One of the great things about running as a sport is that it's a relatively cheap sport to pursue. The only real expense you'll encounter as a runner is the purchase of running shoes. This morning I've taken delivery of a new pair of Mizuno wave inspire 6, these cost me about 85 GBP. As far as I'm concerned they are worth every penny as over the years I've tried various brands and always found myself coming back to the Mizuno wave series.
As I have a pretty good idea about they kind of shoes I like to run in, I ordered my new pair on line but it's well worth going to a couple of specialist running shops to try out the new releases from various brands.
If you are a first time runner choosing running shoes can be a daunting, even intimidating experience. There are so many brands and types of shoe designed for different running styles and if you decide to do a bit of research you'll end up bombarding yourself with podiatrist technical jargon. The best thing to do is go to a running shop that has a treadmill an preferably does something called gait analysis. There are many shops in London that provide this service and if you're buying for the first time it's essential to have this done in order to have your running style assessed.
Once it's been worked out what kind of runner you are, you can decide of which shoe you want to buy. Personally I need a running shoe that provides some support so the runing shop should have a few brands of shoe taylored to my specific needs. A good salesman will offer you a selection of two or three shoes and let you try them out on a treadmill. This is important, if the sales assistant only offers you one type of shoe, don't buy them. Apart from the gait analysis the most important thing is comfort. You may be offered the perfect pair of shoes as far as the gait analysis is concerned but are they the most comfortable shoes? You can only find this out by trying a few different pairs before you buy.
Here are a few tips about buying shoes I've picked up:
- Buy Big! My actual shoe size is 10 UK but my running shoe size is 11.5. The reason for this is that your feet expand a you run, this is a particular problem for long distance runners. Your feet need room to grow as by the end of a marathon they'll be a whole shoe size bigger. As a guide you should have about a thumbs thickness of room between the tip of your toe and the end of the shoe.
- Shop around! Apart from anything else it's quite good fun to go around stores trying shoes and chatting to people about your running. Once you've determined which shoes are right for your check out the online price, you may save yourself a bit of money.
- Don't buy for brand or looks! You might think Adidas or Nike look cool but looking cool won't get you across the finish line. Go for comfort and type of shoe. If you don't know what type of shoe you need get some gait analysis.
3 comments:
Great post! The correct running shoe may not look great but the most important thing is that your foot is fully supported. Gait analysis is used to assess, plan and treate individuals with conditions affecting their ability to walk. It is also commonly used when you are choosing a new pair of running shoes. Gait Analysis is available at a Podiatry Clinic and in specialist running shops.
Thanks! I've only just noticed that someone had commented on my post.
I've subsequently discovered that I actually need a shoe that has more support than the ones I have. I'm looking forward to the marathon exhibition at the EXCEL centre next week, I'll get to try out loads of different brands all under one roof.
Great post! Here at ProGaitwe advocate having your gait analysed before you embark upon the purchase of new running or training shoes, so that you can get some sound professional advice to reduce the risk of injury.
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