As a big push to get Americans moving, the U.S. running industry has launched the first National Running Day. Across the country, people will lace up their shoes and yes… hit the ground running!   

It’s a day to come together as a nation and take strides toward leading healthier and fitter lives. Check out all the events going on today here.

Join in just by going for a run today. Then go to runningday.org to connect with other runners, find information on running events going on in your local community, course-mapping tools, training tips, and more.

Personally, I’m not a runner… but I will definitely go on a walk today to show my support for getting active!

Are you going for a run today?

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Want to stay young… longer? You might want to lace up your tennis shoes and go for a jog. A new report from Stanford University School of Medicine shows regular running slows the effects of aging. Researchers found elderly joggers have fewer disabilities, stay fit longer than non-runners, and are half as likely to die early.

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When it comes to running shoes, you gotta get some that will support your most intense workouts or you could end up in pain or injured. But with so many to choose from, how do you know which ones are best? Our friends over at Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart magazine did the – yes – legwork for you.

They had nine men and women run in 12 pairs of sneakers each (24 pairs total), then had lab experts test the shoes for breathability, cushioning, flexibility, stability and weight. The same model won for both men and women – it was also one of the most expensive pair tested.

ShopSmart says, “Avoid buying the cheapest shoe you can find. The least expensive model we tested, the Champion Wonder C9 (from Target), was at the bottom of the heap in our tests. This is one place where it can pay to splurge, especially if you’re a serious runner.”

Here are the Top 5 Running Shoes from Consumer Reports ShopSmart:

Women’s:
First Place: Nike Air Zoom Vomero+ 2
Price: $120
Why: Best cushioning of all shoes tested. Testers said it gave them the right amount of stability.

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Second Place: Nike Air Pegasus+ 2007
Price: $85
Why: Super fit. Cushy, yet stable.

Third Place: Puma Complete Infinitus
Price: $85
Why: Excellent fit and flexibility.

Men’s:
First Place: Nike Air Zoom Vomero+ 2
Price: $120
Why: Cushy, and most testers liked the fit in the toe, heel, and arch.

Second Place: Brooks Glycerin 6
Price: $120
Why: Excellent comfort and breathability.

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And here are a couple of tips from ShopSmart to help you buy the right pair of running shoes:

• Shop at a store that specializes in running shoes.

• Go there dressed to run – wear the socks you usually run in and any orthotics you use.

• Test the shoes you’re considering buying on a treadmill if the store has one. Some stores may even let you run in their parking lot for a bit.

• Try to shop in the afternoon – that’s when your feet are usually their most swollen, so you don’t end up with tight shoes.

• Ask about exchanges and returns – find out if you can run in the shoes for a few days and exchange them if they’re not right for you.

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Paying more for your running shoes doesn’t necessarily mean you get better quality. New Scottish research finds no difference in comfort or shock absorption between running shoes that cost $80 a pair and those made by the same companies that sell for more than $150.

The 43 men in the study tried on nine pairs of running shoes – three models each from three of the world’s leading manufacturers. None of the participants had any foot or gait abnormalities.

The price of the three shoes within each brand ranged from $80-$90, $120-$130, and $140-$150, respectively. The men did not know the brand or cost of the shoes they were testing. They rated the shoes’ comfort after running while wearing high-tech sensors that monitored pressures at various points on the foot, including plantar pressure – the force from the impact of the sole hitting the ground.

Results show no big differences in the comfort of the shoes, no matter how much they cost. Some shoes had better shock absorption than others on different parts of the foot, but there was no clear pattern.

Researchers say fit – not cost – should be the most important thing to consider when buying running shoes.

The study is published in the October 10 online edition of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

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