Q: I am a 5’5” woman that weighs 160lb. I have fairly normal feet that over-pronate slightly. Should I buy a motion control shoe for a heavy runner?
A: Not necessarily. For example, your weight of 160lb is not considered heavy for a male runner, and men at this body weight do not typically need stability shoes based solely on their body weight. The selection of a shoe is based on many factors, including body weight, but your weight alone does not warrant an overly sturdy stability running shoe. If you are a mild over-pronator, you will most likely benefit from a shoe with a combination of motion control and stability such as the Brooks Adrenaline GTS. This shoe has a firmer density foam on the medial side (inside of the shoe) with good cushioning on the lateral or outside border. This difference in foam density may provide the support you need without purchasing an overly sturdy, or heavy shoe.
Dr. Nick Brown
Dr. Brown is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at The University of Texas.
