The Scoop on Shoes - Pt. 1

Get yourself more than one pair of shoes to train in. Don't let the cost scare you. This can be accomplished with no extra expense if you rotate your purchases. Buy your second pair of shoes when your first ones are at their half-life.

Having two pairs of shoes allows you to address different training needs. Purchase a heavier pair with more cushioning for longer distance runs. Buy a lighter shoe for those shorter, faster runs.

If your training doesn't vary that much, get two pairs of the same shoes. With two pairs of shoes, it's easier to tell when the older pair is worn out and needs to be replaced.

You can decrease the likelihood of injury if you have more than one pair of shoes. It's hard to find a shoe that meets all your needs - like cushioning, stability, pronation. Maybe one of your shoes causes a certain kind of stress. Wearing that shoe every other day cuts the stress in half. You also have a chance to recover from that stress on the off-day.

Maybe you feel you'd like to try a new line of shoes. It's nice to break in a new pair of shoes slowly, especially a brand you've never worn. With two shoes you can slowly bring the new pair of shoes into the rotation by wearing them for shorter runs and only wearing them every three or four days initially.

Variety is the spice of life. Altering your training can make your runs more interesting. Getting that second pair of shoes might just add a little extra kick to your exercise regimen, with little or no extra cost.