Running Shoes in Kansas City

Historically, a Neutral shoe was intended for runners and walkers who do not overpronate.  Pronation occurs when the foot rolls inward as you put weight on your foot. The Neutral shoe is a cushioned shoe that does not have denser foam supporting the arch or guide rails for the foot.  It allows your foot and body to run and walk with no guidance features. Neutral shoes have recently had many innovations in the cushioning incorporated within the shoe, and now clients can choose from a firm shoe (responsive), a plush feeling shoe, or one that feels springy like a trampoline. All these neutral shoes are different “feels”.

We like to see our clients in either the Guidance or Neutral categories as your body is designed to pronate (causing the arch to cave inward) and the traditional support mechanisms in Stability shoes are not a cure-all for injuries.  However, sometimes individuals need additional features that help reduce how much the feet pronate and help align the foot and leg through dual-density foam or “posting”.  Stability footwear’s posting or dual-density foam helps to reduce how much the feet pronate and help align the leg. It is important to remember that just because a person pronates does not mean they necessarily need to be in a Stability shoe.

Have you run the trails at Jacomo, Smithville, Landahl, or gotten muddy in the Dott? Are you more interested in the serene vistas of the Missouri River along English Landing Park?  The chat on the Trolley Trail is easy on your knees.  There are different trail shoes for different terrains.  The more technical, single-track trails have footwear that grips the hills as you climb and helps to keep you from sliding on the way down.  The softer shoes like the Caldera are great for even softer impacts on the Trolley Trail’s soft and smooth trails.  All trail shoes tend to be water resistant, which is needed on the trails, and cooler runs with snow.

Brooks Running Shoes are the number one selling shoe brand in the run specialty channel.  That is because the only products they develop are ones designed exclusively for runners and walkers.  They invest in the research behind biomechanics and create shoes that help keep you running happy.

Brooks is known for its DNA technology.

• DNA LOFT: DNA LOFT provides Brooks softest cushioning yet. It instantly adapts to the runners’ individual stride, weight, and speed with a unique blend of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), rubber, and air. The rubber adds longevity to the EVA midsole, ensuring softness, while the air decreases the shoe’s weight.
• DNA AMP: is a polyurethane (PU) based cushioning system designed for energy return. This is accomplished with a foam that naturally expands as force is applied. To deliver an amplified experience, Brooks Running encases the foam in a thermoplastic polyurethane skin that resists horizontal expansion. The result is a springy ride with best-in-class energy return.
• BIOMOGO DNA: Found in the midsole, BioMoGo DNA adapts to your specific weight, pace, gait, and running surface. That makes for a springier step that’s customized for your stride.

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HOKA is a polarizing brand.  People either love them for their ultra-plush feel, or they cannot get over the bulky look (although the aesthetics are constantly improving!). The company has a couple of different approaches to its footwear:

• First off, HOKA uses the lightest, most responsive, and durable materials for cushioning so you can protect your body without compromising on performance. Their Meta-Rocker design — or, “wheels for your feet” — is a clever application of geometry to create a shoe shape that will complement a runner’s normal gait cycle and drive you forward with each step.
• Their “Active Foot Frame” is another departure from most running and walking shoes. The heel and foot, rather than sitting on top, will sink in deeper into the shoe. This helps the shoes to offer guidance without the need for more restrictive construction.Similarly, HOKAuses a J-Frame, which basically means that they form their firmer density foam into the shape of a “J” to support the inside of your foot and heel without adding any rigid or heavy materials into the shoe.
• Lastly, the company uses a PRO FLY dual-density midsole that offers a forgiving landing and a responsive toe-off. Or HOKA uses softer cushioning in the heel and firmer foam in the forefoot, so you can land comfortably and push off again quickly.

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Altra’s less-is-more philosophy has led to some stellar running shoes.  The founders of Altra were running store owners in Utah but after making shoes for clients in the back room of their store, they created their own brand. All Altra’s running and walking shoes showcased the company’s three core technologies: FootShape, ZeroDrop, and Fit4Her.

• Unbox a pair of Altras and you’ll see that the forefoot is wider than other shoes—a result of FootShape, which is an enlarged toe box that allows the foot to expand and gives the toes more space.
• ZeroDrop refers to the shoe’s heel-to-toe drop or the difference in stack height under the heel and forefoot. Different from most other brands, Altra shoes have no drop, meaning your foot lays flat rather than sloping downward from heel to toe. It is like being barefoot but with padding and protection for your foot.
• Finally, there’s Fit4Her, in which Altra’s women’s shoes are tailored to match the biomechanics of female feet. This means they’re narrower through the heel and midfoot and can fit women’s longer arches.

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Mizuno is known for its Wave Technology, which is available in every Mizuno running shoe. The wave plate does two important things; it adds cushion and support.

The Wave is clearly visible in every Mizuno shoe. In most shoes, the Wave is in the rearfoot, sandwiched between the midsole (the cushioning element) and the outsole (the rubber which contacts the ground). The basic structure of the Wave allows the cushioning midsole to disperse the impact forces of running by dispersing them through the shoe. Dispersal of the impact forces over a wider area allows for a smoother heel-toe-transition, and because of the Wave, the foot doesn’t sink into the midsole, allowing for energy savings.

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In 2010 ON Running set out to revolutionize running with their patented CloudTec technology engineered to deliver a soft landing followed by an explosive take-off. With this technology, runners and walkers notice an unbelievably light running sensation underfoot with no compromise on cushioning and impact protection. In other words, “running on clouds”. When you hit the ground with an ON Running shoe, the highly adaptive rubber Cloud elements cushion both vertical and horizontal forces for a soft landing and start getting you ready to move forward. CloudTec is the first system to offer cushioning only during the landing phase. As soon as you strike the ground, the Cloud elements lock firm to form a solid foundation for natural, powerful propulsion.

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