If the shoe fits

Dr Mark Reyneker from Johannesburg, South Africa who has spent 10 years in Malaysia as a podiatrist is often asked to recommend the best brand for running shoes. For Dr Reyneker, there is no best brand rather, "getting the right shoes and the right fit to save you from a lot of pain".

Dr Mark Reyneker, Chief Podiatrist and Managing Director of Family Podiatry Centre

When it comes to foot care, Dr Mark Reyneker said, "Use the marathon to communicate to your body. If you want to try a new style of running, introduce it to your body to condition. Slowly adapt to it. Dont't jump into it."

He added that, the surface, our bodies and the Malaysian heat affect the gear that we choose. Runners should learn about the type of shoes and also the soles, which are just as important to meet one's biomechanical needs.

There are a few things that a runner should consider when selecting a pair of running shoes. The first consideration involves what foot type the runner has (high arch, flat foot, or normal arch). Next, it's important to analyze the runner's foot strike (heel striker, forefoot striker or mid-foot striker) and stride pattern (pronater, supinater, or neutral).

Knowing your foot (source: Brooks Malaysia)

Your foot type can be seen by doing the wet test, or by simply stepping on sand with your bare feet. Your foot type may one of the following:

Normal arch

Normal arch – Perfect footprint, with a curved middle region. Biomechanically ideal.

High arch

High arch – Very faint middle region of the foot can be seen. Typical for women’s feet.

Flat foot

Flat foot – Full footprint from top to middle to bottom region. Typical for men with large built.

Other Tips

The chances of you ending up with a pair of comfy running shoes that you love is higher if you shop at a running specialtyshop rather than the huge multisport centre. The shop assistants/employees of most running specialty shops typically are people who run themselves. If they know their stuff, they would even encourage you to take the shoes for a 5-minute test run in the shop.

By the way, if you plan to shop for your running shoes today, shop in the afternoon. Why? Because your feet tend to swell slightly throughout the day. Your feet also swell slightly during a training run.

Happy finding the right fit and 'sole-mate'! :)