Having held executive responsibilities as equities desk analyst with AllianceBernstein, Jahanara Nissar is a New York financial professional who guides the boutique firm Lynx Equity Strategies as managing partner. An avid runner, Jahanara Nissar has taken part in a number of distance events, from the Brooklyn Half Marathon to the Marine Corps Marathon.
One critical aspect of running for distance, beyond physical conditioning, is selecting the right shoe. Rather than focusing on design, color, or brand, it makes sense to closely assess function, fit, and comfort. Remember, any small area of tightness, friction, or irritation will be magnified many times when out on an extended run.
Visiting a brick-and-mortar retail location is essential when running shoe shopping, as you need to be able to try on a number of pairs and select the one that feels right. To get a sense of whether an issue exists, do not simply walk in the shoe, but jog in place a bit, evaluating how the shoe responds to simulated running conditions. The shoe should be tight enough to provide support without constricting. Make sure that there is a thumb-space between the toe box and the toe, to avoid sore toes and injured toenails.
Runner-specific stores will often have a camera and treadmill set-up, which allows for a recording of the legs and feet in motion. This provides gait analysis, with a focus on pronation, or the way the foot rolls with each strike on the ground, as well as the corresponding angle of the lower leg. Those who pronate tend to roll the foot/heel inward with every stride, while those who supinate have the opposite tendency. Having a clear picture of the gait helps point to a shoe that will compensate for these repetitive movements.
Jahanara Nissar 