3 signs you need new running shoes

You wouldn’t get very far if you tried to slice a tomato with a butter knife, for example! Chances are it would slip and you could end up injuring yourself, or it would make a real mess of the tomato.
And while the right tools are important, they need to be inspected regularly to make sure they are fit for the task. When it comes to your kitchen knives, that would mean sharpening them if you notice they’ve lost their edge.
It’s the same when it comes to running. It doesn’t matter if you run for fun, or if you are a master of marathons — the most important tool in your trade is a pair of running shoes. If they aren’t up to the task, you risk slipping, injuries, and making a real mess of your body.
Unlike knives however, running shoes wear out and need to be replaced regularly. So how do you know if it’s time?
Sometimes the signs of wear and tear are obvious:
- holes in the sole or upper
- tread that has worn smooth
- uneven wear patterns on the sole
- loose stitching.
Other indicators of wear are much more subtle, and you may be doing your body damage or risking serious injury without even realising it.
So we asked Brisbane podiatrist Trevor Lane for some of the telltale signs that you should run — not walk! — to your favourite sports shoe store or website.
1. Compression wrinkles
2. Twist test
3. Tap test

Lisa Scott
Managing Editor
Lisa is a mad-keen runner, mad-cap mum, and still can't quite grasp that she runs marathons 'for fun'. She also believes there's no coincidence about the number 42. After all, 42 is the distance of a marathon, her current age and according to the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, the meaning of life!