How to Choose the Right Workout Shoe

Be sure to watch the video interview below for some really important tips.

One of the most common mistakes we see is that probably 7 out of 10 people choose the wrong athletic shoes. Not wearing the correct shoe is often the root cause of chronic aches and pains and can actually cause injury. Often times, our clients may complain about nagging or chronic aches and pains and when they simply change to a quality pair of shoes properly fitted, the pains disappear!

What happens is that most people go to a major chain store or discount shoe retailer and try on a few pair of shoes that "look good" and then choose the one that is the least expensive, the "cutest," has the more recognizable brand, or that seems to "feel right."

It is critical that you are properly fitted for your workout shoe and have a professional (not the teenager working in the shoe department) do a proper analysis of several factors before investing in a shoe.

Princeton Running Company (108 Nassau Street, Princeton), hosted an exclusive event for Body Project VIPs this past weekend. It was not only a blast, with fabulously delicious and healthy frittatas, fruit, and coffee, courtesy of Massimo's Cafe, but everyone received a custom fitting and analysis (plus a nice discount too!).

Since this is one of the most common issues we find and a question we are frequently asked, I decided to do a quick Q&A with Brian Harris, the manager and all-around awesome pro when it comes to finding each individual the right shoe.

Hope you enjoyed the interview...here is a quick recap of the most important pointers when choosing a shoe:

1. Make the time to go to a store that is qualified to do a proper analysis of your feet and your arch, look at your biomechanics, perform a gait analysis, analyze your stride on a treadmill, etc. (a reputable retailer like a Running Company store) - there are several locations nationwide and they will take a lot of the guesswork out of choosing the right shoe.

2. Realize that your athletic shoe will likely need to be 1/2 to 1 size larger than your dress shoe size.

3. All shoes are not created equal (regardless of brand) and may not be suited for you. (Just because your girlfriend really likes a pair, doesn't mean that it is the best shoe for your body type and activity).

4. Change your shoes every 3-5 months (as an estimate) but more importantly listen to your body...if your ankles, knees, back, hips, etc. start aching it may be time to turn in your old pair for a new pair. Most people buy a pair of shoes and use them several times a week and keep them for more than several months, not realizing that there is a specific lifespan of athletic shoes.

5. Make the investment in a good pair of athletic shoes. This will not only be a key factor in injury management and prevention, but can make for even more effective workouts.

6. Be sure to visit Princeton Running Company and tell them you're with Body Project...and get a discount on your purchases!

Some of the gals from Body Project getting some new kicks!