How to Choose the Right Shoes for a Marathon | Foot Solutions Plymouth

There are more than a hundred marathons to choose from in the UK alone, open to professionals and amateurs alike. People of all ages are competing, even into their nineties! Unlike most sporting challenges, there is no special skill or gift required for running, just a lot of determination and preparation.

If you don’t prepare properly, the chances of finishing are low, and the probability of damaging yourself is high. For successful, injury-free preparation and participation, the choice of running shoes is crucial. The guidelines below will help you select the right running footwear:

1. Choose Your Running Shoes Well in Advance


Your feet and your shoes need time to get to know each other, and the shoes must be well-worn before you compete

2. Try on Both Shoes


No pair of feet is entirely identical. Don’t be shy; try on lots, and try on the left and the right

3. Select the Right Size


Running shoes are often smaller than normal shoes, so don’t just go by the size on the sole-go for the ones that feel the most comfortable. Choose half a size larger than you normally wear.

Under hard exercise like marathon running, your feet will swell as they heat up

4. Seek Professional Advice


Ideally, go to a retailer who specialises in orthotics, whose staff are trained to assess the proper needs of your feet. More expensive shoes are not a guarantee of greater comfort. It’s all about fitting the particular needs of your feet.

This is not just a matter of size and width; a high arch, for example, may need more cushioning. It’s also how you use your feet. Have your gait analysed to determine what additional support you may need.

5. Break in Your Shoes Gradually


Once you’ve chosen your running shoes, wear them around the house and go for a walk in them. Don’t run too far too soon. Set out a realistic timetable in which you gradually increase time and distance, but build in rest and recuperation

6. Vary Your Training Routine


Vary your times and distances over each week. Warm up before each run. Do simple stretches after. Get a routine going and make sure you build enough time for training into your day.

7. Replace Worn-Out Shoes


Once you get into serious running, don’t expect your shoes to last forever. Change pairs every five to six hundred miles. So keep a record of your distances, it will boost your sense of satisfaction and achievement!

How We Help
A man is holding a pair of shoes in front of a sign that says foot solutions.

Steve Morgan

March 28, 2025
Steve Morgan loves attending concerts at London’s many music venues.  However, in recent years, his enjoyment has been increasingly marred by foot and back pain that prevented him standing for prolonged periods. A keen sportsman, Steve, 44, has a high pain threshold, but about a year ago the discomfort became debilitating, limiting both his mobility and quality of life. Recommended by a work colleague whose mother had been successfully treated for a similar complaint, Steve made an appointment for a free, no obligation assessment at Foot Solutions. “The assessment was detailed, rigorous and really interesting” explains Steve. “All the consultants at Foot Solutions are highly-trained specialists and really know their stuff. I learnt that I have over-pronating feet which means that my arches flatten on impact with the ground. The recommended treatment was customised arch supports. The consultant explained the benefits without applying any sales pressure. After consideration, I decided to proceed with the purchase.” Have the arch supports helped? “They’ve been an absolute godsend” says Steve, “The foot pain has been massively reduced and the back pain has completely gone. I can now enjoy a night out with hardly any discomfort. Plus, my balance and posture have improved so much that I’ve realised that I’m taller than people I thought were bigger than me!” Would he recommend Foot Solutions? “Definitely” confirms Steve, “Foot Solutions are massive in America and it’s easy to see why. The assessment process is excellent, the products are superb and the staff are outstanding.” If you’re suffering from foot, back or joint pain, contact Foot Solutions today to arrange a free foot and gait analysis.
A man holding a pair of shoes in front of a foot solutions sign

Colin Haylock MBE

March 28, 2025
Although officially retired as a Consultant Maxillofacial Prosthetist, Colin Haylock MBE still travels the world using his specialist life-changing skills to help rebuild people’s faces.  However, following a motorcycle accident which left his left foot badly deformed, Colin’s mobility was significantly restricted. “I was really struggling,” explains Colin, currently an honorary tutor at Guys Medical School. “Following the accident, my movement became painful and awkward and I had to drag my left foot sideways. The problem was accentuated during my travels when I was on my feet a lot of the time.” At first, Colin sought help from the usual channels, visiting casualty, a physiotherapist and even an orthoptist who prescribed rigid (and uncomfortable) half-sole inserts. Unfortunately, nothing worked. Then Colin decided to visit Foot Solutions in Richmond. “I’d been aware of the Foot Solutions free foot assessment offer for some time,” adds Colin “then one Sunday morning I called in to the store. I’m so glad I did because that visit changed my life for the better.” Colin was seen by Foot Solutions consultant Asif, who after taking a full case history, performed a series of tests and scans which identified in addition to the injury, a fallen arch which was exacerbating the problem. “Asif was extremely patient and thorough,” continues Colin, “he recommended custom-made arch supports and advised on suitable footwear, but applied no sales pressure.” Colin accepted Asif’s recommendations and followed his detailed instructions on how to use the arch supports. “I can now walk normally with virtually no discomfort,” says a delighted Colin, “Foot Solutions is a very good product and I am happy to endorse it.”
A woman is holding two pairs of shoes in front of a sign that says foot solutions.

Heather Paine

March 28, 2025
Food Scientist turned designer jeweller, Heather Paine was finding her mobility and comfort increasingly marred by the effect of arthritis in her ankles and feet. This was exacerbated by a painful condition known as hammer toes, where the toe joints curl downwards, causing friction with footwear. After enduring much discomfort, Heather eventually had an operation in an attempt to reduce the pain. Following the surgery, she was prescribed rigid, three-quarter length standard orthotics, which could only be used in a limited range of very unflattering footwear. “I came across Foot Solutions in Richmond, and decided to call in. I was very patiently and thoroughly taken through a detailed foot assessment process including two scans. Custom arch supports were recommended and I was shown a selection of stylish, comfortable and orthotic-friendly shoes.  After I was fitted with my new orthotics and footwear, the improvement has been dramatic. Life is a lot less painful and I can wear nice shoes, sandals and boots. I recently went to Brazil and spent a lot of time on my feet without any discomfort! I am more than happy to recommend Foot Solutions.”