Weich likens it to wearing down the shocks on a car. “Every time your foot hits the ground in that running shoe, you’re compressing the midsole,” he said. “Eventually, it’s not going to bounce back again.” Running shoe construction and “technology” has been constantly evolving over the years with innovations such as lightweight foams, chunkier midsoles, and carbon-fiber plates, so while it’s possible for some shoes to have a shorter run life than the typical 300-500 mile range, others can get more out of a pair. Sika Henry, a Virginia-based triathlete, has observed good results by opting for shoes that have beefier midsoles. “I find that sturdier shoes with thick soles last much longer than lightweight shoes with less stack height,” she said. “And I typically run 30 to 40 miles per week.”A runner’s average weekly mileage plays a huge role in how long a pair of shoes will last. A 50-mile per week marathoner-in-training, for instance, will likely need to replace their shoes sooner than most. To help customers stay on top of how many miles the shoe has accumulated, Weich advises them to mark the date they bought the shoe on a calendar, training log, or on their phone/computer. “Let’s say they’re a 10-mile per week runner,” he said. “If it’s what I’d consider a 400-mile shoe, I tell them to go to 35 weeks (which would be 350 miles) and set a reminder in their phone for that time to let them know they’re due for a new pair of shoes soon.”When you visit your local running store, the shoe-buying experience should include a knowledgeable staff member helping to determine which pair is best for you based on a variety of features, from measuring your foot size and arch height to doing a gait analysis. “The alignment of the customer has a lot to do with how durable that shoe is going to be for them,” Weich explains. “For instance, the durability of a neutral shoe is going to be greatly improved. Your runninWeich points out that letting a pair of shoes sit ine said. “Properly caring for the shoe is a huge factor in durability.”