Welcome Back to the Running World with Gel Shoes

Gel shoes are really great, especially for certain types of exercisers. Whether you walk, power walk, jog or full out run, your feet are pounding the pavement. You get a better and softer workout if you do your run in the sand, but how many of us actually have beach front property? Unless you want to drive somewhere to run on the beach, most of us will be stuck with what we have and that usually means cement, pavement and occasionally grass. There are some bike/running paths that are made of loose gravel which can also be very difficult to run on.

The reason these shoes are so great is simple. When you run, your feet and legs create energy and then strike the ground. The ground, being very hard, does not absorb the energy but rather, pushes back up into the feet and legs. That means that all of the impact is coming back to you at a higher rate depending on your weight and your speed as well as the way that your foot strikes the ground. Some people strike with their whole foot while others may roll their foot inward or outward. Still others may only strike with the ball of their foot. All of these things together are the reason your legs feel achy and sore when you are done running. It may also be the reason that runners end up with injuries, particularly in their knees and their hips.

And while a good pair of fitted shoes is beneficial, the gel that is inside of these can absorb more of the impact, displacing it and keeping you from feeling all of the stress. They may not make you run better or longer, but they will make the run more comfortable. If you are free from some of the pain, you may be able to do more and eventually, push past your wall and get more distance if that is what you are working for. While these types of shoes may absorb some of the impact, it is not guaranteed that it will keep you from feeling pain or exhaustion, especially if your foot strike is off in any way.

The experts all agree that a pair of shoes that you wear more than two to three times a week should be replaced every six months or less. If you are running more than two to three times a week, or are very overweight, you may need to replace your shoes more frequently. When you are in the market for a new pair of shoes, you might consider upgrading to gel shoes.