How tight should running shoes be

It is not uncommon for a pair of shoes to feel great in the shop or straight out of the box but then after a couple of runs they start rubbing or feel uncomfortable.

There is so much choice on offer with a vast variety of lengths, widths and styles to choose between that picking the right pair can sometimes feel like finding a needle in a hay stack.

And while a gait analysis may go some way towards telling you how you run and the type of shoe that may suit you best, it won't tell you how it should fit.

In fact three quarters of runners tested were wearing the wrong sized shoes which can lead to problems such as blackened or missing toenails, blisters, toe ligament damage and even stress fractures in the metatarsals.

So just how do you know if your running shoe fits well and if it will cope with the demands of the road or trail?

We spoke to podiatrist Stephanie Owen, director of So Podiatry, to find out how to know if your running shoe fits.

Start with the heel

It can help to start at the back of the shoe becau

how should running shoes fit width

how should running shoes fit you