How Often Do You Replace Your Running Shoes?

This was a REALLY tough one to guess!

Apple cupcakes.

I saw this idea in one of Martha’s magazines at my sister’s place and I knew I had to make them immediately! All I could think about was how much kids would enjoy these fun apple ‘cupcakes’.

Or 27 year old kids. ;)

Apple Cupcakes

Adapted from Martha.

Ingredients:

• 1 apple, cored and cut in half
• Nut butter (I used TJ’s Sunflower seed butter)
• 2 tbsp Breakfast cobbler
• 1/2 tsp unsweetened coconut, for garnish
• 2-3 tbsp high protein chocolate carob pumpkin pudding

Directions: Core apple and cut in half. Place apple cut side up and add a layer of nut butter, cobbler, and coconut on one half. On the other half add a big scoop of ‘icing’ (aka pudding!) and then cobbler and coconut. If making a bunch for a party, serve in jumbo muffin liners on a serving tray.

I had my apple cupcakes with 2/3 of a not-yet-existing Glo bar.

I looooooved this cupcake idea. So fun. Can’t you just see these at a kids birthday party or at a baby shower?

And of course the topping ideas are endless! Nut butter, pudding, granola, yogurt, VOO, etc!

After digesting, I hit the road for a short and sweet 5k run.

A great run and it was over before I knew it began.

How often do you replace your running shoes?

Over the past few weeks I have been suspecting that I need to order another pair of running shoes. I searched online for information on when to replace them because I wasn’t really sure! In the past, I have simply replaced them when they got really, really worn down or holes in them, but even though my Brooks sneakers are currently still intact I have noticed that they don’t feel the same anymore and don’t have the same support.

How did I know this? Because lately I have been tying my shoelaces tighter and tighter just to obtain the support I need and I never had to do this before. I have also noticed a few aches and pains in my foot that I never had previously.

I found an article on Running.about.com and it says that you should replace your runners every 300-400 miles (other articles say 300-550 or every 3-6 months, so it varies a lot!). I did a quick tally of my mileage since I bought the shoes mid-March and I have run over 310 miles on these sneakers. It has been exactly 6 months too!

I run outdoors which is harder on shoes and I also run on rougher terrain at times (gravel and lots of hills/declines); both of these factors can wear your shoes down faster.

There are also lots of tests you can do on your sneakers to check for wear and tear (found here).

So it looks like all signs point to ordering a new pair ASAP! What better excuse to gather up all our old sneakers and donate them to a good cause too.

I think it is important to keep in mind that the above articles are simply recommendations and rules of thumb. It is always important to listen to how your body feels most importantly and trust your gut.

How often do you replace your sneakers?