As your running shoes age, they begin to lose their shock absorption and no longer give you cushioning and stability. Continuing to run in them would lead to an increase in the impact felt on your joints. This could expose you to more injuries due to running. The biggest way to avoid these injuries is to replace your running shoes when you should.
But to do that you have to know when you need to have your running shoes changed. First of all, do not wait until you see deteriorations on the sole itself. The midsole which give your running shoes their stability and cushion would deteriorate long before you see anything wrong with the bottom of the running shoes. This is especially true for cross country shoes which see a lot of difficult terrain. What you need to do is to observe how your body feels. Once you start noticing that your joints or your knees hurt after a run, it might be because the running shoes no longer absorb the shock because the cushioning is starting to fall apart.
The need to replace your running shoes comes from several factors. It could depend on your running style, your weight, or the kind of terrain that you frequent. Usually the standard estimate is to replace them after 300-400 miles run. Heavier people and those that run on rougher terrain would need to replace their running shoes more often.
Some runners opt to buy a second pair of running shoes to alternate with their first one. New Balance 811 shoes would work well for this. This allows them to have a longer life because they get to rest in between uses. The rest period allows them to get dry and to decompress. It would be a good idea to purchase the second pair around the middle of the first pair’s lifetime because it gives you a reference point and allows you to compare the two so that you will know when you should change the first pair.
There are some ways on how you can extend the lifetime of your running shoes. Never use the washing machine to wash them. Doing this would be a lot easier but it is safer to do it manually. Get a small brush, some soap, and room temperature (or cold) water to wash them with.
Let your running shoes air dry. Do not use a radiator or a dryer because this causes them to shrink. One technique to letting your running shoes dry easier is to place sheets of newspaper or any absorbent paper inside them.
Your running should only be used for running. Otherwise, their lifetime diminishes. Get another pair that you can use for everything else.
Make sure that you unlace your running shoes before you remove them. Taking them off while laced will lead to deformation. Your running shoes should stay in a place that is cool and dry. If they remain in a high humidity place, they could be a breeding ground for fungi and other microorganisms.
