In an article published by Uconn Health (University of Connecticut), the author notes the different types of foot and how it affects your running style. It was like a light bulb moment for me as I have been running for quite a while now but I have no idea as to the nitty gritties of what goes behind the scene between my ankles and toes. All I know is how excruciating the muscle pains are after a long run. Although I am not the marathon level of runner with bib and jersey on however it is very important to learn about the details in between. By the way I run as a form of exercise on weekends and holidays when my laziness don't get in the way.
Running path
Aside from foot types, I did not know that there is a thing called pronation or foot rolls. She further explained, "when you run, you naturally land on the outside of your foot and roll inward". The rolling is called pronation which directly affects your running performance. In addition; "the height of your arch affects the direction and severity of the way your foot rolls.
Source: https://health.uconn.edu/orthopedics-sports-medicine/2017/08/12/finding-the-right-running-shoe/
So what are the foot types?
Supinators - or the high arching feet, middle of the foot is far off the ground
Neutral - what they call the normal foot with no exaggerated flattening or arching
Pronators - or the flat footed with middle of the foot close to the ground
Source: http://www.aaronswansonpt.com/how-to-pick-your-kicks-part-2-or-3
For the record, this article is not an expert opinion or an authority in the said topic but purely based on my research and experience to share the idea in way a layman person will understand. The point of the article from UConn is, if you have an idea of your foot type then chances are you will have better understanding at how shoes fits perfectly and eventually you can ask the right question when buying it.
Based on my personal assessment, I am a flat-footed person which giving me a hard time picking a running shoes or shoes in general because of my wide forefoot. And not to mention my shoe size which have very limited inventory.
Yesterday, I had the chance to visit, the Outlets at Pueblo Verde, it is an open air concept of mall with clustered shops that houses factory outlets of top lifestyle brand like Nike and Adidas to name a few, at a very discounted price. Here you have a lot of option from the very affordable to the most expensive brand without breaking your bank account. The Outlets, is located in the vicinity of Mactan Economic Zone 2, in Lapu-lapu City. There are public commute available that plies the area. If you are from Cebu City, you can take a v-hire from Sm Mall or Ayala. There are also buses available from SouthBus going to Opon Terminal (in front of Pilmico) and then you can take a PUV (public utility vehicle) going to Tamiya (MEZ2).
Most of the shops available sells shoes and apparels but there are also food outlets just in case you get hungry from your shopping spree. Unfortunately due to the ongoing pandemic, several shops closed down and some still hanging in there but struggling. Below are some of the photos I snap during my visit.
How to determine your foot type
Let us go back to the science of running [shoes] and whatnot. Do not worry it is not rocket science and it is very easy to understand. Please refer to the screenshot below;
Source: https://health.uconn.edu/orthopedics-sports-medicine/2017/08/12/finding-the-right-running-shoe/
Basically the illustration shows that, if your shoes has worn out evenly then you have a neutral foot (normal pronator), if your shoes inner sole has worn out then you are a flat footed (over pronator), and lastly, if the outer sole of your shoes has worn out over the year as shown in the illustration then you have a high arching feet (under pronator). As what was explained earlier, it is very important that you have an idea of the arching of your foot as running shoes are designed on that premise.
Now let me enumerate the four type of running shoes according to USATF-certified running coach Jason Fitzgerald.
Motion Control - maximum arch support, tame over pronation, for flat footed
Stability - this work for normal arches or for those that have neutral foot
Neutral/cushioning - supports high arches feet that do not over pronate, typically made of lighter materials
Minimalist - designed to mimic running barefoot
Source: https://www.nike.com/in/a/types-of-running-shoes
Now what?
When visiting a shoe store, always ask as much as possible and make sure the fit works to your advantage.
Try to fit shoes in the afternoon or in the evening as your feet is in full.
Always take the time to try it the same way when you are running so that you can feel the same experience.
This may not be a definitive guide but I hope I was able to provide the best information there is for you to select the best running shoes available.
If you find some inaccuracy in this post or you want to add something, please comment down below. Please do upvote and share to your friends. Thank you.