I was in the same boat not too long ago and I’m very much a beginner. The little research I did led me to believe the best option was to go to a store specializing in running equipment and talk to one of the knowledgeable salespeople there. They were able to tell me about what types of shoes would work well for me and help prevent injuries. They didn’t have anything in my price range at the time so I went looking for the previous years’ models of the same shoes and was able to get a good deal. Happily running ever since.
There is definitely nothing wrong with last year’s models on the bargain rack (except maybe the colour scheme) as long as they fit right and feel comfortable. Don’t bother with anything that doesn’t feel really comfortable from the moment you put them on. I also second the suggestion for finding a store with a knowledgeable sales person as the fit might be a bit different from your regular shoes (often a bit larger so you have plenty of room in the toe).
I was in the same boat not too long ago and I’m very much a beginner. The little research I did led me to believe the best option was to go to a store specializing in running equipment and talk to one of the knowledgeable salespeople there. They were able to tell me about what types of shoes would work well for me and help prevent injuries. They didn’t have anything in my price range at the time so I went looking for the previous years’ models of the same shoes and was able to get a good deal. Happily running ever since.
There is definitely nothing wrong with last year’s models on the bargain rack (except maybe the colour scheme) as long as they fit right and feel comfortable. Don’t bother with anything that doesn’t feel really comfortable from the moment you put them on. I also second the suggestion for finding a store with a knowledgeable sales person as the fit might be a bit different from your regular shoes (often a bit larger so you have plenty of room in the toe).