There’s nothing more satisfying than buying a new pair of running shoes, but during the first few weeks, running in them can result in a series of blisters if you’re not careful.
If you’ve got a pair of new running shoes, you might be curious to know: How do you break in new running shoes?
In this article, I will cover how to break in new running shoes. So, when you have a new pair, you have a few tips up your sleeve to avoid painful blisters!
Keep reading to find out more.
Is It Essential To Break In New Running Shoes?
Yes, it’s essential to break in new running shoes. While it’s a contentious debate, and some runners would rather jump in at the deep end with their new shoes, you can’t expect to comfortably run in new running shoes without breaking them in. You can, however, expect to experience discomfort from rubbing that could lead to blisters if you do so.
When you buy new running shoes, you can expect some stiffness in them as you would of any other shoe before they’ve had the chance to mold to your feet.
If you don’t take the precautions to break in your shoes, it’s more than likely that you’ll experience rubbing and discomfort. As the shoe rubs in certain places as you run, such as your heel or toes, the friction can cause painful blisters that will need attending.
If you develop blisters during a long run, they could burst and bleed from excessive chafing. If a blister bursts and you don’t properly clean it, you could develop a more serious infection that could have easily been avoided if you’d waited to break your shoes in.
How To Break In New Running Shoes
There are many methods you can try to break in your new running shoes, but it mainly comes down to you wearing them as much as possible before you take them on a run.
To break in your new running shoes, try the following steps below:
Wear Your New Running Shoes In The House
To start off with, you will need to walk around in your new running shoes in the house. Doing house chores, such as vacuuming or doing the laundry is a perfect opportunity to break in your running shoes.
There are a variety of benefits to walking in your running shoes in the house.
Namely, you will be able to notice any places where your shoes feel uncomfortable and begin to rub your skin. Following this, you can promptly dress the areas with plasters until your shoes mold to your feet.
You will also be able to experiment with different socks to work out how much padding you need and what feels the most comfortable as you’re breaking your running shoes in.
Most importantly, if your shoes are so uncomfortable that you’d prefer to return them, you will probably still be able to as you’ll have only worn them indoors!
Wear Your New Running Shoes On A Walk
Once you’ve been wearing your shoes inside and you’re sure you want to keep them, it’s time to test drive them on a walk. After all, you can’t run before you walk!
When you’re out on your walk, it might be a good idea to slowly build up the pace of your walk to a light jog. However, you will need to be mindful not to over do it, as your feet are still adjusting to your new shoes.
Wear Your New Running Shoes Consistently
You’re probably used to switching out your shoes frequently depending on the occasion you’re dressing for. However, whilst you’re breaking in new running shoes, you need to make sure that you’re wearing them consistently.
Whether you’re walking the dog, or you’ve got errands to run, make sure that they’re on your feet. Wearing them consistently is how your feet are going to get used to them.
It’s also important to note that you should make sure that you have plenty of plasters on hand for the first week or so. While running shoes tend to be softer than standard shoes, it can be rough going for a little while. Have perseverance and your new running shoes will be comfortable in no time!
How Long Will It Take To Break In New Running Shoes?
Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to this question! Your new shoes and how your feet react to breaking them in means that how long it will take can hugely vary.
If your new running shoes are the same style and size as a pair you already own, then your feet might find the process easier. However, if your shoes are a new model or brand of shoe, expect it to take a few weeks.
The key is to have patience! You might be frustrated that your running training is taking a hit whilst you are breaking in your new shoes, but it’s important that you don’t push yourself too hard.
Running in them before they’ve molded to your feet will mean that you have to adapt your training any way to accommodate for blisters.
Blisters are not only tiresome and uncomfortable, but they can significantly hinder your training if you don’t look after them properly. The last thing you want is an infection developing that will cause you to take even more time off running.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so make sure that you take the proper precautions to break in your shoes before your first long run.
In Summary
There are a variety of ways to break in new running shoes and they all involve wearing them as much as possible before taking them out on your first run!
Make sure that you take the proper precautions to avoid discomfort and blisters. When your feet hurt, it can set back your training even further than if you were to patiently break your running trainers in!
