Running Shoes? - Phoenix,AZ

I LOVE my Brooks running shoes! My latest pair are the Glycerin 9s and they are so great. I run long distance...preferably outside on concrete or asphalt and they have been awesome. No aches and pains due to poor shoes.
Roadrunner Sports is a great place to get running shoes. They help you select the best ones and give you 90 days to wear them. If you don't like them in that 90 days, bring them back and exchange them for a different pair.

I like Asics Gels and have worn them for a long time. They're extremely comfortable, and they have kept my feet injury-free. But you might want to go to a shoe store near you that specializes in athletic shoes, ask them to test your feet and your gait, and recommend a brand and style for you. Good athletic shoes aren't cheap, but you don't have to buy the most expensive ones to make your feet happy. Get good socks, too.

You really should find a good running shoe store and have them analyze your feet and make a recommendation. It's free and there's no obligation to buy. I am heavy and over pronate, so I need a stability shoe. I wear Asics Gel Evolution 6 and it's like having new feet - I no longer have problems with plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis because I have the right shoe in the right size.. Also, a general rule is to buy running shoes that are half a size bigger than your regular dress shoes. I have never known anyone who wears the right style of Asics or New Balance for her feet who doesn't love her running shoes.

try new balance, if you can find a running store or a New balance store go to them. I love these shoes and be sure to go up 1/2 size your feet will swell. There is a running shoe store on line that has every show brand and style I think its called Running store or running fit, the prices are ok but the service is fantastic. also check out a book on running the biggest myth is you need to break in your shoes that is so false, blisters dont have to be a problem for the novice runner (5k, 10k) beyond that yeah your feet will get a bit tore up. gl

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/index.htm
http://ergonomics.about.com/od/running/fr/Five_Fingers_Sh...

Are you going to be running on a track? Road? Terrain?

Also go to a good sporting athletic goods store, ask questions to the sales person, size your feet, try on many. Especially if you have foot issues or knee issues. Tell them that as well.

I grew up, being a runner and doing long distance running cross country.

You really have to get yourself to a specialty running store and have a salesperson help you. Everyone's feet and gait are different, and what works for me may not work for you. He/she will see if your foot is wide, narrow, or medium and go from there. Then he/she will watch you run a short bit, either in the store or on the sidewalk, to see if you pronate, overpronate, etc (that is when you turn your foot slightly out while running). From all of this, a recommendation for a brand of shoe will be made. I have been running for 15 years, doing races of all mileages, and I can tell you that the right shoe makes ALL the difference. I have a wide foot and I overpronate, so I have been happy in Brooks for years. Right now I have a "winterized" pair with a leather body and a more rugged sole, and wouldn't you know, we are having the BEST winter here in NE, not a drop of snow to be had as of yet! But I love them and will go back to the more breathable Brooks variety in April. Good luck!!

Nike's fit me best. I have a narrow heel and wide feet just like a duck. It is the fit that counts. Make sure your feet are comfortable in the shoes you select.

Mizuno's work best for me.

There is no one perfect shoe for every person out there, though.
Just like every woman cannot go out and buy the same bra.

Everyone should go to a good running/ tri store and be fitted by a knowledgeable shoe salesperson.
They should look at your old shoes, look at how you walk barefooted, ask you many questions before making a shoe recommendation.

Good for you! Keep running!

My sons are xc and track runners. My younger son wears Asics Gel Cumulus. He has bought the same shoe three years in a row, twice per year, because they feel so good and he never has problems with anything. My older son likes Nikes but the running store pros said to avoid them if you are looking for a neutral shoe.

I love my Nike Free Run 2. They are very light, flexible and breathable.

Definitely talk to someone in the store who is familiar with this when you go trying on shoes. I, too, am excited to start training myself to learn to love running. (big goal, that one, lol). Anyway, I went to Dick's Sporting goods day after Christmas to shop. My husband runs and he loves New Balance. I had a very helpful sales person who discussed with me the basics of what the various brands are like. New Balance apparently tends to have a higher arch than some of the others. I noticed that in a pair I bought several years ago. They made my feet sore for a few weeks when I first started wearing them. My arch is not low, but not high either. My sales person recommended 3 of the brands some of these other ladies have mentioned: Asics, Brooks, and Mizuno. The Asics gel can be had for much less $$ than the other two. So I decided to try them on and go from there. There are also different shoes in each brand that focus on different things. Some are more about stability (whether you run on the outside of your foot or the inside, etc) some are not. I ended up trying the Asics gel GT-2160 (I think) for about $75. Not a high end running shoe, but the most amazing thing I have ever put on my feet! I tried on a pair of Nike's they had also, but there was NO comparison for me. A lot will depend on your foot and what feels good to you, but do go a half size larger than you normally would buy. And know that if you end up with a Nike, I think they run a half size smaller than most other shoes. I love my Asics so far, and can't wait to wear them out. :)
Good luck!

I agree with the other posters who said you just have to try them on. That being said, I also read that the Asics gels had a very high rating among wearers. New Balance do not feel good on my feet, but the last pair of shoes I had were KSwiss. I LOVE them!