Are racing shoes okay to wear during a marathon?

Just look at those racing shoes. Sleek, flexible and lightweight. Racing shoes must be faster than regular running shoes - right? Maybe...

Racing shoes have one feature that makes them both good and not so good. Racing flats are lightweight because most of the shock absorption qualities have been removed to make super ultra lightweight running shoes. So runners need to be concerned about injuries.

If you anticipate competing in a long race, racing shoes may not be the best athletic footwear. Unless you are a fast runner with a good chance of winning the race, consider a quality pair of running shoes with proper cushioning for you. Racing flats might be okay over a short run.

Heavier runners should also stay away from racing shoes. As your body weight decreases, you can consider wearing racing flats. Otherwise, pick quality running footwear that will keep you injury free.

So the minority of very fast runners might think about racing shoes. But the rest of us, should focus on the best running shoes we can find that fit us. To get all the benefits of running, just stick with a major brand of training shoes that will protect from injuries.

For more running information, take a look at the following menu topics:

Running Shoes | Trail Running Shoes| Women's Running Shoes | Running Shoes FAQ | Running Shoes - Terms