Vox
I just started running, the other day, in an old pair of cross trainers. My feet/legs are starting to hurt, so I think I need some new shoes. I keep reading that running shoes are a huge deal. I'm pretty broke. I really can't spend more than $40 at the MOST. I would really prefer something under $30. So, is it better to buy new, cheap shoes or used nicer shoes? I figure I'll go to a store and try some on and then buy them online for less. Does anyone know of a good online store? Or a nice pair of shoes that are being phased out? (I'm 16 and female.)
Also, does anyone know how to go about getting on a community college cross country team? I already attend the school. I didn't run in high school. I'm not a great runner now, but I'm hoping to improve by next semester. "Cross Country" is listed as a class. Does that mean it's for beginners? How good do I have to be to take it? Are there age requirements? I'll ask my councilor but he's out of town and I would like to know soon.
Tips on getting started would also be appreciated.
The shoes I have now are too small.
Is the brand important?
I'm technically "home schooled" but I don't take any classes at home, I just take them all at the college.
May I ask, where are you getting Nikes for under $50?
Answer
Running shoes are only good for 500 miles so used shoes might be questionable unless you know the mileage on them.
I would ask the athletic director if there is a cross country team. If there is it is probably open to anyone who wants to join.
A cross country class would be for beginners, it couldn't be too demanding, you wouldn't have to be "good" at it. As for age requirements f you are old enough to go the the college you are old enough.
To get started I suggest running for a half hour, 4-6 times a week, taking walking breaks as necessary. Once you can run a half hour without stopping, you can compete in a 5k cross country race.
Good luck!
Running shoes are only good for 500 miles so used shoes might be questionable unless you know the mileage on them.
I would ask the athletic director if there is a cross country team. If there is it is probably open to anyone who wants to join.
A cross country class would be for beginners, it couldn't be too demanding, you wouldn't have to be "good" at it. As for age requirements f you are old enough to go the the college you are old enough.
To get started I suggest running for a half hour, 4-6 times a week, taking walking breaks as necessary. Once you can run a half hour without stopping, you can compete in a 5k cross country race.
Good luck!
Any recommendations for tennis/running shoes?
Greg H
I'm looking to buy new athletic shoes for college - and it everyone is telling me that I should buy tennis and running shoes separately (I can't use one for both? :( ) Anyways, I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations.
I don't run that often, but when I do it's usually on a treadmill. I also run up a mountain on a dirt fireroad, but I think I'll use my older athletic shoes for that so they don't get too messed up.
In college I'm going to play tennis more often than I do now, and I'm looking for a pair of shoes that will last long without breaking the bank (I'm a student after all!)
Thanks!
Answer
I used to wear Saucony running shoes but I have switched over to Adidas and I'm really happy with them. The running shoes I currently own are Adidas Supernova. I wear them at the gym on the treadmill and the elliptical climbing machine more than I wear them at the track. They are supportive and cushion-y. Adidas has several different varieties of the same shoe, so they can fit runners with different strides: overpronation, normal stride or supination. That way you can be sure that you get the right shoe for you. Not every runner runs the same!
Beware of off-brand shoes and sale flyers! Avoid those Sunday paper ads that say: "Lookie! $29.99 for Nike! We'll beat any price!" Those shoes are cheap-o models that the manufacturers make ONLY for that store. That way, you can never find another pair of Nike Spiffy-Ultras because no other store sells the Spiffy-Ultra model, and the store can lure you into thinking they are giving you a deal. Those $29.99 shoes are made with cheaper foam and cheaper glue and have low-tech cheaper design elements. The show manufacturers are smart; they save the good materials and the good technology for people who can afford to spend twice as much. You get what you pay for. Cheap-o shoes from the sales flyer are just that: Cheap shoes.
I would look online at the various shoe makers web sites, and choose a model that is best for you. Say for example, you choose the Adidas Supernova Sequence 2. Great, that's a regular brand and a regular model so more than one store sells that shoe. Now go online (like NextTag or something) and find the retailer with the best price on that specific shoe. I think you can get a long-lasting, comfortable pair of running shoes if you are willing to spend around 60 dollars.
As for tennis shoes, you can get away with a decent pair of Adidas Stan Smith model or Rod Laver model shoes. Sure, you can pay 200 dollars for Adidas tennis shoes, but do you really need them? Go with the classic designs: They are well proven on the court already. If you are willing to spend 50 dollars, you can get a decent pair of Rod Laver tennis shoes on sale.
If you wear your tennis shoes on the tennis court only, they will probably last you for your entire college career. Otherwise, wearing your running shoes on the tennis court will just make them wear out fast and you'll just have to get new ones.
So, you can get two pairs of activity-specific shoes if you are willing to spend $110. In the long run, it's better for your ankles and knees to have well-designed shoes that are specific for the sport you are doing.
There is no need to spend over $100 a single pair on shoes, unless you are really into the activity and you know exactly *why* you are buying that specific model super-shoe. Likewise, stay away from the el Cheapo model sale-flyer shoes. They may have a brand name, but they're not the same as the "regular" models. The 20 dollar Saucony XM-24 running shoe they only sell at Mega-5 Sports Mart is going to be a cheaply made shoe. You're going to wish you had spent another 20 bucks.
I used to wear Saucony running shoes but I have switched over to Adidas and I'm really happy with them. The running shoes I currently own are Adidas Supernova. I wear them at the gym on the treadmill and the elliptical climbing machine more than I wear them at the track. They are supportive and cushion-y. Adidas has several different varieties of the same shoe, so they can fit runners with different strides: overpronation, normal stride or supination. That way you can be sure that you get the right shoe for you. Not every runner runs the same!
Beware of off-brand shoes and sale flyers! Avoid those Sunday paper ads that say: "Lookie! $29.99 for Nike! We'll beat any price!" Those shoes are cheap-o models that the manufacturers make ONLY for that store. That way, you can never find another pair of Nike Spiffy-Ultras because no other store sells the Spiffy-Ultra model, and the store can lure you into thinking they are giving you a deal. Those $29.99 shoes are made with cheaper foam and cheaper glue and have low-tech cheaper design elements. The show manufacturers are smart; they save the good materials and the good technology for people who can afford to spend twice as much. You get what you pay for. Cheap-o shoes from the sales flyer are just that: Cheap shoes.
I would look online at the various shoe makers web sites, and choose a model that is best for you. Say for example, you choose the Adidas Supernova Sequence 2. Great, that's a regular brand and a regular model so more than one store sells that shoe. Now go online (like NextTag or something) and find the retailer with the best price on that specific shoe. I think you can get a long-lasting, comfortable pair of running shoes if you are willing to spend around 60 dollars.
As for tennis shoes, you can get away with a decent pair of Adidas Stan Smith model or Rod Laver model shoes. Sure, you can pay 200 dollars for Adidas tennis shoes, but do you really need them? Go with the classic designs: They are well proven on the court already. If you are willing to spend 50 dollars, you can get a decent pair of Rod Laver tennis shoes on sale.
If you wear your tennis shoes on the tennis court only, they will probably last you for your entire college career. Otherwise, wearing your running shoes on the tennis court will just make them wear out fast and you'll just have to get new ones.
So, you can get two pairs of activity-specific shoes if you are willing to spend $110. In the long run, it's better for your ankles and knees to have well-designed shoes that are specific for the sport you are doing.
There is no need to spend over $100 a single pair on shoes, unless you are really into the activity and you know exactly *why* you are buying that specific model super-shoe. Likewise, stay away from the el Cheapo model sale-flyer shoes. They may have a brand name, but they're not the same as the "regular" models. The 20 dollar Saucony XM-24 running shoe they only sell at Mega-5 Sports Mart is going to be a cheaply made shoe. You're going to wish you had spent another 20 bucks.
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