- crisp
- smoothing
- tread gone
- worn through
Right shoe, sole up, toe at the top
Even midfoot wear
Wear spread from heel through the middle of the shoe means a flat, midfoot landing.
What it means
When wear is spread fairly evenly from the back of the heel through the middle of the shoe and into the forefoot, the whole foot lands close to flat. This is the midfoot strike, and it shows up more at faster paces and on runners who have shortened their stride.
Midfoot strikers wear shoes evenly, which often means they get the most miles out of a pair. The midsole foam usually gives out before the rubber does, so pay attention to how the shoe feels, not just how it looks.
A midfoot landing loads the foot and ankle a little more than a heel landing and the knee a little less. Nothing here needs correcting.
What to do about it
- Rockered shoes with a broad midfoot rubber patch match this landing and feel smooth for you.
- Judge the shoe by feel. When easy runs start feeling harsh or your legs feel more beaten up than usual after the same route, the foam is done.
- Keep doing whatever got you here. This is the pattern coaches try to nudge people toward.
Neutral daily trainer
Balanced cushioning, no corrective features. The workhorse most runners should own.
Read my own shoesQuestions
Is midfoot striking the best way to run?
It is a good way. It is not magic. The best landing is the one your body settles into at a given pace when you are not forcing anything.