Running is an ideal form of cardiovascular activity, enabling you to develop your endurance with benefits for your mental health as well as your physical health. Whether you’re new to running or an experienced runner, you’ll find that the shoes and socks you wear can make a big difference to your performance and your speeds, and we can help you find the best options for you and your lifestyle.
With a growing awareness of the importance of exercise to maintain health and strength for longevity, we can see that there are many reasons to run and to make running as comfortable as possible so that you can enjoy more of the benefits. Here at The Edge, we have a great range of running shoes, running clothes and running equipment, and you can explore our catalogue online or in-store.
Choosing the Best Running Shoes
Your running shoes will make a huge difference to the health of your feet, helping to protect the joints and bones from impact when you run and preventing foot pain and injuries. Finding the right running shoes to suit your feet can be a challenge, and you should always have your running shoes fitted by a professional fitter. Take your time to try several options and don’t compromise on comfort, as your feet play a vital role in keeping you active and an injury or damage to your feet can really hold you back.
When you’re buying new running shoes, which you should do every 300-500 miles or around 4-6 months for most runners, you should look out for the following:
- Comfort. Ensuring that your feet are comfortable is the most important factor when you are choosing running shoes and visiting a specialist sports or shoe store can help with this. If your feet are not comfortable, you risk developing blisters and pressure sores where your shoes rub and this will hinder your running performance. For instance, the Brooks Women’s Ghost Max 2 road running shoes contain a great deal of soft, lightweight cushioning that offers a broad base and enhances your performance as you transition to running, keeping you comfortable as you pound the pavements.
- Support. Every individual will have a unique foot profile, and it is important to choose shoes that offer the right level of cushioning for you, with support in all the right places for your feet. Many running shoes are designed to compensate for overpronation, where the feet roll inwards, or supination, where they roll outwards, and this can be corrected with shoes that are designed to stabilise the feet. You may also find that custom orthotics are a great solution here, giving you the contoured support you need in a very effective way. The Hoka One Gaviota design is all about stability, with H-Frame technology and a soft EVA frame for support and cushioning.
- Fit. You should always buy shoes at the end of the day, as feet naturally expand throughout the day, and you should ensure that you can spread your toes comfortably within your running shoes to avoid crushing the bones of the toes together. Running shoes should fit you well to avoid injury and pressure, and you can consider the level of ankle support you want to suit your own preferences. We’re impressed by the light, supportive Brooks Women’s Launch GTS 10, designed for faster transitions and smooth motion. This is a lightweight shoe that works with the natural contours of your feet to support your feet, knees and hips by maintaining an optimum foot position.
- Terrain. The type of running you do will greatly affect the type of shoes you choose and trail running shoes usually contain less cushioning and are more flexible than road running shoes. The Brooks Men’s Cascadia 18 is an innovative design for trail running, with extra protection in high-wear areas for durability and comfort as you run. This shoe features an adaptable stability system that will help you maintain your balance and stride, giving you the grip you need to remain stable and enjoy running on a variety of terrains.
Taking your time to find the right shoes is crucial to protect the delicate joints of the feet, and you will enjoy many more happy hours of running when you aren’t worrying about the aches and pains that crop up when your feet are not properly supported.
Choosing Running Socks to Enhance Performance
It may come as a surprise that running socks can make a big difference to the way your feet feel in your shoes and can add extra cushioning and support to improve your running experience. We recommend trying on your running shoes with the socks you intend to wear for running, and vice versa, to ensure that you have found a good combination.
Personal preferences and the type of running you do will influence your choice of running socks, and it makes sense to try a variety of options to find out what you like best. Here, we’ll share some of our favourites:
- Hilly Marathon Fresh Anklet Neon socks are designed using Polygiene technology, with anti-microbial silver salt to prevent bacterial and fungal growth. These offer a close fit with anatomical cushioning for optimum comfort and are fully breathable to ensure your feet feel fresh.
- Feetures Elite Max Cushion No Show running socks are a great option, engineered with anatomical design and targeted compression to reduce the risk of blisters and fit the unique contours of your feet. Max Cushion technology protects against impact and irritation while you run. We also love the attention to detail that ensures there is no irritating toe seam to bother you as you run.
- If you’re a trail runner, you’ll love the Mizuno DryLite Endura Trail Socks with padding on the toes, heel and Achilles tendon to better absorb impacts and keep your feet comfortable as you run. Trail running can involve running on rough terrain and wearing the right socks can really help to provide extra cushioning to combat this.
There are many different types of running socks so if you haven’t yet found the holy grail of comfort and support, don’t give up! You’ll get much more from your running if you explore the options and find a pair that really makes your feet feel great.
Safe Running: Our Top Tips
Keeping yourself safe as you run should be a key priority and you should be aware of the dangers posed by traffic if you are running on roads, as well as the risk of injury. Many runners experience accidents due to being distracted, so you should ensure that you only wear one earphone if you want to listen to music while you run. This will mean that you are still focused on the environment around you and that your awareness is improved.
If you are running in low light conditions, which includes most of the day during the winter, you should take care to wear high visibility clothing and always be alert to traffic and other people in the area. It can help to run with a head torch if you are running in the dark, and always let a friend or relative know where you will be running in case of emergency. It is a good idea to carry your mobile phone with you, and most running jackets will have pockets designed to keep your phone safe while you run.
For optimum safety, it’s a good idea not to run alone, making running a social experience as well as protecting yourself. If you can’t encourage your friends to go for a run with you, try joining a local running club that will enable you to meet new people, run in company and enjoy special events such as races within a supportive community.
Find Running Shoes and Socks at The Edge in Cork
Running shoes and socks are specially designed to provide the best running experience and can make all the difference to the way your feet feel as you exercise. We know how important it is to take good care of your feet, especially to maintain your health as you age, and we can help you find shoes that will support and protect your feet against injury and debilitating foot conditions while you run.
Here at The Edge in Cork, we aim to supply everything you need to enjoy sports and activities outdoors, and we specialise in running, cycling, triathlon and open-water swimming. We also have an excellent range of surfing equipment, and we love to hear about your adventures. We stock an extensive range of traditional bikes and electric bikes, including road bikes, hardtail mountain bikes and hybrid bikes, and our professional staff will be happy to help you find the best options for your lifestyle.
Pop into our store in Cork or visit our website today to explore our full range.
