The benefits of having multiple shoes in rotation.
What if I was to tell you that you can reduce your injuries from running and to do this you don’t even need to see a physio. In actual fact, it is one of the best ways to avoid injury. “How?” You ask. All you need to do is have a few extra pairs of running shoes.
So many runners out there only have the one pair of running shoes, and in some cases that pair of running shoes is over 12 months old. If you’re a runner, you should really have two-to-four pairs of shoes in rotation. By doing this, you’re not only saving yourself from injury, but are also looking after your shoes.
So what are the reasons for having several pairs of shoes in rotation?
The first reason, and possibly one of the most important reasons, is that it saves the life of your shoe. By having several pairs of shoes in rotation, you’re adding longevity to the shoe, because you may only run in that shoe once or twice each week. If you only have one pair of shoes, those shoes get trashed because you’re running potentially two-to-five times per week in it. If you are an excessive pronator, your shoes will wear out quite quickly. So having multiple shoes to choose from allows you to extend the life of every shoe.
The second reason for having another pair of shoes and possibly one of the most important for injury prevention, is that the cushioning lasts longer when rotating shoes. When you run in only one pair of shoes, the cushioning can wear out over the first three months, whereas with several pairs of shoes the cushioning will last a lot longer. Keeping in mind that with every step you are placing up to three times your body weight into the cushioning of the shoe, you really need the most effective amount of cushioning in your shoe to last.
A recent study analysed over 264 runners and found that 87 people indicated that they had an injury in the previous six weeks. Of those 87.91% mentioned that they only used one pair of shoes. Here is a clear case that having multiple shoes in rotation can potentially save you from injury.
A lot of injuries caused by running are small micro tears in and around the foot. By having several shoes in rotation, that cushioning can withstand the pressure and forces applied to your foot, leading to less tears through your muscles and a better chance of remaining fit.
An added bonus is that you can have different types of shoes for different types of runs. For your longer extended runs, you could wear a more cushioned shoe such as the On Cloudsurfer. For the shorter, faster, track runs, you could use the Cloudracer. And for the easy recovery runs, you could use the On Cloud. Whichever way you look at it, there is a shoe that matches your needs.
Also, by having shoes in rotation, you will have to outlay the money initially but the shoe should last you longer than 12 months. In this way you’re not constantly heading to the local sports shop to buy a pair of shoes. This can also be a benefit if the latest incarnation of design and fashion doesn’t suit your style.
So the next time you’re out and about running in your shoes, have a think about if you would benefit from having a wider variety in your arsenal. I guarantee you that your legs will thank you in the long run.
Link to study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24286345
By Liam Bromilow.
