The Best Running Shoes: Simpler Is Better

If you have been out there shopping for the best running shoes recently, you are likely to have been a bit confused by the variety of choices you have been confronted with. In fact, you have probably gotten overwhelmed by the sheer volume of gadgets and technologies crammed into running shoes these days. This is unfortunate, because most runners are only able to understand and deal with only a few technologies at one time. They are attracted to simplicity and purposeful function, not gadgets and lots of bells and whistles.

Two Different Conversations
It looks like the running shoe manufacturers are having one conversation, while runners are having another. Runners want more choice about what's important to them, and are tired of being told what they need instead of deciding what they want. They want a two-way conversation with the running shoe retailers, not just a sermon about what's best for them.

Most Runners Don't Know Technology
To make matters more confusing, most runners really do try to understand new technology but never quite get the hang of it, so they end up even worse off than before. A little bit of incomplete knowledge can lead to the selection of a totally inappropriate type of shoe without even realizing it. This is why a lot of runners feel a bit disconnected from today's shoe shopping experience. They are seeking a simpler connection to the process of selecting a running shoe.

Connected to the Run
There are many beneficial aspects to running -- mental, physical, emotional -- and the benefits used to be the primary motivation for a lot of runners. Just get out there, get the run over with, and collect the benefits. But now a subtle shift is occurring in the mindset of many runners. It's more about enjoying the run in the moment. It's more about being at peace and having fun. It's more about connecting to the run.

Connected to the Running Shoes
Your shoes are an essential part of your run as well. In order to realize the full experience of the run, your shoes need to be in synch with the rest of you. That's why you should always feel a personal connection to your shoes as well. Don't grudgingly select a pair of the latest shoes (cross country running shoes or any other kind) just because the salesperson told you that they have the most advanced tech on the market.
The question is: Do they feel right to you? Do they express who you really are as a runner? Do they help you feel good about running? If you can answer yes, then you have found the best running shoes for you.