How many miles/km should I put on my shoes before buying new shoes? I want to avoid hurting my knees.?

Question

I ran a half marathon in May, and am running another in Sept. I run about 40 km (25 miles) a week. How often should I be buying new shoes (answer in miles or km is most helpful)?

Answer 1

i usually go for about 350- 400 miles before i get new shoes but it really depends what type of surface you run on, your weight, frame and cushioning of the shoe. i'm 14, medium frame, 115 pounds and 5 ft 7 . I run on everything except really aggresive trails

Answer 2

Good shoes should last about 500 miles, but it depends on the surface you are running on, and how much you weigh. It is a good idea to own more than one pair of shoes. So you can alternate shoes and not have a every drastic change in the way your feet feel when you go from a pair that is worn and a brand new pair.

I always look for sales and when I find one I will buy it and put it in the closet until it is rotated into service.

Do you have training shoes and racing shoes? It is a good idea to have cushioned shoes for training and lighter shoes for races. Think about how much weight you are carrying wearing heavy shoes and how tired your legs are picking them up for 13 miles.

Answer 3

I agree with lester - shoes last about 500 miles. Another rule of thumb you might want to try is to replace your running sneakers every 6 months - whichever comes first.

The wear and tear on your shoes also depends on the surface. If you do a lot of off-road v/s concrete that might mean that you'll wear them out faster. I replace mine every 6 months no matter what. If they feel really worn before the 6 months or 500 miles, replace them. It's all about comfort (and like you said!) protecting your knees, feet, back, etc.
One big mistake to avoid is trying to extend the life of your shoes by sticking in some sports insoles or extra cushion. That'll do you no good. If the shoe is broken down, there is nothing that will change that.
Happy trails!
:-)

Answer 4

Five hundred miles is the recommended limit. If you are a heavier runner you may want to rotate them earlier. Log your miles every day. I am sure you do that already. The log is a good way to track the miles on your shoes. I found a brand and style I like and have about five pair of exactly the same shoe going at one time. I number the back of the pairs to keep from mixing them.