• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • about
  • Pug Partners
  • contact/pr
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Runs With Pugs

ok, the pugs don't run, but we do

  • race reports
  • Travel
  • Recipes
  • Link Ups
  • instagram Landing Page

The Latest

5 sources of mental clutter

my spring race plans

a week of exploring new things

You are here: Home / Uncategorized / 5 things that don’t matter in running shoes

5 things that don’t matter in running shoes

April 9, 2021      22 Comments

Shopping for the right shoes can be a daunting task, but there are five things that don’t matter in running shoes. Keep these in mind the next time you hit up your local running shop, and you will be sure to find the ones that feel great, and provide excellent performance for your needs!

The Brand

The straight truth is that there is no “best brand.” There is only the “best brand for you.” Some people can easily switch between makes and models with zero issues. Others find a certain name and style is markedly better than anything else. For example, Brooks work so well for me, especially after my injury, so that’s my go-to. Walking into a shoe store with a brand in mind with no idea how it fits can certainly lead to a shoe that may not work best for your unique biomechanics. Be open-minded about the brands, and give them all a fair chance before make a decision. You may be surprised.

The Size

One thing I never understood is people who get upset about having a larger shoe size. I’m here to tell you that (shoe) size is very much just a number, and that the size label is actually inside the shoe, so your secret is safe. Too-small shoes lead to blisters and black toenails, so please don’t worry about going larger and give yourself some room. Running shoes should fit slightly larger than your foot measures. My foot is a 9.5/10 US, but I regularly (and proudly) wear a 10.5 in my running shoes. Ideally, you should have a thumb’s width from your big toe to the end of the shoe. This allows for any swelling, and gives your toes space to spread and grip as you run.

What Your Friends Wear

Just because your friend swear by the Nike Pegasus doesn’t mean it’s going to work for you. Everyone has different feet, form, and preferences, and it’s important to recognize that when you are shopping for running shoes. While I always love recommendations from my friends, it’s a good idea to figure out the best shoe matches free of outside influence.

How They Make Your Feet Look

When I’m in the market for a pair of strappy stilettos, how they look on my feet is an important consideration in my selection. For running shoes, I am way more concerned with the feel and fit than the appearance. I want shoes that hug my arch, provide the right stability for my pronation, and securely hold my heel. Additionally, I want the most comfortable drop for me, enough room in the toe, and not too much cushion. If I can check those boxes, then I am good to go. The appearance on my foot has no bearing on their performance.

The color.

I know I’m going to catch heat for this, but the color REALLY doesn’t matter when it comes to a well-fitting shoe. Yes, I’m guilty of it, too, and will buy online when my local running store can’t provide the brightest, most fun color. But today, I needed new shoes, and the available color was gray with light aqua. I’m coming from vibrant pink, and I’ll be replacing them again in 500 miles, so it is what it is. Remember, certain styles only come in limited colors, so don’t discount a great-fitting shoe because of a cosmetic issue.

things that don't matter about running shoes

Do these five things matter to you when you’re buying new shoes?

Welcome to Fit Five Friday, our new linkup!

We’ve got FIVE incredible co-hosts, and we are ready to link up every Friday to share YOUR weekly fitness favorites! Join My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida every Friday for Fit Five Friday! Who’s ready for some fun? 

fit five friday

Grab our graphic and share the love!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lisa @ Mile by Mile says

    April 9, 2021 at 8:58 am

    I’ve tried other Brands over the years and always come back to Brooks. But its good to be open-minded! I’ve had to buy shoes that I didn’t love the color of just because they were the only option. In regular shoes I wear a 7.5 but it running shoes I wear a 9!

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 9, 2021 at 1:23 pm

      I mean, things can change. When I first started running, Brooks didn’t work for me at all – I wore Mizunos and Adidas. Now, the Brooks and the Saucony work better for me. It’s always good to get a fitting every 18 months or so to make sure things haven’t changed.

      Reply
  2. Marcia says

    April 9, 2021 at 10:51 am

    I’ve not had really good looking long run shoes in awhile. What is up with that Asics?? At my first marathon back in 2007 the pics are funny because everyone’s shoes were white! Thanks for the linkup!

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 9, 2021 at 1:21 pm

      I haven’t looked at Asics in a while – they don’t fit me well so I just don’t think about them. It’s strange how some brands really have nice looking shoes and some not so much.

      Reply
  3. Darlene says

    April 9, 2021 at 10:54 am

    I agree. Though pretty colors do make me smile.

    But ultimately feet with no pain makes me happy.

    Price doesn’t matter as well. It does for other things. Not running shoes.

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 9, 2021 at 1:21 pm

      I was thinking about price, but there are ways to get around that, via sales and promos. Personally, I’ll pay a small fortune for shoes I like and that fit well, but not everyone can. There are also some shoes that are WAY overpriced for the bells and whistles they provide. Paying top dollar doesn’t always mean you’re getting the best.

      Reply
  4. Michelle D. says

    April 9, 2021 at 11:00 am

    Brooks is my go-to as well – every now and then I get tempted to try something else, but at the end of the day, they just work best for me. And, every once in a while I get lucky with a fun colorway 😉

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 9, 2021 at 1:18 pm

      Hilariously, I couldn’t wear Brooks when I first started. It was Mizuno all the way.

      Reply
  5. Deborah Brooks says

    April 9, 2021 at 12:20 pm

    I also tend to stick with the same Brand once I find one that works well for me. Admittedly, color does matter to me and I try to rotate the color around my favorite style. Find the right shoe for you is key to happy feet!

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 9, 2021 at 1:18 pm

      I do love fun colors, but sometimes the shoe that works best for me doesn’t come in the color I love. At that point, I just suck it up – new colorways will be out next time.

      Reply
  6. Chocolaterunsjudy says

    April 9, 2021 at 1:14 pm

    I agree with so much of this! I shake my head every time someone gets in a group & asks for shoe recommendations.

    I do love pretty colors but rarely get shoes with cool colors I like simply because the shoes I run in don’t often come in great colors — or that’s all that’s left in the sale shoes.
    Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…Boost Your Running with . . .My Profile

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 9, 2021 at 1:17 pm

      I love pretty colors, but I’m not buying shoes because of them. If the right shoe comes in a great color, perfect! If not, there’s always next time.

      Reply
  7. Renée @runlaugheatpie says

    April 9, 2021 at 7:21 pm

    I agree with you on EVERY SINGLE POINT!! I have had some ugly ass shoes that have fit perfectly and matched my running style. That’s just the way it is sometimes!

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 11, 2021 at 12:34 am

      Exactly! We just have to embrace it!

      Reply
  8. MCM Mama says

    April 9, 2021 at 7:38 pm

    I have locked in what brand I wear (only Altra), but the rest doesn’t matter. At one point, I had a pair of Altras that my kids called my Buzz Lightyear shoes. Yes, they were that ugly. But they were great to run in, so I just dealt with the appearance.

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 11, 2021 at 12:33 am

      My first pair of shoes were pumpkin orange and red. Literally no one had a pair of shoes likes them. I didn’t care. They fit great and felt great.

      Reply
  9. Zenaida Arroyo says

    April 10, 2021 at 12:08 am

    I am a huge Brooks fan. I have tried other brands as well but for the past couple of years have returned to Brooks. I like pretty colors but also understand that I should pick shoes solely based on color.

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 11, 2021 at 12:33 am

      I love great colors, but if I picked based on colors, my running would be ruined!

      Reply
  10. Jenny says

    April 10, 2021 at 12:16 am

    I feel like I’m always going on and on about this, but literally the only thing that matters to me in a shoe is finding a wide enough toe box- it’s a huge issue for me. I’ve walked into the running shoe store and said “Show me your shoe with the widest toe box- I don’t care what brand it is.” Right now I have two shoes that work for me (Hoka Clifton and New Balance 880) but am always on the lookout for new ones.

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 11, 2021 at 12:32 am

      We all have the things that matter to us and our feet! I don’t care about the brand either, and I’ll try anything when I’m getting fitted, just to see if my foot’s preferences have changed.

      Reply
  11. Angie says

    April 10, 2021 at 9:47 pm

    Oh, the point about the color made me giggle because I have to admit that ONCE I bought a pair of running shoes just because of the color. Luckily for me, they turned out to be excellent for my feet and wore that same style– the Asics-Gel Noosa Tri- for many years. Unfortunately, it is also one of those situations were the updated version started getting worse, at least for me.

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      April 11, 2021 at 12:29 am

      Oh, the Noosas were always SUCH a pretty shoe! I was always sad they didn’t work for me, because they were so bright and gorgeous!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

well, hello there…

bio
Welcome to Runs With Pugs. My name is Jenn and this is the story of my love affair with running and finding myself through fitness. From C25K to marathon, from triathlon to SUP, from broken leg to the recovery journey... I'm sharing it all. I'm a wife and mother of one, living in NE Florida, in love with travel, adventure, and food. Oh. We have pugs and a hedgehog, too. Thank you for joining us! We're glad to have you along for the ride!
Follow on Bloglovin


Save 25% on your ROADiD order here

Pinterest

find what you’re looking for

recently

  • 5 sources of mental clutter
  • my spring race plans
  • a week of exploring new things
  • 5 fitness superstitions
  • race report: raptor run 3k

Facebook Likes

archives

Footer

disclaimer

I am not a doctor or medical professional, nor do I play one on the internet. This blog reflects my personal experiences on my own fitness and running journey, and the processes that work for me. Before you begin any exercise regiment, please consult your physician.
Even though I got up late, the weather was still c Even though I got up late, the weather was still cool enough to make my 5 miler tolerable. 

We are supposed to see temps in the 90s this weekend and I am 100% not about it!

I won’t be racing this weekend: instead I’ve got some work, some volunteering, and another event on Sunday. Looking forward to all of it!

Are you running long or racing this weekend? Tell me about it!

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids
This Sunday, I hit up the #womenrunjacksonville ev This Sunday, I hit up the #womenrunjacksonville event at the @theglassfactory, presented by @yelpjacksonville and @market.and.mimosas!

Is it possible to be overwhelmed by so much amazing talent, creativity and awesome woman power? 

From the iconic “my phone eats first” tote to the gorgeous party wall lined with craft mimosas, to the silent disco headphones and all the vendors and food/drink samples! Swoon.

I shopped, ate, drank and chatted my way around the venue, and enjoyed every second of it. What a way to celebrate Women’s History Month, and all of the incredible female entrepreneurs, business owners and bosses in Jax and NE Florida!

Five stars. Would do again in a heartbeat!

#yougogirl #womenshistorymonth #girlpower #lovelocal #womanownedbusiness #smallbusiness #localbusiness #supportlocal #womenrunjax #yelpelite #yelpelitesquad #vendormarket #onlyinjax #thingstodojax #myphoneeatsfirst #firstcoastfavorites
35 minutes on the elliptical 👿 with a cool down 35 minutes on the elliptical 👿 with a cool down walk in the beautiful sunshine.

I am not a huge fan of gym equipment like the treadmill or the elliptical: I find it boring and often times awkward. That being said, I’m working through a training plan from @runsmartofficial and trusting the process.

Did you get your fitness inside or out today? How do you feel about the elliptical?

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids
Knock knock! Rolling through another Wednesday of Knock knock!

Rolling through another Wednesday of miles! It was not a great run (i got something in my contact and had to go home to flush it out!) but the company stellar as usual (@montarriba) and future me will say thank you for sticking it out.

I’ve got a busy day with some writing, a few emails and a trip to @danielle904beauty so stay tuned for that glow up!

How is your Wednesday? How are you rolling?

#running #streakingwiththecoolkids
Could they be any cuter? @lunanleonidas #pug #p Could they be any cuter?

@lunanleonidas 

#pug #pugpuppies
Let’s talk about balance. Balance is an area wh Let’s talk about balance.

Balance is an area where I sometimes struggle, physically and emotionally. It can be a challenge to fit in all the things I want and all the things I need. I don’t always love doing the mundane or tedious tasks that ultimately lead to the foundations of the things I am more passionate about.

I am taking a little more time to build on the basics, and find my balance. It’s going to lead to a healthier and happier me.

How do you find your balance? Do you struggle with the basics? 

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids
Sometimes, the weather is too beautiful not to run Sometimes, the weather is too beautiful not to run.

I worked through some cardio under the blue skies and in the fresh air and then came home to @runsmartofficial’s base building boot camp. 

There was A LOT of focus on balance and feet and ankles, as well as ground work in the form of different planks and push-ups. 

The movements were small but effective and my legs are certainly burning! It’s going to get harder as we go, but I’m excited to spend more time on my stability and form, to see if it makes me stronger and more efficient over time.

What was on your workout calendar today?

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids
This morning, I started on a new training plan wit This morning, I started on a new training plan with @runsmartofficial. I have a goal race in May, so I am going to see if I can make some improvements along the way.

I can admit that I am built more for distance than speed, but I am taking a crack and improving my pace over the next ten weeks. Keep your fingers crossed 🤞🏻!

Anyone else starting a new training plan and cycle?

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids
Was alpaca 🦙 yoga postponed due to weather? Yes Was alpaca 🦙 yoga postponed due to weather? Yes.

Did I get over it and take myself on a walk instead? Yes.

Did my @getsprints pickle visor lead to a cool surprise? Also yes!

Are you running or racing today? Tell me about it!

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all! We were luck Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all! We were lucky to have cool weather and blue skies for our run.

Planning on an untraditional celebration with some plans around town, but thinking I can snag a green beer along the way!

How are you enjoying this Friday?

#Running #streakingwiththecoolkids

Copyright © 2023 · Wordpress Theme by Hello Yay!