“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.” –Marilyn Monroe, actress

Over the last two years, I have covered everything from the fear of vegetables to reviews on fitness programs and products to the Cookie Monster. As I began to think about this week’s topic I, A: was afraid that there was nothing interesting to write about B: recognized that that was impossible and C: realized I had left out something extremely important.

Shoes! It was like packing your whole suitcase to the T only to find that you have forgotten your toothbrush by the sink at home. How had I gone all of this time without writing about shoes?  They make up the foundation for every athlete, weekend warrior or casual fitness frequenter.

Shoes often get overlooked. This is somewhat understandable since they are not the first piece of gear the eyes are usually drawn to and often low on the priority list. Most (including myself) tend to purchase tennis shoes more off of how they look rather than how they feel. This small staple of athletic wear however, makes a big difference on performance, comfort and the likelihood of injury.

Choosing the right shoes is a bit like being a match maker. Certain personalities fit with others and certain personalities absolutely clash. Narrow feet won’t live happily ever after with wide shoes and no degree of attractiveness will make up for that shoe’s abrasive nature. Below are a few tips to find your future sole mate (it had to be used).

The Fit’s the Thing

Everyone remembers that kid in elementary school who kicked the soccer ball along with his shoe over the fence. Maybe it was you. The point is that a loose shoe hinders performance, increases the risk of injury and is more likely than not, uncomfortable.

Loose shoes also often rub against ankles or toes causing ugly abrasions and blisters. In order to avoid these results, shop for shoes that fit snug but not snug to the point where you lose all of the circulation in your foot. The shoe should be able to come off easily when untied but not before.

Remember to wear the sort of socks you plan to wear when working out in order to properly judge how the shoes will fit in the future.

RUN , REST, REPEAT

Pain in the foot or ankle region immediately after exercise indicates a problem.  When purchasing shoes don’t feel afraid to walk around a bit do some jumping jacks or some laps around the shopping center. If there is even the slightest of discomfort rethink your perspective purchase. It might not be the shoe for you especially if your foot is uncomfortable after only a few minutes.

“This benefit will reflect itself in its most striking way immediately after a workout,  the way your feet feel then is a good indication of whether you have the right pair of running shoes or not.” –FitDay

Shape

The shape of your foot is perhaps the most complicated yet important aspect of the whole process. After all, a good shoe for my foot may be an awful shoe for your’s and vice versa. It all depends on the arch of the foot and weight distribution. Due to the fact that all feet are different, the individual quirks of your foot might be hard to judge.

Many stores now have devices to help you gauge the type of arch of the foot and where the person needs the most support. I recommend using one of these devices or determining the sort of arch (high, low or none) before buying a shoe.

I highly encourage you to remember these three tactics next time you are in need of a pair of athletic shoes. Always remember that money is better spent on an ugly shoe that fits right than a flashy one that leaves you miserable. Don’t be afraid to exit the store empty handed or to spend a little bit of extra time looking for the right shoe for you.

The choice is yours. Will you be nutty about health?

 For last week’s addition read Health Nut: Sleepless in Fresno.

This writer can be reached via Twitter: @skylerklee and via Email: Skyler Lee.