What to do With Old Running Shoes

A pair of running shoes should only be used for 300-500 miles, depending on the weight of the runner and the type of footstrike they use. These variables can affect the wear of running shoes, changing the lifespan of the shoe. Higher mileage runners can reach this 300-500 mile range in a month, so pairs of old running shoes can quickly accumulate. Rather than just throwing them in the back of a closet, here are some useful ideas to make use of them.

1. Wear them Around

Although they may be too worn out to run in, old running shoes can be worn around the house and for chores like gardening and cutting the lawn. Any activity that may result in you getting dirty can be a great opportunity to pull your old pairs of running shoes out of the closet.

2. Sell Them

If you have no desire to wear your old shoes around, that doesn't mean no one else would. Shoes that are still in relatively good condition can be thrown in the clothes washer and sold on eBay. I have routinely gotten over $20 for a pair of old running shoes that I had paid $60 for only 500 miles earlier. Make sure you include in the item description that the shoes are used, so the buyer knows what they are getting.

3. Donate Them

There are many organizations that send old running shoes to Africa for people in need. One such organization is called Sole Responsibility, and is based in Ottawa. They send the shoes to refugees of Darfur in Chad, Africa. They ask only for a $2 fee to offset the costs of shipping. Visit http://www.soleresponsibility.com for shipping and drop-off information.

4. Recycle Them

Nike started a program called Reuse-A-Shoe in 1993. They take old running shoes or athletic shoes and grind them up. They use the ground up materials to make many things. The rubber is used for baseball and soccer fields, weight-room floors, and running tracks. The foam is used for synthetic basketball courts, tennis courts, and playground surfacing.

The cloth upper fabric is used for padding underneath basketball courts.

A drop-off location near you can be found by searching on:

http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=27&cat=reuseashoe&subcat=us-dropoff

If a location is not close to you, shoes can be sent to:

Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070

Any of these ideas are much more useful and gratifying than slowly creating a small mountain of old running shoes in the back of your closet over the years.