How To Find A Badass Running Shoe

Call me crazy cat lady, but I’m pretty sure no love will ever compare to the love I have for my Asics. It’s a steamy kind of passion that leaves my skin sweating and heart beat racing, a special love that makes me feel beautiful without ever having to say it.

I'm telling you, when we are together I feel like we can run the world.

As a runner, your shoes are your partner-in-crime — and like any relationship, it’s important to have a pair that provides enough support to help you cross the finish line with confidence.

But with a wide variety of brands, styles, colors, etc., how do you choose “the one” that’s right for you?

Well that’s why I’m here, obvi.

Consider me the cupid of your badass running shoe love story, but before I’m able to introduce you to the man shoe of your dreams, let’s break down your running style.

Runners have strengths and weaknesses within their feet, causing a variety of different pronation mechanics when it comes to your stride.

What's pronation you ask?

Pronation is a natural movement of the foot as it rolls inward to distribute the force of impact as you run.

In order to lower shock absorption and avoid risk of serious injury, it is critical to have the proper footwear that will accommodate your specific type of pronation.

Normal Pronation: A normal pronator rolls the foot inward at the perfect fifteen percent. This allows you to push-off evenly from the front of the foot while supporting your body weight without any problem. If you have a normal arch, you're likely a normal pronator, meaning you'll do best in a stability shoe that offers moderate pronation control.

GEL-LYT33 is designed for runners with style and engineered with innovative FLUID AXIS technology which allows your foot to move naturally.

Overpronator: Overpronator's have a stride where the ankle rolls too far inward during each step. This extensive roll tends to cause a strain on the ankle, shins and knee. The solution? Motion control shoes. This style of shoe has a stiffer heel and medial support to prevent the foot from rolling too far inward.

GT-2000 has a midsole made of 2 cushioned layers - giving you much more comfort and improved support.

Underpronator: This is a rare breed of runners where the natural roll of the ankle isn’t enough, causing most of the work to be done by the smaller toes on the outside of the foot. For underpronator’s it’s important to find a shoe with enough flexibility to allow more motion in the feet.

The GEL-NIMBUS 16 has slightly higher midsole in the heel area and uses a 4 way stretch mesh, adding to the flexibility of the shoe.

The best way to check your feet for pronation is to look at the wear pattern on an old pair of your running shoes, or visit your local running store and ask an expert to evaluate your running.

So now you have low down on how to find the shoe for you, but before you decide to become exclusive I recommend you take the time to make sure it feels right. If you rush into things too quickly it may hurt you in the long run.

I've been in a committed, long-distance relationship with Asics for more than six years.

And this is probably why I don't have a real boyfriend, my running shoes have set the bar pretty high.

They are cute, supportive and I know they’ll never get cold feet.

xx Fins & Kisses,

The Mermaid.