Looking for the best marathon running shoes ?

"Go individual in choosing your marathon running shoes!"

What are the best marathon running shoes ? The Olympic Games Marathon in 1960 was not won by a Nike, Asics or Adidas runner. A relatively unknown Ethiopian called Abebe Bikila took the Gold.

He was added in the last minute, as one of the other runners had broken his ankle in a soccer match just before travel.

What is even more impressive was his winning time in that race.

His winning time : 2.15 in the Rome heat. His choice of footwear?

Nothing.

He ran it barefoot.

Through the hot and hard streets of Rome. Just as he was used to back in Ethiopia.

For "the rest of us", choosing the right shoes when training for a marathon and the race is extremely important.

With such a huge impact on the legs, having the correct kind of shoes is probably one of the most underestimated preventions for injuries.

So what are the best marathon running shoes?

This is the scoop and the two main things to consider :

First : Your current fitness level

Second : Your foot-type/foot-strike

First up : Your current fitness levels. One or two pairs of shoes.

This is important.

There are roughly two groups with slightly different needs,

• Those running over 2-3 times weekly
• Those running below 2-3 times weekly

If you are already training 2-3 times a week or more ; and have no problem with injuries you should have two pairs of shoes.

This will make following a marathon training schedule or running in general much less risky in terms of injuries.

Which means :

• One semi-light shoes such as the Asics DS Trainer.
• One heavier kind for example the Asics Gel Kayano.

Thing is, alternating between a heavy and a light shoe makes wonders for the leg strength if done properly.

It is a great way to prevent injuries that should not be underestimated.

On the other hand for beginner runners - 2-3 times a week runner, stick with one pair of heavier shoes until you have run for at least 6 months.

This helps your body get used to one specific pattern of foot-strike and if you make sure this shoe is the right one for your foot type:

Put some effort into this pick and stick to it.

Second up : Your foot-strike. And how you touch the ground.

Once you have determined if you wish one or two pairs, this is up next.

The most accurate way if you wish to determine your specific landing pattern is to go to a specialist shoes store that offers video analyzes on the treadmill.

Most of us don't have access to this. So we have to do it like this : Check out our wear pattern.

Where on the shoes (check both) have you worn them down the most ?

This will help you determine if you are

• a neutral runner,
• a pronator
• or a supinator.

These are special shoe terms for some pretty easy to understand running patterns.

I will explain each one of them below :

The Neutral landing pattern. Even wear.

If you have an even wear shoe you have a pretty neutral running stride.

The Supinator. Worn on the outer edges.

If you have worn the shoes down on the outer edges, you have a landing pattern that makes you a "supinator".

A supinator does not/does little of the inward rolling movement of normal/pronators. One reason for this may be a very high arch and it is extremely important to take this into account.

Below I will add articles on supinators and under the articles on Nike running shoes, Asics running shoes etc. you will also find recommendations for your particular wear pattern for each of the brands.

The overpronator. Heel, inwards and to the big toe.

If you have worn the shoes significantly down on the heel and frontward's to the big toe you may overpronate.

You land too much inwards when you run. You therefore need support under your arch to prevent this.

One "extra group" - the overstriders.

Then the last, smaller category - the overstriders.

They often have an excessive wear on the heel - often caused by rotating too much in the air.

The landing impact and the stress on the legs - all the way up to the back is huge for these runners.

Therefore, the best marathon training shoe for you would be one with good stability. For maximum injury prevention while following a marathon training schedule.

There you have it : make a good choice on running shoes and the risk of injuries will be much less.

Good luck with choosing the best marathon training shoes! Click below for more articles.