The following is an excerpt taken from Runner's World magazine's Complete Book Of Running, edited by Amby Burfoot, and published in 1997. The passage was written by Burfoot himself.
With dozens of different companies and models to choose from, and exciting new shoes hitting the market every day, selecting your pair of running shoes remains a tough choice. I've found that the process is much simpler if you follow these guidelines.
Stick with proven shoes. New shoes are like new cars and new computers. You should keep away from them for a couple of years until the bugs are all worked out.
Talk to other runners and knowledgeable retail salespeople. Virtually every office and neighborhood in America has experienced runners with a collective knowledge of running shoes. Ask them what shoes they have had good luck with. Evaluate how these runners' needs are similar to or different from your own needs.
When you get your new shoes home, wear them first on short runs. After you're confident that they're broken in and don't cause any blisters or other abrasions, you can use them on longer runs.
Wear your running shoes for running only. They weren't intended for basketball or mowing the lawn, and they'll give you more miles of comfortable, injury-free running if you only use them for running.
Keep your shoes as dry as possible. Whether they're damp with sweat or wringing wet after a workout in a downpour, they'll recover fastest and best if air-dried. (And they won't stink.) Don't put your shoes in the clothes dryer, which is too hot. A small fan does an excellent job of drying our shoes.
Remember that your shoes need replacement after 400 to 500 miles. Even if you don't see much cosmetic deterioration, the shoes' midsoles will have lost their cushioning and resiliency. It's time for a new pair.