How to Determine Your Foot Type for Running Shoes

To figure out what type of running shoes you should buy, you first need to know that kind of feet you have. A knowledgeable salesperson at a running specialty store can help you find the right running shoe for your foot type, but you can also figure out what type of foot you have on your own. One way is to just look at your foot. A more accurate method is to examine your footprint by either running in the sand or on paper with wet feet.

In choosing the correct shoes, three different types of feet to be consider are:

Flat Feet

If you're looking at your foot, you'll know you have flat feet if you don't see any arch. The bottom of your foot, from your toes to your heel, is completely flat. If you do the footprint test, your print will look like a foot-shaped blob. You won't see an inward curve from your big toe to your heel.

Problem? If you're flat-footed, you're most likely an overpronator, which means that your feet roll inward when you run.
What to Buy: You will probably need a running shoe that maintains your stability. Look for the words "motion control" and "stability" on the box of running shoes you are considering. In addition to motion-control shoes, some flat-footed runners also need to wear orthotics (custom-made shoe inserts that correct foot issues).

High-arched Feet

You should be able to easily determine if you have high arches -- you'll notice a high and definite arch on your foot. If you do the footprint test, your print will curve inward, making the middle part of your foot look very skinny. When you push your hand against the bottom of your foot, your arch will stay rigid.

Problem? If you have high arches, you probably supinate or underpronate, which means your feet roll outwards as you run. It's very important that runners with high arches periodically re-measure their feet because running will cause their arches to gradually fall, making their feet longer.

What to Buy: You need to look for flexible running shoes with a soft midsole that absorbs shock. When buying running shoes, look for options with the words "flexible" or "cushioned" included in their descriptions.

Neutral or Normal Feet

If you've examined your foot or your footprint and it doesn't look flat-footed or high-arched, you most likely have a neutral or normal foot. Your footprint will have a noticeable curve inward, but not by more than 3/4 of an inch.

Problem? As long as you pick a running shoe that doesn't counteract your foot type, you shouldn't encounter any problems. This is the most common type of foot, and it's also the least susceptible to injury provided it's outfitted with proper footwear.

What to Buy: If you have normal feet, you can choose from a wide variety of running shoes, including ones made for neutral runners or those with slightly flat-footed or high-arched feet. Don't pick running shoes that have a lot of stability or motion control.

Morning run

Today I started to run at 5.20 am. It's the first time for me to jog in the morning again. Well, it's Sunday by the way. Usually I prefer afternoon, considering the work time which I have from Monday to Saturday. Last night I went to bed lately, 12.45 pm. But thank God I could get myself awake at 5.00, so I could do the running exercise this morning.

I intended to took the path from my home to the west while making the way home from the other road. I've calculated the time I should spent on this exercise session: 30 minutes. Long enough for a starter.

But there was something beyond my will. I have a stomachache in the middle of the run. So I had to go back home not long after I took my first step. Poor me. I finished the run for only 5 minutes. Not good enough for today.

A New Start For An Old Exercise

This afternoon, I sit back with my work colleague about what we do whenever it comes to a spare time. He is a blogger, just as I am. We started to chat about exercise. I mean sports. At a moment before, I was complaining about my dis pleasant condition which is always sleepy and tired all the work time. My friend noticed this. He said that whenever I was working on the computer, I used to stretch my hands upwards, lean backwards onto the backseat, while opening my mouth largely, “hoaahhmm...”.

“I did?” asked me. He nodded.
Well, honestly I did remember that habit. I remember that I always pauses my work off the computer and start to take the stance and then... blah... I am a sleepy and tired person. At first, I wasn’t get annoyed by this habit. But then I started to think about the causes and possibilities which drove me into such habit.

I was a smoker. A great one. I admit it because I used to smoke 2 packs of cigarette everyday. I enjoyed smoking but slowly it decreased my body resilience. As we know, cigarette contains millions of toxic items which induce body to acquire health degradation including those deadly diseases. In seven or ten years, you may have tuberculosis, and a heart attack, or stroke in another chance. But I’ve only smoke for five years, so my body had just its beginning. Woke up in the morning with stiff all over the body, I never feel fresh and enthusiastic everyday. All day of tiredness.

Fortunately, I broke my relationship with tobacco nearly 7 months ago. Thanks to my girlfriend whom encourages me to strict the eagerness of smoking, until now. After the breakout, I realized that my body resilience increased. That morning stiff never comes again, as well as my gone better appetite. My life had gone better, until my friend said in the first paragraph. I am a tired and sleepy person.

I’ve read some references about health and then thought back what kinda thing have I left undone. It finally drove me onto a conclusion. A word. Exercise. Yup. Exercise. I haven’t done that for almost.. 3 years. Oh my... Last time I went for jog was in middle 2004. And no more exercises till now.

As aforementioned, that I am a blogger [beginner actually] who used to sit hourly in front of a computer. I am also a graphic designer in a printing company who also sits more hourly and make a symbiosis along with the monitor, the mouse, and the keyboard. Thus, I am lack of body activity.

Our conversations forwarded on what kind of sports he preferred and how he did the exercise. He likes to swim and jog. Poor me, I'm not able to swim. Although I've tried for several times to arrange a swim class along with my mates who also cannot swim, the result returned for zero. By means that we cannot go to the swimming class altogether. We blame it all for the cause of jobs and works to accomplish. What a bunch of losers!
Thus, I cannot swim until now.

Then I said to myself that I had to start an exercise right now. Whatever it kinds, I should get my body move on the track. Get the sweat. I decided to jog. This afternoon. No hell to wait.

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