(energetic, bouncy music)
(moves to melancholy orchestral music)
- Shoes are shoes, right?
Well, not quite.
When it comes to running shoes,
we need to take a little more care if you want them
to last longer, and to get the most out of them.
So here is a little guide
on how to maintain your running shoes.
(lighthearted music)
So, what should you do about the mud?
Well, if you're running off-road or in the mud regularly,
then you may want to invest in an extra pair
of running shoes,
or some that are suited to off-road running.
Now off-road running shoes
do then to be a little more hard wearing.
They have better grip, so you won't be quite so precious
about them getting muddy.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about
getting the little specks of mud off the shoes.
That's just part and parcel of running,
but for those big chunks of mud,
you may be tempted to throw them in the washing machine,
just don't do it.
The heat involved, along with the repeated spinning,
can distort the soles, affect the cushioning,
and reduce the life span of the trainer.
Simply put, the trainer you put in the washing machine,
certainly won't be the trainer that you pull out.
Instead, wash the modest way straight after the run,
you should spray them down with a hose, or under the tap.
To remove the final surface dirt, you can use
an old tooth brush, or an old nail brush.
Now, be careful not to be too vigorous,
just enough to remove the dirt, and then if you need to,
you can use a little bit of warm water,
and a tiny bit of soap to help.
There's no avoiding getting your trainers wet
from time to time, especially if you just clean them,
but how you dry them is really important.
So there's a few things that you should avoid doing,
whacking them in the tumble dryer, that's a big no.
As soon as it's in the washing machine,
the heat involved can really distort the trainers,
especially the soles.
The heat can really expand the soles.
Then there's the radiator.
I'll be honest, I thought about this.
It can seem so convenient just chuck the trainers
on the top of a scorching radiator,
but be careful it's not too hot,
because it will damage the trainers.
It can really effect the upper material
if it dries out and then it crisps up.
I've had it tear when I've next used the trainers.
So here's what I would suggest.
Firstly, you want to try and dry your shoes out naturally.
I understand that's easier said than done,
especially if you're in the middle of the winter
when nothing seems to dry out.
So, here's what I do to give a helping hand.
You'll need some newspaper, or something similar,
like this, if it's gonna soak up any moisture.
Now most shoes will allow you to take the insole out,
and providing there's nothing special about the insoles,
I've never had an issue of drying these in the radiator.
Alternatively, you can wrap these in newspaper,
and actually by taking them out and drying the fully,
it will help keep your trainers
smelling a little more fresh.
Then using the remaining paper, your scrunch up into balls,
and stuff them inside your trainers.
You can leave them in the sunlight to dry in a warm place,
or under the radiator.
Now it can be very tempting to just kick your shoes off
at the end of a run without untying the laces.
- [Woman] Mark Therelfall, untie your laces.
- Sorry mam.
But without untying the laces, you're actually risking
weakening the heal and the heal collar.
Now, essentially the heal collar holds your foot
in the shoe, and stops it from slipping out.
I've actually learned the hard way on this,
and trust me, it gets really annoying when your foot
does actually start slipping out of the shoe,
and it actually left me with a rather juicy blister
on one of my heals.
Needless to say, I ended up having to buy a new pair
of running shoes a lot sooner than I should have,
a costly mistake.
Now it may have sounded like a daft subject
on how to maintain your running shoes,
but hopefully a few of those tips will help you get
a little more life and enjoyment out of your running shoes.
Now if you haven't done so already,
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to see more videos from us,
and if you want to see how to choose a running shoe video,
just click down here, and see our essential winter
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