If you’ve ever walked by a rack of running shoes, you may be overwhelmed by all the different shoe shapes, styles and colors. We always say that the most important factors when it comes to a running shoe or an everyday shoe are comfort and support, but what about color?
If you can find a comfortable and supportive running shoe that comes in a variety of colors, is there a specific one that could aid with your runs? New research says that shoe color can have an impact on a runner’s performance. Let’s break it all down in today’s blog.
How Shoe Color Impacts Running Ability
While the color of your shoes certainly won’t have a larger impact on your running time than your training habits, researchers believe that it can have a non-zero affect on your running ability. Based on the study, here’s a look at what researchers say runners should look for in a running shoe color:
By Season
- In the warm spring, athletes should consider wearing brightly colored clothing or clothing with a high color contrast, as this can help athletes shake off negative states and regain psychological confidence.
- In the hot summers, athletes should consider cooler colors. These colder colors can provide a feeling of coolness and comfort, which can help to stabilize athletes’ emotions and encourage them to keep competing, helping them drown out the feelings of heat and dryness.
- During a more comfortable autumn season, athletes may derive more motivation from richly colored clothing and some gradient colors for matching.
- In the cold winter, athletes should seek out warm-colored clothing. Warm colors can make people feel bright and warm, and dark colors can help to absorb heat and help athletes feel psychologically warm.
By Running Environment
- When running in an urban environment with high-rise buildings and less natural colors, long-distance runners should opt for shoes in yellow, green and orange, as they can help to break up visual fatigue.
- Countryside or mountainous runners should opt for pleasant colors that match their environment, like light yellow, light pink or light green.
- For coastal racers, opting for soft colored shoes can help to combat visual fatigue, especially if abundant sunlight makes it difficult to keep their eyes open.
By Competition
- Researchers found that marathoners tend to draw motivation from colors that beckon national pride. For example, Chinese athletes tend to prefer color combinations of red and yellow, African athletes prefer a combination of green and yellow, while Americans may prefer a red and blue combination.
By Color
Finally, researchers also noted that certain colors can have different effects and elicit different emotions among runners. They noted:
- Red is grand and warm, urging people to be actively enterprising;
- Blue is serious and solemn, gentle and relaxed, which can alleviate tense emotions;
- Green is a symbol of hope and life, making people feel comfortable and peaceful, and is helpful for post-race fatigue recovery;
- Orange is full of vitality, making people feel warm, energetic, and enhancing their fighting spirit;
- Purple is soft and peaceful, making people calm and contemplative;
- Black is prone to making people feel sad and sentimental.
- All kinds of warm colors make people full of vitality and vigor; all kinds of cold colors make people feel calm and oppressive. In various marathon competitions, it is often possible to see athletes wearing high-brightness, high-purity warm-colored clothing, because this can make athletes more excited and actively participate in the competition.
Keep this in mind the next time you pick out running shoes, and you may find that you’re a little extra motivated to run or hit your personal goals! And for help overcoming a running injury or pain that is keeping you from running, reach out to Dr. Silverman by filling out this contact form.