Fit to be tied.(running shoes - fitting)(Buyers Guide)

TO IMPROVE YOUR ODDS of buying the right shoe, start by assessing your gait. Running shoes are designed for varying degrees of pronation, a natural inward rolling from the outside back of the heel to the inside forefoot. As pronation occurs, your feet adjust to the contour of the surface, which helps them absorb the pounding they take as you run.

If your feet overpronate, or roll inward excessively, that may increase the risk of injury. You might do best with a motion-control shoe, which has firmer materials in parts of the midsole to minimize inward rolling. If your feet underpronate, or roll inward very slightly, your feet and body may be jarred excessively. A cushioning shoe, which emphasizes shock absorption, may be your best bet. If your feet roll inward slightly, then you have a neutral running style. You could do well with a cushioning shoe or a stability shoe, which blends cushioning and control, giving you more of a road feel. Category names vary by brands, so you may see terms such as "supportive cushioning" used to describe stability shoes.

Your arch can give you a clue as to which camp you fall into. Typically, overpronators have low arches, underpronators have high arches, and neutral runners fall in between. To check your arch, wet your bare feet, then step on a piece of cardboard. Match your footprints to the illustration below. (Arches vary in rigidity, so use this as an indicator rather than a hard-and-fast diagnosis.)

Whatever type of shoe you choose, follow these tips to ensure the best fit and comfort:

* Shop later in the day. That's when your feet tend to be largest. Be sure to wear the socks you normally wear for running.

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