When is the Best Time to Get Your New Marathon Running Shoes?

It is not uncommon for a runner to use one pair of running shoes throughout the entire training schedule. Some runners start with two pairs of running shoes, and use them alternatively as they go through their rigorous training schedule, thereby breaking them in evenly over time. Doing so does cost more, and requires more shuffling initially, but there is nothing better than having two pairs of perfectly conditioned running shoes in your bag on the day of your marathon. If you have used only one pair of shoes, chances are your shoes may need replacing.

If you are not quite sure whether or not you need a pair of new running shoes, here is one way to quickly figure this out. Let us assume you have followed a Basic or a Competitive Training Schedule. In other words, let us assume you have run an average of between 30 miles per week to 50 miles per week, and have successfully gone through about 12 to 14 weeks of training already. Of course, depending upon the your personal goals, the totals could have varied between as low as 35 miles per week (for a beginning level marathoner) to as high as 80 miles per week (if you are an advanced level marathoner) but for the sake of simplicity, let us assume you averaged about 50 miles per week. At that rate, your running shoes may have probably endured about 700 miles (14 weeks x 50 miles/week) of running. Now assuming that your weekly peak during the following weeks is going to be about 40, you are going to run approximately 60 to 70 additional miles between now and the Marathon day. So if the above calculations show that your shoes have been put through a use that is longer than the typical duty cycle (under 500 miles) most shoes are designed for, it is important to buy a pair of new running shoes as soon as possible, and break them in.

It is also important to note that some running shoes wear out way before they reach their designed mileage duty cycle -especially if they were used on rough surfaces. If your running shoes show signs of any of the following symptoms, you may be better off replacing them as soon as possible even if you have not put your running shoes through a lot of mileage.

Signs that you need new running shoes:

• Your feet/legs ache in a way that seems out of the ordinary
• They do not fit properly
• They show visible signs of wear and tear
• They feel hard on your feet, especially when you land on them
• They have significantly uneven wear and tear
• Visual examination shows significant deformation -especially around heel cups, and midsoles region
• You know you have used your shoes longer than what they are designed for

If any of the above is true, you may want to get a new pair of running shoes right away. It is important to break them in for at least a couple of weeks prior to the Marathon day.

Assuming that you had started out with the right type of marathon running shoes, you may want to stick to the same make and model. As we train, we develop what is routinely referred to as "muscle memory." Switching the make and model of your marathon running shoes so close to the race could make things a bit more difficult for you this late in the game. If your local shoe retailers do not carry the same exact make and model, try locating a running shoes retailer on the Internet that does. If you have to settle for a different make/model, select one that is nearly similar/identical to your original running shoe type, form, weight, and the fit. Above all, not only your new running shoes should be of the right type, they should also feel "comfortable," and "similar" to the type of running shoes you may have used during your entire marathon training.