Taking good care of your running shoes is the best way to ensure them a long lifespan and guarantees running enjoyment. Many runners neglect their shoes, and regret it later on for reasons such as bad smell or getting uncomfortable, thus leading to pain or injury.
Tips to Take Care of Your Running Shoes
Here are 6 ways to take care of your running shoes:
- Keep the Shoes Solely for Running: Although your running shoes can be more comfortable than other shoes, do not use them for other activities like football, biking, or just for getting to the grocery store. On doing so, you will be wearing out the cushioning properties of your shoes quickly. Running shoes should be kept solely for running. This ensures that they will withstand the wear-and-tear effects of the activity, hence ensuring they last longer.
- Take Them On and Off Correctly: Many runners are in a rush to get to the shower after a workout, so they just take off the shoes without first undoing the lace. Dear runner, this is not how you treat a running shoe! Instead, you should loosen the lace prior to putting the shoes and while taking them off as well. Otherwise, you just make them flabbier and in poor condition for the next run.
- Alternate Between Two (or Three) Pairs: If your budget allows, purchasing two or even three pairs of running shoes is a good idea. Having multiple sets of shoes which you can alternate between workouts will help them last longer. Your shoes will also have the time to decompress and dry out between the workouts, especially if you're running in wet weather. In addition, you could help prevent injury by having more than one pair of (good condition) shoes. By alternating between each pair, you help the connective tissues and joints get a very slight recovery and break time by running in a faintly different way.
- Don't Put Them in the Washing Machine: Although this sounds tempting, putting your running shoes in the washing machine is not the best cleaning decision. Instead, you should hand wash them with commercial shoe care products, use a scrub brush, mild soap or any other common household detergent, and cold water. Just do not put them in the washing machine. Also, when washing your shoes, you ought to take out the laces and the insoles. Rub gently on the laces and brush the insoles until they're clean.
- Drying the Shoes: After washing and cleaning your shoes, you need to rinse them well before drying them up. The best way to dry your shoes is to let them dry in open air. Don't ever place your shoes in the proximity of a heating source such as a radiator or under the sunlight. Direct applied heat will certainly damage its materials and alter the shape of the shoe. You could also stuff the inside of the shoes with kitchen paper or a used newspaper. The paper will absorb the dampness inside the shoe, and it takes usually about twelve hours for the shoes to dry out.
- All Shoes Have a Limited Lifespan: We all have to "pull the plug on" our running shoes sooner or later. No shoe lasts forever. Various factors can limit or expand your shoes' lifespan. Your shoes' lifespan depends on the frequency of use, weekly mileage, running surface and style, usage habits, and other factors.
However, not all shoes are created equal. Some are specifically designed to withstand the test of time and last longer than the others. But then, eventually they will wear out and you'll have to purchase a new pair. That's the cycle of life. Running shoes tend to lose their absorption properties after about 400 to 500 miles (650 to 800 kilometers) of running. That's the equivalent of 6 months for the average runner.
