If you look at the majority of world-class runners, you will probably notice that they tend to be smaller in stature and lean-bodied. This can clarify the point that heavyweight runners need to be more selective in their choice of running gear, including shoes.
Since running shoes are manufactured primarily for those smaller-stature runners, heavyweights will need to look for specific traits in their shoes.
Motion-Control Shoes
Look for a motion-control shoe design. Most heavyweight runners tend to overpronate. Due to the flat-footed structure of a heavyweight's feet, the foot rolls too far inward during each stride. This can cause serious and severe strain to the tendons, ligaments and muscles of the lower leg and knee.
Motion-control shoes like the Trance and Addiction from Brooks Shoes are ideal for overcoming this overpronation. Other motion-control shoes include Saucony's Grid Stabil and Grid Hammer, as well as the 767 from New Balance.
Performance Training Shoes
Consider performance training shoes if you intend to race in competition. For heavyweight runners with only mild overpronation who are concerned about wearing a lightweight, stable shoe for racing, speed work and daily training, performance training shoes are a good choice. Because they do not possess as much support as motion-control shoes, performance training shoes should be worn only if you have a mild pronation or less.
Suitable performance training shoes for heavyweight runners could include the Saucony Grid Spy or Nike's Air Span Presto Faze. Nike also offers the Air Span Triax and the Air Span Althea. All of these shoes feature suitably moderate support for mild pronation, while offering a lighter weight and more freedom of movement than the motion-control shoes.
Neutral Balance Shoes
While most heavyweight runners tend to overpronate at least mildly, not all do. A large, muscular runner with a fit structure may have a well-balanced stride. For these heavyweight runners, impact protection in the form of cushioning is more critical than motion control.
Cushioned shoes, sometimes referred to as "neutral balance shoes," have soft midsoles and less stability than other types of shoes. They are mostly recommended for runners without overpronation or underpronation issues who have high arches. Runners prone to tendonitis should avoid simple cushioned shoes as well.
Cushioned shoes suitable for heavyweight runners include the Gel Kushon, the Gel Hyper Speed and the Nimbus Woman running shoes from Asics, as well as the Launch from Brooks. Possibly the most well-known neutral balance shoe, though, is the Nike Free.
References
- "The Runner's Handbook: The Bestselling Classic Fitness Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Runners," 2d ed.; Bob Glover, et al; 1996
- "Dr. Nicholas Romanov's POSE Method of Running"; Nicholas Romanov; 2004
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