The Best Affordable Running Shoes

Author
by ANTHONY POTENZA 

According to Consumersearch, "A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine in October 2007 found that low- and medium-cost running shoes offered the same cushioning and support as more expensive running shoes." The best affordable running shoes should be durable, well-cushioned, lightweight and designed specifically for your foot type and running style. The basic types of running shoes are classified as neutral, motion control and stability. Runners with normal arches should buy a neutral shoe. Those whose feet tend to roll outward while running need motion control shoes. Runners whose feet tend to roll inward need stability shoes.

Common Pitfalls

There is no generic one-shoe-fits-all running shoe. Buy the correct shoe for your foot type and running style and do not buy shoes only for color or style. Use your running shoes only for running and replace them after 300 to 500 miles of use when they will have lost most of their cushioning. Only buy from known, established companies with good reputations. Asics, Brooks, New Balance, Nike, Adidas, Saucony and Mizuno are the top companies.

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Where to Buy

Running shoes costing less than $100 can be bought from specialty retailers such as Foot Locker, Road Runner Sports, Runners Warehouse and Zappos. Top shoe companies replace or upgrade many of their best models every year, so look for seasonal sales and discounts on models that have been discontinued. When ordering online, remember to order shoes that are a half-size larger than your regular shoe because your feet expand as you run.

Cost

The Asics Gel-1150 is a highly rated stability shoe that costs $75 to $80. Mizuno Wave Nexus 4 is another good stability shoe selling for $75 to $85. The Saucony ProGrid Jazz 13 is a good value for neutral runners at $65 to $80. Another Saucony neutral shoe is the popular and affordable Grid Cohesion NX at $45 to $55.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/246373-the-best-affordable-running-shoes/

The Best Asics Running Shoes for Women

Author
by B. MATé 

When a runner is buying a pair of Asics running shoes, most sales associates will ask how often she runs. The answer will determine the level of stability a runner will require in a shoe: high-level stability is for experienced distance runners, while mid-level stability is for novice runners. Other things that a shopper needs to be aware of are the arch support and "pronation." Pronation describes how the foot rolls when it makes contact with the ground. Whether a runner's feet are "over" or under-pronated determines which running sneaker will best compensate stride and foot support.

Common Pitfalls

It is normal for a person to judge a sneaker by its aesthetics, rather than the fit. But when selecting a running shoe, it is all about comfort. Running trainers are not the type of sneaker that should be broken in with time-- it should be absolutely comfortable upon trying it on. Also, the Asics running shoe tends to be narrow compared to other running sneakers. Wider shoes are available upon request. If a runner has a wider foot, she can request her size in a D width (the normal width size for women is a B).

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Where To Buy

The best place to buy the right pair of Asics running sneakers is at a shop that specializes in running apparel and shoes. There, associates will be able to analyze the runner's foot, including the arch, step and pronation to ascertain which shoe will provide the right level of support. If the runner is already acquainted with a specific Asics model---for example if she already owned and is replacing a running shoe---she can bargain hunt online for a better deal.

Cost

A mid-level stability Asics running shoe will cost $100 to $120, depending on the model. Experienced or long-distance runners might require a high-level stability sneaker, which are typically more expensive, about $120 to $140. Though there are cheaper Asics models, these running shoes might not have the cushion, weight or support needed for active runners.

Comparison Shopping

How frequently a woman runs, determines the level of support she will need in a running shoe. Asics makes a range of mid-level stability running shoes, which means that they supply adequate cushion, arch support and weight (which boils down to foot protection). If a runner is running more than two to three miles a week, she might want to invest in a high-level stability running shoe. These trainers provide more weight, protection, cushion and arch support that is necessary for a runner who is running more miles and requires more foot stability.

Accessories

One of the best accessories for a good pair of running shoes is socks. Running socks come in many colors and styles. But runners should look for a light-weight sock, preferably with a mesh-like structure that can wick, or transport, the sweat away from the skin, and keep the foot dry. A running sock should provide protection, a layer of cushion, and prohibit fungal infections.

Insider Tips

A quick way for a new runner to measure her arch---and thus understand her need for arch support in a running shoe---is to wet her foot and step on a large piece of colored paper. The imprint made will tell her how deep the arch of her foot is. If there is a very deep curve from the ball of her foot to her heel, due to lack of contact between her foot and the paper, then the runner has a deep arch. However if the curve is very shallow, then the runner has a flatter foot. Knowing her arch can help a runner select a sneaker that will best stabilize her foot when running.

For further information log on website :
http://www.livestrong.com/article/240865-the-best-asics-running-shoes-for-women/

The Differences Between Track and Running Shoes

Author
by SARA MAHONEY 

When breaking into the world of competitive or recreational running, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of shoes you can buy or may be confused about where to start. With a little knowledge about the types and categories of running shoes, navigating the running store won’t be a challenge any longer. The most important thing to know is that two basic types of shoes exist -- running shoes and track (or competition) shoes -- each with its own purpose and design.

From Leather to Rubber

The first athletic shoes were designed in the 18th century in England and were made entirely of leather. When track racing became popular, these shoes were given long metal spikes to give the racer traction, but the leather proved to be impractical for long-term use, as the leather stretched and became misshapen under wet conditions. The first rubber-soled shoes, which were termed “sneakers” for the wearer’s ability to sneak up on someone quietly in his new shoes, came out in 1917 and were made popular by the brand Keds. With the running boom in the 1970s, Bill Bowerman, the owner and creator of Nike, first poured rubber into his wife's waffle iron and created the waffle-soled racing shoe. Nike and Adidas went on to market a shoe specifically for running with foam cushioning and waffled rubber tread. Since the 1970s, new companies and types of shoes have blossomed with advances in technology, such as air cushioning and gel pads.

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Types of Running Shoes

A running shoe is what most people picture if they hear “tennis shoes” or “sneakers.” This type of shoe features a thick layer of foam or cushioning around the bottom and most likely has a mesh outer layer and a firm, textured sole. A half dozen reputable brands create quality training shoes, which are prominent in specialty running and sports stores. Running (or training) shoes are ideal for everyday running and workouts but may be too cumbersome for short races. Almost most shoes don’t vary much between brands, the one complication for buying a training shoe is deciding how much stability or cushion you want. Every brand creates training shoes that range from neutral to high stability, which refers to how many extras the shoe offers to correct biomechanical problems. A neutral or cushion shoe is only lined with foam and has no features to adjust the wearer’s stride, whereas a high-stability shoe aims to correct overpronation by adding dual-density foam or other structural supports. To determine which type of training shoe is right for you, have a friend watch you walk or run. If your ankles lean in when you take a step or you are flat footed, stability is the right choice for you.

Types of Track Shoes

Two types of track shoes are available: racing flats and racing spikes. A racing flat looks like a thin, pared down version of the typical training shoe. It has about half the built-in cushion of a training shoe and is designed to weigh as little as possible while still giving some support. These shoes should be used for longer races (5k and up) as well as for some interval training. Racing flats do not have enough support for daily training, especially for the injury-prone runner, but because they weigh much less than training shoes, they are ideal for running fast over long distances.

A recreational runner will be hard pressed to find a use for racing spikes. They are extremely lightweight shoes with no support and feature metal spikes that screw into the soles. They are specifically designed for either sprinting on the track or cross-country races. Track spikes are usually made of hard plastic and are angled to keep the runner on his toes, whereas cross-country spikes are composed primarily of rubber with extra grip all the way through the heel.

Do Your Research

The most important reason to do your research and to select the proper shoe is injury prevention. Each type of shoe is designed for a specific type of training and foot type, so for the best protection and running success, choose an appropriate shoe. Most running shoes are designed to give the wearer optimal cushion and support for 300 to 500 miles or three to six months. After that, the cushion begins to fall, and the runner may suffer from shin or arch pain. The upper for track shoes will most likely be the first part to show wear, so as soon as the seams split or a toe pokes out, it's time to get new shoes.

Making Your Selection

The best thing to do before investing money in running or racing shoes is to find a reputable running specialty store. The sales associates are trained to assess your specific needs and can recommend the appropriate shoe. If you can’t find one nearby, make a list of what you need running or racing shoes for, and compare it to the previous descriptions. If you are training for your first 5k, buy a training shoe. If you need footwear suitable for a cross-country race, purchase cross-country spikes. With this background knowledge, you should be able to buy a shoe to meet any running or racing need.

For further information log on webiste:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/66453-differences-between-track-running-shoes/

Evaluation of the mechanical properties of Douglas-fir and Japanese cedar lumber and its structural glulam by nondestructive techniques

Published Date
Received 13 March 2006, Revised 6 November 2006, Accepted 20 November 2006, Available online 2 January 2007.

Author
Te-HsinYanga. Numbers and letters correspond to the affiliation list. Click to expose these in author workspace. Author links open the author workspace.Song-YungWanga. Numbers and letters correspond to the affiliation list. Click to expose these in author workspace. Author links open the author workspace.Cheng-JungLinb. Numbers and letters correspond to the affiliation list. Click to expose these in author workspace. Author links open the author workspace.Ming-JerTsaia. Numbers and letters correspond to the affiliation list. Click to expose these in author workspaceOpens the author workspaceOpens the author workspace

a

School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, College of Bioresource and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

b

Division of Forest Utilization, Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2006.11.012

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of the configuration of the lamina on the bending properties of glulam made from Douglas-fir and Japanese cedar lumber. By using a visual grading method according to CNS 14631 and nondestructive evaluation techniques (including the ultrasonic wave technique, transverse vibration test and static bending test), lamina having both higher dynamic MOE and static MOE were chosen for the outside layers, in order to manufacture homogeneous and heterogeneous grade structural glulam lamina, with higher strength properties. The degrees of correlation, obtained from the different nondestructive testing methods, were then analyzed. The results indicated that the DMOEv, DMOEt and MOE values for both Douglas-fir and Japanese cedar lumber showed a decreasing order as follows: construction grade > standard grade > utility grade. It was also found that the transverse vibration test is a better nondestructive method of evaluating sawn lumber. The different configurations of the lamina within glulam can be used to fabricate glulams with different grades of bending strengths. The predicted values of glulam Eb(sp), were higher than those of the experimental values Eb(sc). Moreover, the value of Eb(sc)increased linearly with an increasing MOE of the outside layers of lamina (e3).

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061806003096

Study of glulam beams pre-stressed with pultruded GRP

Published Date
Received 23 January 2004, Accepted 18 March 2005, Available online 24 August 2005.

Author
Z.W.GuanOpens the author workspaceOpens the author workspace. Author links open the author workspace.P.D.Rodd. Author links open the author workspace.D.J.Pope

School of the Environment, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb, Brighton BN2 4GJ, United Kingdom

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruc.2005.03.021

Abstract

Improvement of the load carrying capacity of glulam beams by the addition of reinforcement is now common practice. Recently it has been demonstrated that pre-stressing of beams using pultruded glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) tendons provides an available alternative due to the compatibility of the two materials and the low losses of pre-stress. This paper describes a finite element based model which was validated against test results and then used to investigate bond stress between a pre-stressed GRP tendon and the adjacent timber. Parametric studies were also undertaken to evaluate the effects of tendon thickness, beam span and the pre-tension force on the structural behaviour of beams.

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045794905002373

Reliability analysis of a glulam beam

Published Date
Available online 11 September 2006.

Author
TomiTorattia. Numbers and letters correspond to the affiliation list. Click to expose these in author workspaceOpens the author workspaceOpens the author workspace. Author links open the author workspace.SimonSchnablb. Numbers and letters correspond to the affiliation list. Click to expose these in author workspaceOpens the author workspace. Author links open the author workspace.GoranTurkb. Numbers and letters correspond to the affiliation list. Click to expose these in author workspaceOpens the author workspace

a

VTT Technical Research centre of Finland, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT, Finland

b

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, Jamova 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Sloven

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strusafe.2006.07.011

Abstract

The present case study is an example of the use of reliability analysis to asses the failure probability of a tapered glulam beam. This beam is part of a true structure built for a super market in the town of Kokemäki in Finland. The reliability analysis is carried out using the snow load statistics available from the site and on material strength information available from previous experiments. The Eurocode 5 and the Finnish building code are used as the deterministic methods to which the probabilistic method is compared to. The calculations show that the effect of the strength variation is not significant, when the coefficient of variation of the strength is around 15% as usually assumed for glulam. The probability of failure resulting from a deterministic design based on Eurocode 5 is low compared to the target values and lower sections are possible if applying a probabilistic design method. In fire design, if a 60 min resistance is required, this is not the case according to Eurocode 5 design procedures, a higher section would be required. However, a probabilistic based fire analysis results in bounds for the yearly probability of failure which are comparable to the target value and to the values obtained from the normal probabilistic based design.

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167473006000452

Advanced wood engineering: glulam beams

Published Date
Received 9 January 2002, Revised 20 May 2004, Accepted 24 May 2004, Available online 19 July 2004.

Author
Camille A.IssaOpens the author workspaceOpens the author workspace. Author links open the author workspace.ZiadKmeid

Department of Civil Engineering, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2004.05.013

Abstract

The main objective of this experimental study is the determination of the flexural properties of reinforced and unreinforced glued-laminated beam. Why reinforcing glulam beam? Reinforced glulam beams cost less because the use of reinforcement will reduce the need of a top grade laminate on the extreme tension face (less high grade material can be used); moreover the volume of wood is reduced. Also, reinforced glulam beams have lower product variability, they are not affected by natural growth characteristics, and the manufacture of reinforcement is consistent and controlled.

Two types of reinforcement were investigated: steel plate and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). The wood part of all the beams were made by laminating three wood beams of 6 by 3.6 by 176 cm. The unreinforced beams are made only from wood having a finished dimension equal to 6 by 11 by 176 cm. The steel reinforced beams were glulam wood beams fully covered on one side using steel plate of thickness equal to 1.5 mm.The CFRP reinforced beams were glulam wood beams covered with CFRP of thickness of 1.2 mm and width of 5 cm and the length of 176 cm.

The results indicate that the behavior of reinforced beams is totally different from that of unreinforced one. The reinforcement has changed the mode of failure from brittle to ductile and has increased the load-carrying capacity of the beams.

For further details logo website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0950061804001199