Walk a Mile in My Shoes - How Many Miles Should you Run in a Pair of Runners?

Runners should be worn for running! But how many miles should you run in them? As a general rule of thumb, you should be able to run approximately 350 - 500 miles in a pair of runners. The best advise I've received and I will pass on is to wear your runners for running and other running shoes for the sport that they were designed for. Also, don't forget to remove your runners when you have finished with your run or sport specific activity. The second best piece of advise is to have 2 pairs of runners so that you can rotate days between them. This is important because your runners will wear differently depending on the terrain that you are running on.

350 - 500 miles is a ballpark figure for most runners. The number of miles you will get out of your running shoes is very individual and ultimately depend on a few things. First of all, what kind of runners are you wearing? Racing flats and lightweight trainers will wear out in fewer miles than regular trainers. How much do you weigh? A heavier person will beat down a shoe more quickly than a lighter person. And what kind of surfaces do you run on? Asphalt and concrete will be somewhat harder on a shoe than a treadmill, all weather track or grass/trail running. Do you overpronate or supinate? This can also wear out shoes more quickly, especially if you have an extreme footstrike pattern.

If you start feeling more joint and/or muscle pain soreness that you don't normally feel and you haven't upped your mileage or speed, then you may be ready for a new pair of runners. If you keep a running log then it will be easy to determine the miles that you have put on your runners, but more importantly let your body talk to you. It is not worth risking injury by running in worn out running shoes. And don't forget to try to save your running shoes for running exclusively!

About the Author:

Jacquie Barry is a successful freelance writer and the publisher of http://www.online-running-gear.com. Jacquie has enjoyed running for the past 20 years and has successfully completed many marathons and triathlons including Ironman Canada.