ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100026
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Marketplace
SOURCE: MEGAN SCHNABEL
You can't buy just a simple pair of tennis shoes anymore.
I tried last weekend. I thought spring had arrived, and I decided I wanted to begin running. I figured I'd need some good, sturdy shoes.
I didn't expect I'd need a degree in exercise physiology to pick out a pair. I spent 45 minutes in the store, trying on gel-cushioned shoes, air-cushioned shoes, high-performance shoes, extra-support shoes. I left without buying any of them, because I was too embarrassed by my own ignorance to ask questions.
Somebody has been buying them, though. Americans purchased almost 351 million pairs of athletic shoes - at a cost of $11.41 billion - in 1995. And we paid an average of $32.53 per pair, up from $31.19 in 1994, according to the Athletic Footwear Association.
But do we understand them?
For all you fellow nonrunners-who-want-to-become-marathoners out there, here are some shoe-buying tips, courtesy of three running-shoe experts: Rob Landsberger, manager of the Foot Locker store at Tanglewood Mall; Dave Tanis, shoe buyer for CMT Sporting Goods Co.; and Donnie Tickle, a former cross-country runner and coach who currently is assistant academic coordinator for athletics at Radford University.
First and foremost, decide how much running you're going to do. If you go more than five miles a day, stick with high-performance shoes. They're expensive - be prepared to shell out $80, $100 or more - but they provide excellent support, as well as cushioning for both the ball and heel of the foot. If you just run recreationally - a mile or two at a time - you should be fine with less expensive shoes, Tickle said.
CMT's best-selling running shoe is a pair that retails for $140, Tanis said. But for the average person, $50 to $60 shoes should do just fine.
"You don't have to take out a second mortgage to buy a good pair of shoes," he said.
Of course, if you drop $140 on a pair of shoes, you might actually use them.
Make sure the shoes aren't too loose, especially in the heel, Landsberger said. If your foot can slide forward, your toes will be crunched against the front of the shoe.
Women who have been running for years can tell you that it's getting easier to find athletic shoes that really fit. It took shoe companies a while to recognize the fact that women tend to have narrower heels - in proportion to forefoot - than men do. But they've since redesigned athletic shoes especially for the female foot. Shoe retailer Foot Locker even opened Lady Foot Locker.
If you tend to walk on the inner or outer sides of your feet, stick with fairly rigid shoes that will keep your feet stable while you run, Tickle said. If your feet roll around in your shoes, you're a prime candidate for knee problems. An easy way to check your footfall is to look at the soles of a pair of shoes you've had for a while: Are they worn evenly, or just on one side?
If you're heavyset, make sure your shoes give you plenty of cushioning and stability.
Don't run in walking or aerobic shoes. Only shoes that are made for running provide the support and cushioning needed to avoid shin splints and more serious problems, Tanis said. Your feet absorb four to six times your body weight when you run, compared with two to three times your weight when you walk. And running shoes are made of a combination of nylon and leather, so your feet can breathe. Most aerobic and walking shoes are all-leather.
Consider investing in two or more pairs of running shoes, Tickle said, especially if you plan to run a lot. If you alternate pairs, your shoes will have plenty of time to dry out between uses, and your feet will become accustomed to different shoe styles.
You'll know it's time to buy a new pair of shoes when you start to notice small aches and pains after you run, Tanis said. You also can check the heels of your shoes: If they've become uneven, the inner cushioning is breaking down.
I guess now we don't have any more excuses for not running, do we?
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by Robert Lunsford: Athletic footwear sales.by CNBcolor.