Start your season off on the right foot with your best sneaker.
Running shoes differ from other athletic shoes in that they are built to best sustain forward (heel-to-toe) motion, as opposed to forward and lateral (side-to-side) movement. Running shoes that are ideal for spring track are built with a sole that curves up at the toe to help propel the runner forward, thicker heels and midsoles and strategically placed cushioning to help with shock absorption.
Motion Control Running Shoes
This style is for spring track runners who have flat feet or otherwise low arches. For runners with this foot type, the outside edge of your foot hits the ground first, with the impact moving to the heel and causing the ankle to rotate inward to an excessive degree in a process called overpronation. The motion control shoe usually has a medial post in a more rigid, wider sole to make it more difficult for the foot to turn in.
Stability Running Shoes
If you have a normal arch to your foot, then the impact during strides generally hits at the middle to outside edge of your foot and heel. This causes the foot to roll in only slightly and disperses the pressure through the ball of your foot and out through your toes. A stability running shoe is usually slightly rigid, but with some shock-absorbing cushioning for your spring track running events.
Cushioned Running Shoes
For runners with high arches, the impact is usually at the heel and moves to the outer edge of the foot and causes almost no rotation--a problem called supination. Because there's little to no rotation, it creates too much shock in one area causing knee problems and shin splints during or after track season. This style of shoe is the most flexible to allow for increased pronation and also helps to absorb shock.
Sprinting Shoes
This shoe name is a bit of a misnomer because, although they are used by many sprinters, some cross-country runners are also fans. They have less to do with your arch than they do with the distance you'll be running. Usually very lightweight, these shoes allow track runners to insert spikes into a base plate to give better traction, dig into the ground, and prevent slipping. Before purchasing these shoes, make sure to check with your program to see what limitations there are on spike lengths.
Racing Shoes
These are extremely lightweight and flexible shoes without spikes. They work best for track athletes who don't have existing injuries, have normal pronation when running and a noninjury-inducing stride, as they may not offer the proper support or shock absorption as other styles.
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