I figured I’d do some articles about your running as opposed to just running with your dog. After all, there is so much to learn about running in general and all of it can help you when you bring your four-legged friend along.

If you’re going to run with your dog, you’ll need to invest in a pair of good running shoes. In fact, running shoes will likely be your biggest expense when you’re starting to run. You can seriously mess up your feet, ankles, and/or knees if you run in shoes that are too old or don’t suit you. Just as it’s important to watch over your dog and make sure it’s handling the running, it’s important to watch over your own health as well.

When buying running shoes it’s really recommended that you see a podiatrist or a specialist running shop and get them to recommend a type of running shoe for you. No, Athelete’s Foot is not a specialist running shop. In my area, for example, we have Runner’s World – check out running forums and such for a good store in your area (I’ve put together some resources and good communities to check out when getting into running at the end of this post).

I have to be honest: I should start practicing what I preach when it comes to running shoes. When I started running, I knew nothing about it. I went into the nearest Foot Locker and bought some of the most expensive shoes they had just because the guy there said they were good. Luckily I ended up liking my shoes anyway – it could’ve turned out badly if the shoes the guy recommended (without even looking at my feet) ended up hurting me. I recently bought my second pair of running shoes and, again, it was a semi-impulse buy. I had read about the benefits of running barefoot and decided to start transitioning to this by getting a pair of Nike Free 3.0 shoes without seeing a specialist running store or a podiatrist. I looked up lots of reviews of the shoes and felt confident that I should at least try them. I unfortunately couldn’t find a pair of Nike Free 3.0s in my size and ended up going with the Nike Free Run+, a new model that hasn’t had many reviews at all at the time I bought them. They feel great so far, but I’m being careful when transitioning to longer distances in them.

Anyway, personal stories aside, here are some general tips about running shoes:

• Running shoes last approximately 400-600km. This does not apply to all running shoes, some may last hundreds of kilometres more and others may last less. When you start getting up in the km in your shoes pay attention to any new joint pain you may have, whether your shoes start or feel “flat”, new muscle soreness or tension, or anything else of the sort. If you pay attention to your body you should be able to feel when it’s time to get a new pair of running shoes. Don’t go just by the look of your shoes – your shoes may still look great, but the cushioning on the inside could be completely worn away. How quickly your shoes wear out will also depend on your weight and how hard you are on your shoes.
• Just because a pair of shoes feels good to walk in does not mean it will be good to run in. Some shoes may feel great to run in, but absolutely horrible to walk in. This is why so many runners have dedicated running shoes and never use them for anything except running.
• Start off slow when breaking in a new pair of running shoes. You don’t want to risk injury by launching into a super long run in shoes you haven’t run in before.
• When you find a great type of shoe to run in, stick to that shoe. You don’t have to try a new model each time you buy a new pair of shoes – keep using what works.

Some useful online resources for the beginner runner (or any runner, for that matter):
CoolRunning
The Runners Guide
Runner’s World Forums

Do you have any tips or experiences to share about running on your own or with your dog? Please leave a comment below!