Running Shoes

I would really recommend going to a running store, however if your sure you don't want to maybe take a look at Asics Trainers. I would really not recommend doing it this way though.
 
Like Solac said, go to a proper running store. They can tell you what your running gait is like and then go from there, it won't cost anything.
Could well be that for your gait, a pair of cheaper trainers will do the job.
It's worth it so as not to get problems with your joints etc further down the line if you're planning on doing a reasonable amount of running.
 
I need some running shoes at some point so this thread interests me. How do you tell a proper running store from a run of the mill sports store? Will they have some professional affiliation to a running / atheletics / triathlon society or industry body?
 
A specialist running shop will, hopefully have a treadmill, a video camera and a specialist to analyse your gait. This is definitely the best route to go down. If you don't have a specialist near you then there are numerous guides explaining how to do the 'wet foot test' etc so that you can try to pick a pair that will suit you.

To recommend 'asics' (while they do make good shoes) without knowing what shape your feet are could be a little dangerous. Saying that there are certain characteristics that some brands do exhibit. (I find Adidas too narrow)

Another basic point is that you will probably be buying a running shoe that is larger than a 'normal' shoe that you would wear. This is because your toes shouldn't be touching the front of the shoe. For most people this means buying at least half a size larger.
 
A running store will sell unfashionable items and not be ashamed to do so. Think lycra for guys and so on. It's like the polar opposite of your average sports store.

I wouldn't recommend going for Asics blind, as Asics make running shoes for all different running styles. You might get what could be classed as an amazing pair in reviews and whatnot, but for you they'd be all wrong. Having said that, my last pair were Asics, and they were excellent. Unfortunately, when the cushioning went on them, it went really quickly so they're now useless. I moved over to a pair of Nike Zoom Triax, and they're excellent for me, but they may be rubbish for anyone else that doesn't flail their legs like I do.

You really need to get a gait analysis by a proper running shop staffed by runners, as opposed to your average fashion sports store staffed by 16 year olds with zero experience or product knowledge. Don't expect to get something that looks good, in fact I've found that the performance of a running shoe is inversely proportional to how it looks (my last two pairs have been bright yellow!!)

al
 
jdickerson said:
I'm too embarrassed to go to a specalist store and run in front of them. My technique is awful :D
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Indeed. That's why i was not too bothered. My current trainers are old and i'm sure not as comfortable as new, proper running shoes would be.

Any links? Under 50 squids if possible.

Thanks for the info so far.
 
You need to have your running style analysed, as others have said, at a proper running shop. Buying the wrong footwear could literally cripple you.
 
s-p said:
If you're really that concerned about going to a shop to have gait analysis performed, you can do it at home to a certain degree by following the same process. http://www.upandrunning.co.uk/websales/shoeadviser.php

The only problem lies in whether you mis-diagnose your running style, something an expert is far less likely to do.
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Was just thinking about posting that. You can also tell a bit from the wear pattern on your current shoes - what does it look like?
 
TriedandTested said:
Really? I find that hard to believe. Is it genuinely that bad? If it is i'll do it the right way.
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Yup, running is quite high impact, so if you're wearing the wrong shoes and causing your feet to be supported in the wrong way, you'll end up putting pressure on the wrong parts of your feet, thus causing injury.

I can't recommend a running shop enough, and to this end I'm not going to recommend any particular shoes as you're far far better getting them properly fitted.
 
I don't know about those pairs, but nike and addidas in my experience aren't very highly regarded for running shoes, although a guy above mentioned them so maybe they aren't so bad if recommended for your running style. You need to goto a running shop though. With my current running shoes, the bloke just watched me walk up and down a few paces which wasn't ideal but luckily the trainers i've got seem pretty decent for me. Gonna need a new pair soon though so will be going to upandrunning either at home or one of the ones in london :)
 
Nike do do some very good trainers (not the ones listed above :p), namely Vomero, Structure Triax and Pegasus. But you do pay mor for them and won't necessarly be a better fit for you.

Don't forget to check JJB Sports. Winner of High Street Retailer 2007 in Runners World ;)

http://www.jjb.co.uk/brochure/running08/

/pimp
 
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