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3 Reasons New Runners Should Recycle Running Shoes More Often


1. New Runners tend to be carrying a bit of extra fluffiness. Due to this extra fluffiness, sneakers can break down faster. For many new runners this can lead to aches and pains or blisters. A shoe may not look damaged at all, and buying more shoes can be expensive, but in the process of developing a running routine, it’s critical that your shoes maintain integrity. While many running stores will recommend changing shoes at the 400-mile mark, a new runner may want to place about 200 miles on a pair and begin breaking in a new pair.

2. Finding the right fit is critical. When new runners begin, the first thing they typically do is grab what’s right there in the closet. That’s always a smart thing to do because the most important part of learning to run is just getting started. In those first few days a new runner will find out quickly that running isn’t just your legs and feet hitting the pavement. The shoes can make the process of moving from couch to 5K a complicated process. Shoes that you walked in at work, or used for date nights, might not be the best fit. As you run, if the sizing isn’t correct, the blisters mentioned in number 1 can lead to a new runner giving up their fitness routine. While many brands will trade your shoes, if you made the mistake of purchasing from a third party with a no-return policy, don’t wait to get another pair.

3. The weather is always a factor. New runners tend to get started in three different seasons:

    1. New Year’s Resolution
    2. Spring, when the weather gets warmer
    3. Fall when the weather cools down

When a runner starts at New Year’s they tend to visit gyms and use treadmills. The weather won’t be a factor here at all. In the spring however a new runner will probably be running on wet surfaces outside and the rising temperature will undoubtedly affect the glue and stitching on a pair of sneakers. The same thing is likely to happen in the fall. New runners aren’t usually thinking about how the weather can break down their trainers, but heat, friction and fluffiness can do some real damage.

Running, HIIT and Crossfit are all sports new athletes should remain vigilant in using the right footwear. While sneakers may not look damaged, they can be. This doesn’t mean the shoes are dead and can’t be utilized by those in underserved communities. If you’ve bought pairs that have broken down in your new fitness routine, don’t hesitate to pack those shoes up and send them our way. We will make sure they find a new home where that running shoe can be used as a walking shoe to take someone on their own journey.

Recycle Your Used Running Shoes with Sneaker Impact