How Long do Running Shoes Last

Runners should be worn for running! But how many miles should you run in them? How long do running shoes last? As a general rule of thumb, you should be able to run approximately 350 – 500 miles in a pair of running shoes before you need new ones. The best advise I’ve received, and I will pass on, is to wear your runners for running. Athletic shoes should be worn for the sport that they were designed for. That means not to wear your runners for walking or tennis. The second best piece of advise is to have 2 pairs of runners so that you can change running shoes and rotate the days you run in 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 when the cushioning will give out and runners need to be replaced. The number of miles you will get out of your running shoes is very individual to the type and style of shoe and will 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 the cushioning on a shoe more quickly than a lighter weight person. And what kind of surfaces do you jog on? Asphalt and concrete will be somewhat harder on a shoe and it’s sole 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 foot strike pattern.

If you start feeling more joint and/or muscle pain soreness that you don’t normally feel and you haven’t increased your mileage or speed, then you may need to replace your running shoes. If you’ve just finished training and running a marathon, well then your runners have probably reached an end. 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 developing injuries by running in worn out running shoes. And don’t forget to try to save your running shoes for running exclusively then recycle them!

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