Unfortunately for many runners, myself included, the wrong shoe choice can put a damper on your running for months (or more) and a smile on your (now richer) doctor's face. Remember, every mile you run consists of approximately 1700 footstrikes; that definitely takes a toll on your body. Your shoes can alleviate some of the stress off your body and correct your biomechanics (overpronating or underpronating), thus preventing many injuries. $80-$120 may seem like a lot of money but if you think of it as an investment to keep you out of the doctor's office and on the road (or trail or track), I think we can all agree it is well worth the money.