As a female athlete, or even just as somebody who loves to go jogging to keep in trim, the main piece of equipment you will need is a decent pair of girls running shoes. It is not recommended to search in the closet for an old pair of sneakers you have had for years, because the protective padding that cushions your feet when you run will most likely have got worn out. So if running is a new pastime for you, go down to your local running store and get a brand new pair.
There is a wide selection of running shoes for girls and boys on the market. There are differences between shoes for the two sexes, so it is best to stick with the ones for women if you are a female jogger. The next thing you need to do is find out about your running gait. This concerns the way your foot flexes as you run, and there are three major types of running shoes depending on how your feet move during the stride.
If your feet rotate slightly inwards as you run, then you belong to the largest group who are said to be “neutral” runners. However, if you suffer from flat feet or collapsed arches, you will need a different type of running shoe. The jargon that is used to describe flat feet is “overpronation” and you will need shoes that offer some extra stability, and which help you to line up all your leg joints during exercise.
Finally, you might have high arches, and this means a third type of girls running shoes which will have extra cushioning and flexibility to protect your feet during a long run. The jargon used in this case is “underpronation” or sometimes it will be called “supination”.
Once you know what running gait you have – which can easily be assessed at a good running supplies store – it’s time to pick out a pair of sneakers that were designed for your style.
There are three very popular brands that runners usually rave about; they are Asics, Saucony and Mizuno. If you opt for a pair of Asics girls running shoes, then you might want to try out GEL-Kayano if you are neutral, GEL-Evolution if you overpronate or GEL-Nimbus if you underpronate. The staff at the store will be able to assist you with a whole selection of others though, but this is a good start.
If you like the look of Saucony, then try ProGrid Ride (neutral), ProGrid Stabil (overpronation) or Grid Launch (underpronation). And if you are looking to buy a pair of Mizuno running shoes, then take a look at Wave Creation (neutral), Wave Alchemy (overpronation) or Wave Rider (underpronation).
There are other brands too, such as Brooks, New Balance and of course Nike, so pick one that you like and try them out. If they perform well and you do not have any problems with them, it is worth sticking with that particular model every time you need a new pair, rather than constantly experimenting with new brands and models.
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