To make sure you don’t get any unnecessary leg pain during your long runs you need to make sure you have a quality shoe. Below are my three favorite shoes that I’ve either worn and loved this year or shoes that come highly recommended from the Mira Costa Cross Country team.
1. Hoka Clifton
This new shoe looks incredibly bulky and to many, plain weird. However, this high performance shoe is one of the lightest out there. Despite being incredibly light it still manages to provide an insane amount of cushioning which is great for those who suffer from achy joints. However, those with narrow feet should be wary of the wide toe box which is not suitable for everyone. Despite this wideness this shoe is truly incredible and can serve runners of all ages.
These high stability shoes are perfect for beginners whose legs are not yet accustomed to the pounding of long runs. The Hoka Clifton can also accomplish this feat, however, the Inspire accomplishes this without an excess of cushioning that is not suitable for all. However, The Inspire is heavier than the Hoka and so is not preferred for those looking to competitively race in them. Despite this, as training shoes the 11th iteration of the Mizuno Wave Inspire’s are hard to beat.
These shoes are the favorite of the Cross Country team. They are almost as light as the Hokas but without the cushioning that many runners feel makes them move sluggishly. The Kinvara’s are definitely for those accustomed to running with no leg problems as their support is not the best. Performance wise these shoes are widely acclaimed by many professionals but Beginners make sure you can handle the slight lack of cushioning.