Service

Dick Pond Athletics has always been known for their exceptional customer service and knowledeagle staff.  We work very closely with local foot doctors and physical therapist to insure we keep our staff informed about all the different running related injuries and how we can help prevent them.  One of the main services provided by Dick Pond Athletics Crest Hill is a custom Gait Analysis for runners and walkers alike.  We will go through the A B C's of getting the proper shoe with all customers to insure the proper fit.

Tips

Here are some of the advantages of running shoes:

• Superior Cushioning
• Flexibility in the right places
• Stability or Motion control
• Traction on road or trails
• Tortional stability – stiff where needed
• Night-time reflectivity
• Breathability

Steps to test for fit, feel and function:

Choose the best fit over the latest technology. A poorly fitting shoe with the greatest technology will not make you a better runner or prevent injuries. Overall, shoes should be comfortable on your feet and support your feet through the full range of the running motion. Most shoes need minimal break in. They should feel pretty good right in the store. If they don’t – keep looking.

Beware of the dreaded black toe:

Shoes that are too short give you black toe nails. Test for length by standing fully upright in your new shoes with equal weight on both feet. Have a friend or salesperson check to see that your longest toe has no less than 1/4 inch from the end of the shoe, the ideal space is normally a thumb nail or ½ an inch. There should be plenty of room in the toe box to wiggle those toes. Remember to wear your normal running socks when testing fit.

Hint: Your feet change size during the day – they get larger. Make sure to fit test shoes at the same time that you normally run and wear your running socks.

Shoes too long - Do this heel check: With your feet in the shoe, it should be difficult for you to slip your thumb between your heel and the back of the shoe. If you can, your shoe may slip while running causing you to get a nasty blister on the back of your heel.

Fit to be tied – the forefoot check:
If you have ever tied your shoes too tight for a long run or a race you won’t forget this test. The top of your foot can get pretty sore when you tie your shoes too tight. Your test shoe should lace up evenly without the laces being binding across the throat (where you tie the shoe at the top). With the shoe fully tied, you should still have good ankle flexibility and range of motion. If not, the throat of that shoe is too narrow for your foot.

Seams to me:
Seams in the wrong place can cause blisters. Seams are where two materials overlap or are stitched together. They have a way of rubbing against your feet on a run causing hot spots and blistering. Check for seams especially by your pinkie toe and any other funky areas of your foot.

Widths- Widths - Widths! – don’t get left hanging
Different brands and even models within a brand have their own width tendencies. The right width makes all the difference. Trying on a shoe, you should feel like your foot is evenly distributed inside the shoe and is not left hanging over the side of the midsole Tie the laces the way you normally do.

If you have a narrow foot, check that the material at the base of throat of the shoes where the laces start does not bunch up.

Ankle room and heel counter:
For a good fit and good stability, your ankle should fit snugly inside the heel cup of the shoe. Feel inside the heel for a hard material. That is the heel counter. That counter should fit just right to your heel, but not press against your ankle bone. If it does, over time you may get a blister on your ankle.

Your arch enemy:
Look for a shoe with a good removable sock liner. This sockliner should have good cushioning and have a pre-formed raised area for arch support. Make sure your arch fits comfortably and does not cause any discomfort when running. Sometimes when it doesn’t, try a different pair of the same model out. Walk and preferably run around in the shoe for a while to make sure the arch area feels right. Sometimes even the smallest of pressure on your arch can cause pain in the tendons under your foot called your plantar fascia.

Hint: If you have orthotics, make sure you take them with you to test out shoes. Take out the factory sock-liner and place your orthotic in the shoe. Follow the steps above with your orthotics in the shoes to make sure you get a good fitting shoe.