Hi,
I've only been running a few months and am taking part in my first 5K race on Sunday. I could do with getting a decent pair of trainers and i can get to London or anywhere in Herts on Saturday but don't know where to go to get someone who can help rather than a Saturday kid who doesn't know anything about the trainers they sell - any ideas?
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Not sure it's a good idea to run your first race in brand new shoes (however, others may know better). I feel I always need to break mine in a couple of times before they feel really comfy. Maybe best to do the race in the shoes you've been training in and then look for some new ones?
Anyhow, good luck on Sunday. Let us know how you get on.
I'm definately no expert but I would say don't under any circumstances change to new shoes the day before a race.
Sounds like a recipe for pain anguish and a DNF!! Stick with what you've trained in and then change.
Best of Luck for Sunday.
Paul.
As for getting new shoes in the future, you are dead right about the "Saturday kid" tyoe shop assistant - basically steer clear of any "sports" shop that sells mainly football strips and only cotton t-shirts.
I don't know London, but there are Sweatshops there which come recommended.
http://www.sweatshop.co.uk/
They have a shop directory on there which will tell you where your nearest shop is. THere's at least one in London (Covent Garden) but you might find one closer.
But, as the others have said, it might not be best to run a race in new shoes.
I got my first running shoes at the Maidstone branch not long ago and they were really very helpful. I said to one of the members of staff that I wanted to buy some running shoes but I didn't know what sort to get. I didn't whether I was an overpronator (feet roll inwards) or supinator (feet roll outwards) or neutral (all of which require different shoe types). They asked me to run across their footscan (in bare feet) to assess my gait and then they recommended a few pairs for me to try on. I seemed to spend ages running around the shop trying shoes on. I found I was a supinator and needed cushioning shoes so I got Mizuno Wave Riders. V. comfy, no blisters so far.
Enjoy your race and let us know how you get on
Tweety
Just remembered too, that there's a shop in Bishop's Stortford called fast feet and the owner Paul, is a lovely chap, and he's a running fanatic too. Again 10% discount is offered to club memebers
There's a Running Specialist shop in Bancroft, Hitchin, Herts. It's called ARO Sports and is run by Tony Osborne (a Runner)and Race Organiser with lots of experience.
Tri- Sports in The Wynd, Letchworth, Herts is also run by a Runner. Both should be able to offer good advice as well. As everyone else said ....I would race in brand new shoes, break them in a bit first. In my humble opinion..NEVER EVER try to buy decent running shoes from a so-called "Sports" store flogging footy shirts, non-running brand t shirts and fashion trainers. This type of superstore is not going to have knowledgable staff who can focus on your specific needs.
Also, check out shoe buying guides such as on Runnersworld site to check whether you pronate etc and ensure you get suitable cushioning for your intended use and weight etc.
Personally I make quite a bit of use of mail order via ads in Runners World or from web sites such as promoted on this site.
You can always ring them up, they often provide decent advice too.
Good luck
If you are in London then Run and Become are really helpful or indeed sweatshop in Harolds - they offer a foot scan that detemines if you over pronate etc and can then reccommend the right shoe. As everyone else has said, might not be a good idea to run in new shoes - break them in first,
Good luck!
For High-Arched Foot - this article states that best shoes is "Cushioned (or "neutral") shoes and to stay away from stability shoes.
However, in the Shoes Review / Cushioned Shoes Review section of Runner's World
, it mentions that "the cushioned shoes are best suited for biomechanically efficient runner (minimum pronation) and midfoot or forefoot strikers."
So, these two Runner's World articles contradict - for the biomechanically efficient runner - one recommends Cushioned Shoes while the other recommends Stability shoes. I don't get. Can anyone shed light on what's the best shoe for biomechanically efficient runners with a neutral gait cycle?
(this doesnt mean that stability shoes aren't cushioned by the way, its just that some people refer to neutral shoes as cushioned shoes)
but are you neutral? if you have a normal foot then youre more likely to overpronate,however...
if you have a high arched foot (not a 'normal' foot-well obviously not abnormal...! just not in the majority!) then you are more likely to be neutral.
(the wet foot test is fairly accurate, but its best to go to somewhere where they can tell you what type of running gait you have, e.g. I work in a running shop)
I have two pairs now, and I am very happy with them. So it depends how you feel about trusting your own judgement.
It is worth calling them before placing order as I found their website not always up to date with what is really available.
I've been running for a while now and need to get a new pair of trianers. Does anyone know of any shops in the Leicester/nottinghamshire area where I could get some advice?
Loughborough - The Running Fox
Leicester - bit of a vacuum as far as i know
I can also recommend The Derby Runner at Spondon just off the A52
Good luck.
Kathryn
Has anyone tried running in MBTs or Chung Shi trainers? x
<waits to be proven wrong>
If you are averse to visiting a specialist store, some now over gait analysis online! Failing that your next best option is to take a close look at the wear of your existing running shoes and combine this information with your foot type to identify what shoes you require.
If you need any further help but don't wont to visit a store I'd definitely recommend using the RW forum or posting a comment on our blog where one of our experts will only be too happy to help.
Like a previous posting I also recommend Fast Feet in Bishop Stortford. Paul the owner is brilliant. Have bought two pairs there for myself and a pair for my daughter. It's a small shop but he has a huge selection, is very chatty and personable and happy to spend all the time you need.
Chilibean
This is a great article. Wow, so many of these things I never thought of before.
it is very imformative.
Hi
i m Mani
i m a good racer
trying to take participate in college level race
first of all i get a mens trainer a pair of beautiful shoesa and and then practice on racing in ground
Good article with lots of sound advice. However, don't forget to check out the rest of your running technique and not just assume that because the foot is in the right shoes that everything else will be fixed!
Sometimes the right pair of shoes is all it takes to solve injury problems, but often the underlying problem is with running technique not just footwear.
Almost all running injuries are overuse injuries…
You can have perfect technique/biomechanics and the perfect shoes and still get injured if do too much too fast and / overtrain.
Obviously the bad technique/biomechanics and/or the wrong shoes will mean that overuse injury will probably happen sooner.
You can run with bad technique/biomechanics and wrong shoes and not get injured if you don’t run too far / often – the body can cope with a certain amount stress & strain and recover.
Unfortunately, when someone gets injured, they are much more likely to immediately blame the shoes rather than consider that their own weaknesses or actions could have anything to do with it.
Hey,
Very nice post which defines shoes types with explantion.Its informative post for Running persons gives ideas for running preparation.
Thanks.