sneaker

If you run by the motto "new season, new sneakers," you're probably looking to purchase some new kicks. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind as you break in your new running shoes.

• Buy a new pair before your old pair needs to retire. That way if you start to feel pain or a blister coming on, you can switch back to the pair you know and love. Continue alternating between your old and new sneakers until you gradually make the switch over to your new ones.
• Before exercising in them, wear your new sneaks around the house or to do errands. It will give them a chance to stretch out and mold to your feet.

Find out other helpful tips after you read more

Earlier this Fall, I was invited to attend a Women's Media Summit at Nike HQ to learn about their new training shoe for women, the Zoom Sister One+ ($110). After treating all the attendees to a killer workout designed to show off the flexible features of the Sister One (I was sore for days), they sent me home with a pair of shoes to experiment with on my own. I've been wearing them for a few months now for my strength training sessions and when I use the elliptical. I feel I have thoroughly tested this shoe, and I can tell you it is pretty great.

Not only is the Zoom Sister One+ cute, but it so lightweight and flexible that I feel like dancing around after lacing them up. I am no longer plodding through my lunges, but dancing a duet with my dumbbells. The shoes make me feel nimble and ready for action. These shoes are a hybrid of the Nike Free barefoot running technology and the ultra lightweight Nike Flywire that debuted at the Olympics this Summer. The end result is your feet can truly sense the ground. And like we teach in Pilates and yoga, your feet making contact with the floor starts the muscular chain of command, so the chances of the correct muscle pattern happening are considerably higher. This means more effective and efficient training. When you do squats in the Sister One+ you don't have to think about pressing through your heels because in these shoes your weight is already there. The shoe moves in all three planes of motion, so if you are twisting and lunging the shoe moves with you instead of breaking the motion. They feel great for kickboxing when you pivot while throwing a punch with your entire body.

To see what activity the Zoom Sister One+ is not designed for, read more

It seems that everyone has Olympic fever these days, and I am loving it because people are motivated to get moving more than ever.

What better motivation than a brand new pair of Olympic-inspired sneakers? This Nike Zoom Victory+ ($103) shoe is inspired by the 2008 Olympic track running spike, but it's made for running on any surface. It treats your feet to a hefty amount of cushioning while still being lightweight. The shoes make achieving your goal, be it a gold medal or a 5K, that much more attainable.

Want them for free? Well, I am giving away two $150 gift cards to Road Runner Sports (where these kicks are sold). Entering to win one is super easy, just take the Olympic-themed quiz and voila, you're in. Good luck and happy running!

Choosing a sneaker you run or exercise in is a big decision. If you find a brand that you like, and it fits well and prevents foot pain, it's a good idea to stick with it. On the other hand, if your sneakers are causing blisters or any other painful condition, you may want to think about switching to a different brand.

There are so many kinds of sneakers out there. It looks like Fitsugar readers love Asics sneakers as their number one brand, with New Balance in second place. I thought more people would have voted for Brooks, but I guess it's totally personal preference, and when you find what you like, there's really no reason to buy anything else.