What kind of running shoes do you wear? I have no particular foot problems. I'm willing to spend a decent amount on a pair. I'm looking to start getting into running (a 5k and then maybe more) so I would like a high quality pair.

I wear Merrell Barefoot Pace Gloves and I love them. Husband wears Vibram 5 fingers and he loves those, but they don't fit my feet very well. I wish they did because I'd love to try them - my husband runs crazy fast!

I wear New Balance 1080 v.3. All my running shoes have been New Balance in the 1080 line--I believe it's been through 2 or 3 updates since I began running. You're wise to protect your feet. Make sure you get yourself professionally fitted. The NB I wear is a neutral shoe but they are pricey.

Also invest in a good sports bra and a wicking shirt if you can. The bra and shoes are a must and I learned the hard way from running in cotton and being so uncomfortable that a good wicking shirt goes a long way towards making running bearable AND enjoyable. Target and Wal-Mart have good, inexpensive ones.

Good luck to you!

New Balances have never, ever worked for my feet.

I like Merrells, Brooks or Nike. I would go to a running store and get fitted.

New Balance works for me. I have a weird foot. I wear a size 6, (wish the rest of me was that small!), high arches, wide at the toes and narrow at the heels. Woe is me. lol
I wore Reeboks for years and then they just didn't work for me. I do wear Birkenstock sandals and I have a pair of loafers that are Birkies, but surprisingly not that comfortable.
Even if it costs money, take care of your feet! My last pair of NB (retail $100), I from Ebay (new) for $25. Hope I am that lucky when this pair wears out.
I do treadmill, so they really don't get beat up that much

I've been running for years in Mizuno shoes. LOVE THEM. But... went to a chi running workshop and decided to switch to a "zero drop" shoe, so now I have Altra and... LOVE THEM TOO! lol So I guess it just depends on what you're looking for. The Mizunos are a good stable support shoe. The Altras are not a barefoot or minimalist shoe, but your heel is on the same level as the ball of your foot for a flat-footed foot strike. Both are in the $100 range. Where I live there are two separate running stores that will do a free gail analysis for you to help you determine which shoe is the best fit. You might want to look into that : )

"gail" analysis should be GAIT analysis, duh

I wouldn't recommend any "barefoot" type running shoe for anyone just starting out... BUT DEFINITELY I would HIGHLY recommend going to a place that caters to runners and get fitted for the right running shoe for you...

Me personally... I've been putting about 40 miles a week in on a couple of pairs of ASICS GEL-Nimbus 14's lately... I like the cushioning... very plush ride...

Go to a running store and get fitted. I wear Saucony Fastwitch 5, but those could be terrible for your feet. Even the first pair that Fleet Feet put me in that technically are right for my feet caused me a lot of pain.

Exactly, Nikel1979! You're getting a lot of great recommendations, but as you can see, runners and our feet are very diverse /! Wear the shoe that is the best for you, JGS19.

New Balance for myself as well - I like that they readily come in a 4E width (I have bunions, need wide shoes) and plus they are really a comfortable shoe.

I'm training for a half marathon.....I agree with everyone go to a good running or sports store to ask questions. I started in a New Balance and LOVED THEM....Never had a blister or knee/foot pain in almost a year. My New Balance have a hole now but they lasted almost a full year (and probably should have been replaced sooner). I recently switched to a Saucony and it feels GREAT. I put almost 12 mails on them in 48 hours and they appear to be a good match.

My husband is a distance runner...he loves Saucony as well although he used to run in Asics and loved them too.

ETA: I heard a minimalist or flat sort of shoe isn't good for new or heavier runners. I started running at over 200.....

Another Vibram wearer here, too! I've had foot/ankle problems my whole life, so when I started running I chose Vibrams and LOVE them.

I'm a new AND a heavy runner and I love my minimalist/barefoot shoes! It's very important to me to develop and perserve a natural running form, and I feel that minimalist shoes are really helping me do that. Obviously, YMMV.

My shoes aren't quite minimalist, but they're close. (They're racing flats.) I've only been running 6-7 months and am still pretty heavy. I have zero foot/ankle pain in my shoes. I tried a pair with the same specs, just a bigger heel to drop, and I had to stop after 1 mile and needed 2 days off to recover. My racing flats, straight out of the box I ran 10 miles pain free and only needed 1 recovery day, which is my usual long run recovery.