Although the title mentions trainers, I'm writing this with all kinds of sports shoes in mind : tennis shoes, walking shoes, sneakers, aerobics shoes, basketball shoes, for example. The principle is usually the same. For brevity, lets just refer to them for the most part as shoes.
We all understand that running shoes have a limited lifespan. The general public continue to wear them well after their useful life has past. In my office, I most typically will have people tell me that their shoes are many years of age BUT ( insert excuse here... ). Some of my faves, "it fits my feet perfectly" ( meaning it's broken in ), the heel is worn out just how I like it ( meaning it has a hole inside the shoe ), buying new shoes just trouble me ( meaning that I've worn these for so long, the support is too different at that point ), and my most favorite : "they still look like new".
Yes, they still look new. When you only run on the treadmill, use the elliptical, and some stationary bike, and your shoes have never seen the light of day, naturally they look new. What's the problem is the section you don't see.
The support and function of a running shoe has little or nothing to do with the overall appearance of the higher part of the shoe or perhaps the sole. It's the midsole, the part of the sole that is principally not visible from the outside, that has the most function and actually limits the useful lifetime of shoes. With every stride, the midsole compresses and, over time, loses the majority of its support. I guess the helpful lifetime of a running shoe for road runners to be roughly 350 miles. This amount may be barely shorter for heavier runners and slightly longer for lighter ones. For those who truly don't run continually, or do other sports and activities that can't me measured by mileage, your shoes should be replaced every 4-6 months, depending on the level of use.
So start maintaining a tally of the life of your shoes. Dedicate two shoes ( or more ) solely for activities to get the most out of its useful life. You can record your mileage in your running book, or perhaps in pen on the sides of the shoe. Write the date of the shoe on the tongue or the outsole of the shoe so you actually know how old it is.
Whenever you are concerned in significant exercise, minor wounds are unavoidable. You must do everything in your power to minimize them. Wearing the correct shoes is one easy way to help along.
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