RUNNING SHOES

Good Evening!

I am planning on getting fit for running shoes but wanted to know if you had to buy from them?  Is there a fee for getting fit for running shoes?

Thanks in advance.
Marti 

I went to a couple stores before I bought some. I tried on a lot of shoes at one one of them and left without shoes.... A couple pairs at the others. There's no fee, not that I encountered anyways. Just make sure you go to a reputable running store with knowledgeable staff.

 I've found in the few pairs I have purchased that the running store is usually pretty competitive with other local stores. You will find better deals online, but I like the repoir that I have developed with my running store, and they keep me informed on different events, and other things happening around the area.

So for me I would buy from the people fitting me unless I found a real deep discount somewhere else. Not for a $10-15 difference.

That's just me though, but in answer to your question most running stores don't charge for the fitting that I am aware of.

The shoes I wear cost pretty much the same no matter if it is a running store or a sporting goods store.  I am the type that if they fit me I was going to buy my first pair there so I did.  At a running store it is also easier to try out newer models of your shoes as they do change in design from year to year and also see if the more expensive pair you have been drooling over actually are going to work for you.  I wanted to change to a different model shoe this last time and went in and asked if I could try them on the treadmill they said sure or offered to let me take them for a quick run down the street.

Also for me part of going to a running store for things I can easily get at Dick's, is the people.  The people working at the running stores around here are great people and love to talk and offer up advice to people starting out or even those looking at a particular race for the first time.

You don't have to buy where you get fitted for your shoes, but if you don't support your local running company, they may not be around the next time you need to buy shoes. The employees at running stores are highly invested in runners, so I make a point of supporting them.

Thanks everyone for your responses.  This helps alot.

Marti

As a note... I would not suggest buying multiples of the same shoe!  I've noticed that although one pair may feel amazing, as soon as I brun through them I can put on a new pair of the same exact shoe and they feel horrible!

(You should replace your running shoes about every 500 miles or so!)

Buy 2 at the same time that have the feel you want and then rotate them every couple weeks and keep track of the miles on each.