The Running Shoes

One would think purchasing a pair of running shoes would be a fairly simple matter. Sadly, or probably for the better, it has become quite an involved process. I would suggest you visit a local store before attempting to purchase online. The key aspect is to understand your foot profile. In truth this is not a difficult task and certainly doesn’t need fancy computer technology.

Visit and obtain your profile as far as arches type, strike type and over prontaros. Once you have this information find you category using the guide below;

- Motion control : for runners with low arches, moderate to severe over pronators with maximum rear foot control and extra support on the arch side of the shoe, eg. bigger runners.

- Stability : mild or moderate over pronators, low to normal arches, shoes has a combination of good support and mid sole cushioning.

- Neutral cushioned : maximum mid sole cushioning and minimum medial support, bio mechanically efficient runners, mid foot or forefoot strikers with high or normal arches.

- Performance Training : for racing, generally lighter, if you are bio mechanically efficient you can use them for training.

So that is step one in your process. Next is to establish how and where you can find nicely discounted shoes, and also grasp a basic insiders guide to the athletic shoe market.

The basic industry premise is that new product sells at a premium as older models are off loaded through various channels. Therefore you could hope for discounts on new items from 10% to probably a maximum of 20% and all the way up to 40% on older year models. However it is still possible to find discounts on eBay on the newest styles, especially if they are very lightly worn. Think about it, trying on and testing running shoes is difficult at best. Therefore many runners discard a pair after a first light run. There is a nice fluid market for both new and slightly used running shoes on eBay.

With a large volume of most shoe brands being traded everyday, this is the ideal efficient market. One can study the dynamics of this micro-market and determine some useful buying rules. With a little more information than the rest of the marketplace, one can almost certainly make some intelligent buying opportunities. This article focuses on how to identify these gaps and often purchase running shoes for 20-40% below retail.

This article should be read together with my longer piece and a web site, which produces the information required to identify buying nuggets. Find the links and URL’s to these two sites at the bottom of this article. The niche site focuses specifically and only on data from the runners shoe market.

Most information on eBay focuses on the selling element, i.e. how to sell your shoes. I have tended to specialize on the buying end and trying to identify market opportunities and price in-efficiencies to really capture excellent deals. To do this we need to understand the dynamics of the eBay market place.

Like any other market it is supply demand driven, and like a large flee-market if a buyer has knowledge of how many items are for sale at what prices and how many other buyers are in the market, then that buyer can capture the upper hand. Lets focus a little more on supply.

The eBay supply dynamic is a little different in that supply of an item must be seen at a point in time. In other words, because auctions end at different times, one needs to grasp the number of auctions ending in close proximity for the same item. This gives you a feel for the supply of items or in our case cameras. What makes this interesting is that today there could be a large amount of auctions ending for a particular model, but next week there could be very few. This is one element driving the price.

The demand side is slightly more complex and hidden from the average eBay buyer. This is where that the web site I refer to at the bottom has some useful data. Demand in eBay terms is measured (by sellers) as a number of factors – how many people view my auction, how many people ask questions, how many people place me on their watch page, and how many people actually bid.

Obviously as we progress down this list the data become more reliable as an indication of demand. Page views are not easy to obtain, although some sellers place a publicly viewable counter on their auction pages. Questions and watchers are available to sellers, and the special web site mentioned below will expose this information. Number of bids is available for all to see.

Now if we happened to produce a graph as the auction progresses of the changes in the number of questions, watchers and bid’s one can easily see how the demand is changing as time progresses. Typically if questions are high and watchers are high, but bids are low, this may indicate some confusion and a possible buy opportunity. If watchers are very high and climbing, but bids are low, this can point to a last minute bidding war, and a stay out indicator.

Armed with this information and also a quick summary of other similar auctions ending soon, plus a quick feel for the skill set of the seller and the current highest bidder, one can see a picture very different from the average eBay buyer. Soon the trained eye will observe some nice buying opportunities. For the professional or amateur runner this will soon bring in a number of athletic shoe buys that are quite a bit cheaper than retail. For example it is quite possible to find gems at 20-40% of retail prices. Sometimes a lightly used athletic shoe will offer some unique bargains and discounts, especially if you are comfortable with a brand and model.

By Malcolm Silberman

running shoes

There is no question that running shoes today are far superior to anything we used back in the early 1970s. In those days companies weren’t putting much effort into technology for developing shock absorption, stability, and motion control for running shoes. If you are close to my age, then you’ll remember the early days of the 70′s running boom when state of the art was Nike’s new outersole, developed by Bill Bowerman using his wife’s waffle iron.

While today’s shoes are designed with specialized features to meet your individual needs as a runner, I?m not totally convinced that all of these advances have actually reduced the overall incidence of running injuries, and at least one authority agrees.

How can that be? Michael Yessis, Ph.D. in his book titled Explosive Running, explains that today?s cushioned, extra supportive running shoes actually encourage runners to strike the ground with their heel first rather than at the midfoot, increasing the force of impact generated up the front of the leg.

Heel strikers also have a tendency to pronate, or roll their foot inward upon contact. Dr. Yessis speculates that the foot?s supporting structures (bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles) eventually weaken when protective shoes do their job too well.

Outlandish as it sounds, Yessis thinks barefoot running may be the answer.

Without shoes, runners are forced to land closer to the arch on the mid-foot rather than striking heel first, dramatically reducing impact. Without all of the extra support that a running shoe provides, barefoot running also strengthens the foot by allowing it to function the way it was intended to work.

Common sense tells you not to start leaving your shoes at home every time you head out for a run. Barefoot running must be introduced gradually. Start by finding a smooth stretch of grass to jog on, and try 4 or 5 minutes twice a week. Jogging without shoes, you’ll notice immediately what Dr. Yessis is talking about when he says you will not want to land heel first. Keep the pace slow and relaxing.

Over time as your feet become stronger, I recommend adding a couple of minutes a week to your barefoot running. Focus on how your feet land, then practice carrying that technique over to the roads with shoes on. Before long you’ll notice your foot plant changes as you begin to adapt a shorter more efficient stride with quicker turnover.

Nike has again led the way by introducing a shoe actually made to simulate barefoot running. It’s called Nike Free, a shoe that lets your foot do the work it’s supposed to while offering minimal protection and support.

I wouldn’t go barefoot running or even run in Nike Frees if you already have heel pain or some other foot injury, however a couple of 20 minute barefoot jogs a week may give a healthy runner an added advantage.

In 2001, the tiny nation of Kenya produced 300 different athletes (including one female) that broke 2 hr and 20 minutes in the marathon. Sadly, that year only 20 Americans ran under 2 hr 20 min. Besides their intense training schedules, a not so obvious difference from Americans is that Kenyans typically spend their entire childhood running WITHOUT SHOES! By going barefoot, their feet are strong and they learn to run the correct way at a very young age.

Dave Elger

running shoes

Buying a good running shoe is not as easy as it once was. I can remember when I was a teenager thirty years ago that you only had a couple of choices when it came to running shoes, tennis shoes, or basketball shoes. Now, like everything else in our world we are inundated with choices.

Some of the features included in today’s high tech running shoes include motion control: for runners with low arches, moderate to severe over pronators with maximum rear foot control and extra support on the arch side of the shoe, for example bigger runners like myself. Running shoes with extra stability for mild or moderate over pronators, low to normal arches, shoes have a combination of good support and mid sole cushioning. Neutral cushioned running shoes with maximum mid sole cushioning and minimum medial support for bio mechanically efficient runners, mid foot or forefoot strikers with high or normal arches, and Performance Training running shoes: for racing, which are generally lighter, if you are bio mechanically efficient you can use them for training

So now that you have an idea of your choices, how do you find the right shoe at the right price?

According to insiders in the shoe industry, a new product sells at a premium while older models are sold off through various channels at substantial discounts. Therefore you could hope for discounts on new items from 10% to probably a maximum of 20% and all the way up to 40% or more on older year models.

Though I loathe the idea of trudging through the mall to look for anything, sometimes it may be worthwhile for you to do a little homework and try shoes on there to be sure they fir then go online to see what kind of deals you can find on the style and size that you found that works for you. I know you are thinking that is taking advantage of the salespeople at the shoe stores and keeping them from getting a commission, but where should your loyalty lie, with your feet and your own pocket or should you be loyal to someone you don’t even know?

As a fulltime internet marketer, I live on the internet and I can tell you that there is no shortage of choices on anything and everything you could possibly want online. So my advice is, try them on locally then find them in your size and get your best deal online.

Gregg Hall

running shoes

Why is it that there are different types of shoes for each sport? This is because shoes are essential to prevent injuries by providing the perfect cushioning and support required for each sport.

The shoes are specially made for all ages and genders. Shoes for women, men and children, all differ in designs and sizes. This is because the needs of the feet are different for each individual. To achieve the best in sports, a player must wear a good pair of shoes.

We often see TV commercials with players endorsing a particular brand of shoes for specific sports; this only proves how important it is for the players to choose the perfect shoes.

The person should feel comfortable in the shoes that he or she wears, especially when he or she is playing on the field. For example, if you are a basketball player and we all know playing basketball requires a lot of
running, jumping, then you should definitely get a pair of shoes that have a strong grip to prevent you from sliding causing an injury.

There are so many companies out there that offer specialized shoes, companies like Nike, New Balance, Mulziny and Adidas offer comfort, style and durability for all of the specialized shoes that they sell.

If you are on a budget, you can get shoes that can give you the same function and comfort but for a cheaper price. These shoes are called generic or off brand shoes. They are not advertised much on the market but you will often find them on sale. However, you should choose carefully when buying generic shoes. Make sure that it fits you perfectly and comfortably.

You can also search online for shoes that are generic, though, not all of the information is true. Some of the information is deceiving. That is why it is best to invest in good quality shoes with a reliable brand name.

There are many ways to purchase the shoes you want, especially athletic shoes.

You can get them online or from the shoe store in your area. One drawback in purchasing shoes online is that you can not be sure of a good fit. However, there is a bigger selection of shoes online than in your local shoe store. You must gather some information about the shoe brand before purchasing it.

Research online and compare the prices and features of the shoe brands and make a good decision.

Gregg Hall

athletic shoes

If you are into the sports that are part of track and field, it is important to make sure you get the right shoe.

Running shoes are the most important piece of equipment a track lover can purchase. It is important that you, like the pros, spend some time checking out shoes until you find the best running shoes for your individual feet. Despite the temptation, it is vitally important that you avoid buying shoes that simply look good. You need to look for shoes that are going to be right for your feet and your track event.

Fashion should, at best, be a secondary factor in your decision.

Once you know that it is important to choose the right running or track shoe, you need to know what it is that you are searching for in your shoe. First of all, you have to realize that shoes for a track and shoes for road and trail running are totally different. One type is made for a nice flat track and the other is made to deal with wet, uneven ground.

If you have the wrong shoe, improperly fitting shoes, or any shoe not proper for your activity, you are putting yourself in danger of injury. Track shoes need to be perfect for your feet or they are just a waste of your money.

When your feet touch the ground, they will roll either towards the outside or for some, towards the inside of the foot. You can find out what you do by checking out the wear on the soles of your current shoes. If your shoes wear out on the outside first, you are under-pronating. On the other hand, if you are wearing out the inside of your shoe more, then you are an over-pronator.

If your shoes are not worn, have a fellow track runner watch you run from behind to look and see what you are doing. It is important to know what type of pronator you are so that you can get the right track shoes.

Once you do that, you can determine what you need in a track shoe. If you are a neutral pronator you need a shoe with balance and a flexible makeup. If you under-pronate you will need a well-cushioned shoe. If you are a moderate pronator you will need something with heavy stability. Finally if you are a severe over-pronator you will want what are called motion control training shoes.

Once you have sorted out what kind of track running you are going to do and what kind of pronator you are, you have to consider the fit of the shoe. The best way to tell if a track shoe fits well is to try it on and see if it feels good. Always make sure you try on any shoe you are considering buying.

When it comes to track running, the type of shoe you use is of the utmost importance. No matter what you are doing, you should find the shoe that is the best for your foot. It should first of all be able protect your foot based on what type of running you will be doing. Lastly, make sure you try the shoe on so that you get one that fits properly and will allow you to run the track in comfort.

Joshua Poyoh

track shoes