I've been running for a month now, and seem to be sticking with it, so I've decided that this is probably not a fad for me, but something a bit deeper. So today I've been out and got some good running shoes to replace my slightly older, well used and smelly trainers. In the past buying trainers for me was simply a matter of going somewhere like JJB's or Sportsworld, and picking something that looks tidy, and feels comfy. This time I didn't want to just make an impulse buy and regret it, I wanted to do things in a way that was a bit more thought out, and get something more suited to running. After trying to wade through endless reviews of trainers to get something that's right for me, I found myself getting confused with the various features, and which would be better for me.
You see I've always had the odd niggle and ache in my knees and ankles when I do any kind of running based activity, and to be honest I've always assumed its just one of those things I have to put up with. But a bit of internet reading later, several themes seem to crop up regularly for beginners like me picking trainers. I came up with a plan: 1) Find a shop local to me that specialises in running, 2) Get my gait analysed properly, 3) Get some trainers that are right for me.
Stage 1: Find a runners shop local to me, quite easy really, a quick trawl through google pulled up several contenders. But only one offered the gait analysis I wanted. Turned out to be a shop called http://www.sweatshop.co.uk/ I must state that I have no affiliation with them, they just turned out to be the nearest shop offering gait analysis. After a quick phone call I found that there was no need to book a special appointment, just turn up and get analysed, plus its a free service. I could wear what I felt comfortable in as long as I wore the kinds of socks I normally ran in. So postcode in sat-nav off I set.
Stage 2: Gait analysis. Some of you will know all about this, and if you're still reading I'm surprised. But for those of you that were in my position a couple of days ago, then this will be a fairly new concept (although apparently its been going on for a few years now). So what is gait analysis; time for the 'science bit' as best as I understand it...
When you are running your foot should strike down flat around the heel area, and roll forward until you push off essentially with the ball of your foot. Think of this as the ideal mechanics of a stride. But things can go wrong, your toes can point in or out, then there is the dreaded pronation. This is where the whole foot rolls in or out, and does not land flat. Here's a picture of a right foot to give you the idea:
To get analysed is simple, they get you to put on a new set of neutral shoes (a set of Nike's), you get on a treadmill, and run. Easy eh? While you are doing this, the person analysing you starts a video camera focused specifically on your feet. Once your feet have starred in their first movie, you get off the treadmill and go and watch your feet slowed down so you get to see your stride in detail.
Obviously each person will have slightly different needs from a trainer, and my prognosis was far from great. Not only were my toes pointing out quite noticably, but I had a severe over pronation. So severe that I'm effectively landing on the inside edge of my feet, and staying on that edge all the way through my stride.
Far from perfect, but armed with this information the lady came back with some different pairs of support shoes (they have a firmer foam used to make the inside edge of the trainer more supporting). There was a pair of Asics, New Balance and Nike for me to run on the treadmill and get filmed again. They all offered a similar degree of correction, not perfect, but with my gait they would help me a lot.
Stage 3:After deciding the Asics just didn't feel right, it was down to NB vs Nike. After walikng round the shop in both pairs and still not sure, the lady serving me told me to go for a run in the car park in both. The end result was on my first run the New Balance felt a bit weird (my feet being jacked back into the proper position) but more importantly no notable niggles in my joints. Then whilst trying the Nike's, they just made my knees feel wrong. A quick swap back to the New Balance confirmed it was the Nike at fault.
So within half an hour I had found my ideal trainer, whilst purchasing them I had to fill in a shop guarantee form. I asked what this shop guarantee covered, and I was told I had 30 days to test run them. If I wasn't completely happy I'd brought the right trainers, then they'd take them back regardless of what state they were in and let me try a completely different pair of trainers. Something I don't think JJB or Sportsworld would let me do.
And in the real world? Tonight i put my new trainers and with some trepidation set off on W4R1 (I got the feeling from the forum this was going to be testing). The run was taxing, and hard going, but not through knee/ankle aches and twinges
