Is There a Perfect Running Shoe?

I was reading a great article in the New York Times blog today "Bill Rodgers and the Perfect Running Shoe". In it, Bill Rodgers, who won the Boston and New York Marathons in the 70's and competed in the Montreal Olympics, discusses his feeling on running shoes.

There were a couple of points he made that I thought were great:

You own a running store. Why do you think it makes such a difference to shop at a specialty store rather than a larger sporting goods store?

I don’t think it’s that unusual to have a pair of shoes you just don’t like, and they end up being your gardening or walking-the-dog shoes. I always tell people to go to a specialty store in their area and get fitted for shoes and find the right shoe for your foot type. You may want to try on two or three or four different pairs of shoes. Compare one company to another. The staff will look at how you move, let you run a little bit, see how your foot hits the ground, see what your arch is like. They will help you try to find what works best.

I've written in previous posts that a specialty running store is ideal for purchasing the right shoes. The staff is well trained and it is worth paying slightly more for the shoes to get the knowledgeable service. Two great stores in the Houston area are Luke's Locker and Fleet Feet.

Here's one I don't agree with 100%:

How do you know when it’s time to buy a new pair of running shoes?

I know the shoe companies say 500 miles. I never go by things like that. I go by feel. When you’re on a run and you land on a rock and you feel it on your foot, when that happens you know your shoes have lost a lot of their cushioning or support and you might be wise to invest in another pair of shoes. I am one of those people who pushes it. I like the broken-in feel to my running shoes. When they seem to fit really well and lace up really well, to be one with your foot, that’s what you really want. If you have that, then you have a great shoe.

I know where he's coming from, but I can't agree with going entirely by feel. When a shoe is breaking down and losing its intrinsic support, it happens gradually. It's difficult to really sense those minor changes, but they have a great effect in how your foot functions. I suggest you log your mileage on your shoes and use it as an objective indicator, in conjunction with the more subjective feel of the shoe, to determine when a new shoe is needed.

The great thing about getting and taking advice is seeing how others do it and take the good and leave the other stuff. Finding interviews like this one with Mr. Rodgers is invaluable to athletes and it's fantastic to have access to it. If you live in the Boston area, be sure to visit his store Bill Rodgers Running Center.