Running is a hugely popular activity. Many millions of people around the world take part in running of some form. Some people like to do a quick 10 minute jog a couple of times a week whereas others like to run Marathons or even further.

If you are serious about running and do it on a regular basis, it is important to have a good pair of running shoes. This is because the wrong pair of shoes can actually cause you damage. You may have purchased a cheap pair of trainers from the local discount outlet or you may have been using the same pair of trainers for years. Whether it is one of these scenarios or something else, you should assess the state of your trainers.

It is recommended that you change your trainers every 400 - 500 miles of running. In some cases this could be every 6 months, in others it could be two years. It is also important that you are wearing trainers that were designed for running.

Adidas have a big pedigree in sports equipment and trainers. This is why the Adidas Supernova running shoe is a great option if you are looking for a new sports shoe to help take your running to the next level.

The Adidas Supernova running Shoe offers extra cushioning and has been designed with serious runners in mind. It contains a host of technological developments that will help make running a more comfortable experience for you. These technologies include extra breathable tongue, motion control to adapt to the terrain you are running on and torsion system to permit free movement of the ball of the foot and the heel.

The Adidas Supernova running Shoe has received glowing reviews from many publications including Runners World. They said that it is a superb running shoe that offers excellent support and cushioning and will aid running performance.

SportsShoes.com is a great place to purchase the Adidas Supernova running as they offer the best price available on the net. As well as the Adidas Supernova, they have a huge catalogue of running shoes and related running equipment. There are also often a lot of products available in their online sales.

So if you are in the market for a new pair of trainers, why don’t you take a look at the SportsShoes.com website and purchase yourself a pair of Adidas Supernova running shoes today?

This is for two reasons; the ball of the foot has an absorbent property that will absorb the impact of the run. If you land on the heel it will send the pressure up your legs through the knees and into the back. This can cause injury. The second reason is that if you are landing on your heel, you are pushing in the opposite direction of where you want to be running. This is inefficient and can waste energy.

Unfortunately for most people in this country, it is not practical to run barefoot. This is because the pavements can carry hazards that may also cause injury. Nike have developed a solution called the Nike Free Trainers.

Nike Free Trainers are based on a new technology that works to emulate the practice of running barefoot. They were developed with one of the world’s leading physios, Gerard Hartman. Nike Free Trainers offer the potential to add strength to the foot as there is less unnecessary material restricting the foot.

The latest version of the Nike Free Trainers is V3. This has built on the success of the previous versions. It is extra light weight and will mimic the exact way you would run if you were barefoot but you don’t need to worry about cutting your feet by actually being barefoot.

Because Nike Free Trainers will strengthen your feet, they will take a short while to break in. But once you have gotten used to them, your feet will feel stronger and you will feel as though you can run further and faster.

Nike Free Trainers offer a completely unique running experience. You will notice that you feel more connected to your natural environment. Nike have always been at the forefront of trainer technology and it seems like they have hit another benchmark again with these. It will not be long before their rivals are bringing out competing pairs of trainers. Just remember where you saw them first.

If you are a serious runner or fitness enthusiast then Nike Free Trainers should be on your shopping list.

Many of us prefer to be barefoot but are not quite brave enough to venture out of the house without shoes on. There are many benefits to barefoot walking including;

Improved posture
Optimised balance
More of a connection with the earth and nature

Terra Plana Shoes offer the wearer the ability to realise the benefits of barefoot walking without the need to be barefoot. The super thin and strong sole of Terra Plana Shoes offers the wearer the ability to get back to nature and feel as though they are actually walking barefoot.

What are Masai Shoes?

MBT Trainers or Masai Shoes were designed in the early 90s by a Swiss engineer who noticed on a trip to Korea while he was walking barefoot that it actually helped alleviate his knee and back problems. He further noted that the Masai of Kenya are regarded as having excellent posture and don’t suffer from back pain.

It is claimed that if used correctly, Masai Shoes can help improve posture, assist with toning and reduce or banish back pain. It is also believed that they can assist with burning fat and banishing cellulite.

Correct posture can reduce strain on muscles and joints and make you feel and look great.

Masai Shoes help turn hard surfaces into soft uneven ones and have many benefits including;

· Reduction of pressure on knees and joints
· Burn calories and increased weight loss
· Assistance with foot and back problems
· Promote the use of neglected muscles
· Tone the body

If you want to lose some weight or just tone up and don’t have the time to visit a gym, put on your Masai Shoes and go for a walk. You could walk to work or walk to the shops instead of driving.

Masai Shoes have received glowing reports in the press with The Times saying how they really do help in toning and the Daily Mirror stating that they have helped with reducing back pain.

Like many things, information about correct running technique is only there for people that want to find it. Many people are unaware that they actually need to access this information and could be putting themselves at a higher risk of injury than if they were aware of correct form.

A lot of people have different styles to running and even with these differing styles it may appear that there are no major differences. People with varying running styles could have a similar level of fitness and complete races in similar times. However, they may not all have correct form.

Correct form is key to avoiding injury and getting the most efficient use of one’s energy.

There are many variations in injury causing poor technique but they often center around the following;

Sitting - This will result in not lifting you knee high enough as well as potentially running flat footed.

Arms swinging across the body - If you are swinging you arms across your body, you will be twisting and potentially causing problems for you joints.

Bending backwards - This can place unnecessary pressure on your lower back.

Heel Landing - Landing on the heel can lead to injuries in the Achilles tendon, knees and even the back. It also acts as a brake as you are pushing in the opposite way to where you are running which will result in wasted energy and reduced speed.

Correct running form can result from landing on the ball of the foot. This acts as a natual shock absorber and also keeps propelling the runner forward resulting in potentially greater speeds and more efficient use of energy. The back should be straight with the whole of the body leaning slight forward. The arms should be swinging in the direction that you are running with the palms inward. Head should be up looking straight ahead.

There is a growing movement dedicated to getting back to basics and actually removing training shoes from the equation and running in barefoot. The emphasis in this method is to use the natural shock absorption of the ball of the foot as well as always being powered forward.

Most barefoot runners do so on soft terrain such as grass or sand. But there are a more committed following who will run on harder surfaces.

It is believed that barefoot running can actually reduce injury due to forcing the runner to adopt “correct form” and not rely on the supposed shock absorption benefits of trainers. Like any new method of training, it is essential that it is entered into with full research and caution to reduce risk of “rookie injury”.

The first stage of barefoot running should be to simply get used to walking without trainers. Get used to walking on different terrains, feel the rough asphalt on your soles and when your feet are tired try walking on a softer terrain such as grass.

It is recommended that 30 minutes of daily barefoot walking is a good place to start. This will allow the skin to thicken on the sole of the foot. Get used to using the ball of the foot to land. It should take 3 -4 weeks for the skin to thicken on the soles of the foot to ensure the process is more comfortable. When walking barefoot start to become easier, it is then advised to start jogging and over the weeks gradually increase to running. At this point you should have gained the required smooth motion and it should be a comfortable process.

Bad posture can occur for a multitude of reasons. Bad habits can be acquired during childhood and not corrected later in life. If they are not corrected they can lead to back problems.

Poor posture can be exaggerated when sitting, standing or walking. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that these activities are conducted correctly. This will help to reduce back pain and associated problems.

How can I see if my posture is correct?

Stand against a wall with your back. If your natural posture results in your bottom, shoulders and lower head are all connected with the wall, then you have a correct posture. If this is not the case then your posture is poor.

Health benefits of correct posture

There are many health benefits of good posture, these include;

· More efficient use of your muscles due to correct alignment.
· Reduce risk of permanent back problems.
· Reduce risk of damage to your spine which could lead to problems with joints and discs.

Tips to improving your posture

There are many ways to improve your posture, but here are a few to get you started;

While standing ensure your shoulders are kept upright and you are standing up straight. Have your arms having by your sides and your feet should be shoulder width apart.

While sitting make sure that you are not slouching and that you feet and flat to the floor. It is also a good idea to take regular breaks from your seat and stretch.

What are Vibram Five Fingers?

There is a long held view that correct running form is essential to reduce potential risk of injury. This correct running form involves utilising the natural shock absorber of the ball of the foot not the heel. Based on this, there are growing numbers of people who have adopted the style of bare foot running. This might mean running bare foot on the beach or grass or for the more committed “bare footer”, running on the road.

Vibram Five Fingers are a running shoe that offers the exhilaration of running barefoot with the protection and security of a Vibram® sole. They have received glowing reviews in publications such as Vogue.

Vibram Five Fingers work to bring you much closer to nature in a way that would not exist with normal trainers. Because they promote correct running technique, Vibram Five Fingers can help strengthen legs and improve balance. They are a versatile shoe that can be used for a multitude of activities including;

· Running
· Walking
· Yoga
· Free Running
· Sailing
· Climbing

There are many benefits that can be derived from wearing Vibram Five Fingers including;

· Less chance of Injury - Because they force the wearer to adopt correct running form, Vibram Five Fingers can reduce the chance of running related injury.

· Improved Efficiency - Landing on the heel results in pushing away from the direction you are running in. This wastes energy and actually slows the runner down.

· Optimise balance - Correct running form results in a better balance.

If you want to experience barefoot running but are not brave enough to take of your trainers, Vibram Five Fingers are for you.

We all want to lose a few extra pounds but unless we’re the most committed fitness enthusiast, we often don’t know where to start. If the idea of a sweaty session at the gym fills you with dread (or just plain apathy!), then there is actually an activity that costs nothing, is easily accessible, has huge health benefits and is staring right back up at you…walking!

It is a said that a daily walking target of 10,000 steps is the required amount to see health benefits and weight loss. It is important to remember that this must be combined with a calorie controlled diet.

Pedometers are a widely available and affordable method for counting your steps. If you have a fairly sedentary desk based job, it is even more important that you conduct some form of exercise daily.

Exercise has huge health benefits and it has been shown that adding just 30 minutes of walking to your daily routine can actually help to reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. We pay money into our pensions to ensure us a financially comfortable retirement, surely we should be paying into our “health pensions” to ensure it is also physically comfortable.

What value could walking add to your life?

Walking is a hugely beneficial form of exercise and health benefits can include;

· Burning Calories
· Strengthening the immune system
· Feeling more energetic
· Reducing body fat
· Boost your metabolism
· Lower blood pressure
· Boost general well being

How can you reach your daily 10,000 step target?

· Walk to the shops
· Walk the dog
· Walk to work or get off the bus a few stops early
· Take a walk in your lunch break
· Arrange to meet friends for a walk
· Take part in a charity walk

So go and get your best trainers or walking shoes on now and get walking. You will be surprised at the short term weight loss benefits and the long term health benefits will pay dividends. Best of all, it’s free!