It is quite common to wear shoes until the soles are worn thin. It is important to get your money’s worth as the cost of exercise shoes is quite expensive.  I am frugal and if it were any other piece of clothing, I would agree whole heartedly. I have T shirts that are fifteen years old and soft jeans with holes in them that are really comfortable. But I don’t skimp on shoes.  And you shouldn’t either.

Good shoes are the first line of joint protection for your ankles, knee, hips and lower back. The shoe provides shock absorption each time you take a step to relieve  joint stress. We generally take about 10,000 steps a day. So it is not a surprise that you have foot pain at the end of the day after wearing a flimsy unsupportive shoe. Before jumping back into your exercise routine this New Year: Invest in a good exercise shoe! It should have a firm heel region, adequate arch support and room to wiggle your toes. If it doesn’t fit well in the store, don’t buy it. Always try on shoes. Shoe companies vary their styles each year and the shoe style you bought last year will be changed ever so slightly so it may not fit the same. If you find a style that fits you well, buy a couple pairs because that style may be different next year.

Only wear your exercise shoes for exercise. Not for shopping, walking around the house or running errands. If you have foot deformities and need to wear an exercise style shoe, have a pair for walking about and then another pair for exercise. It keeps your exercise shoes lasting longer. If you are a regular runner or walker, replace your shoes frequently (every 4-6 months).The shoe may still look new but the shock absorption portion of the shoe has worn out.

What to do with your old shoes? After they have been utilized as gardening shoes, try recycling them locally at the recycle center in Nelson County. Other ways to recycle are to send them to Soles4Souls (soles4souls.org) who donate the shoes to folks in need. Or check out recyclerunners.com or nikeuseashoe.com for other places to donate your shoes.