Munich, March 22: The choice of the right running shoes depends on the runner’s body weight, running style and running surface, all of which help determine the kind of cushioning that is needed, according to Klaus Boes, a sport scientist at Germany’s Karlsruhe University.
The belief that too much cushioning is harmful is not necessarily true, Boes is quoted as saying in the spring 2010 issue of the magazine Wellfit. Runners with knee problems, for example, need shoes that do a good job of absorbing the shocks of their feet striking the ground, he pointed out.
Since every pair of shoes has features best suited to a certain kind of running, he said it was a good idea to have an alternate pair: Shoes with thick-tread soles could be used for runs in the woods, and shoes with more cushioning for roads.
After a runner has covered about 600 kilometres in a pair of shoes, they are worn out and should be replaced. People who run less often should also buy a new pair every year or two because of material fatigue, Boes said.
—-Agencies