which you will need.

Motion control running shoes

Motion control running shoes are designed for people who have low arches or flat feet. People with this foot type will typically leave a foot print like that on the right. When running these people will "overpronate". This means that the foot overly rotates inward as the weight transfers along the foot.

The ball of the foot takes most of the weight and the push off comes from the big toe. Although this may feel perfectly natural to the runner this running action is unnatural for the body and must be corrected. This can be done with a specific type of running shoe.

Motion control running shoes are required. They help prevent the excessive rotation that occurs in this foot type. The shoes are more rigid than others and will help prevent the over rotation from occurring. The shoe will also have a medial post in the sole as well as being slightly wider and bulkier.

These features mean the running action is far more natural for the body without any special effort from the runner. This will help with less injuries and better times especially during endurance running. If you have flat feet or low a low arch motion control running shoes are essential.

Browse Motion control running shoes

Stability running shoes

Stability running shoes are designed for people who have normal or medium arched feet. They will typically leave a footprint like that on the right. Most people fall into this category, when running this foot type strikes the ground at the heel in the normal way.

The foot then rotates slightly inward as the weight transfers along the foot. This is pronation and is perfectly normal. This is a running action to strive for as it causes fewest injuries and is running at its most efficient for the human body. A specialist running shoe is still required for this foot type.

Stability running shoes are the required shoe. They support the normal running action and have additional elements that help a runner. They contain some rigidity but not too much so the normal pronation is encouraged.

They also have some cushioning for shock absorption that any runner needs. This is especially so for endurance running. To enhance their running a person with a normal or medium arched foot type will find stability running shoes essential.

Browse Stability running shoes

Cushioned running shoes

Cushioned running shoes are designed for people who have high arched feet. They will typically leave a footprint like that on the right. Runners with this foot type are called underpronators. The foot needs to pronate or rotate through running as a normal running action.

But with underpronators the weight travels along the outside of the foot without any or little rotation of the foot and it's weight inwards. This is unnatural and causes a range of injuries after a sustained period of running both mild and possibly severe in time. This is mainly due to a lack of shock absorption.

Cushioned running shoes will absorb the shock that the running action causes. The shoe will also be highly flexible in a twisting motion. This allows and exaggerates any rotation that is present to encourage pronation or rotation.

This leads to a more natural running action. The endurance runner will be especially grateful for cushioned running shoes as they would have experienced shin splints and knee problems without them. Therefore for this reason cushioned running shoes are essential.

Browse Cushioned running shoes