Sorry guys this is going to be long, even by my long standards!
My husband did good. 👍😀 He booked me a thorough 60 minute gait analysis for my birthday a few weeks ago, and today was the day. Off I went, slightly nervous as I’ve only ever run solo or at parkrun where it’s each to their own, and I’ve certainly never been analysed!🏃🏃♀️🏃🏃♀️
The friendly guy, Matt, was setting things up when I got there. He asked me my running history (didn’t take long!), whether I’d had any injuries, age, weight and how often I ran per week. He manually checked my feet and ankles (wish I’d reapplied my nail varnish 🙄) and I had to do a few pressure exercises. He could tell I had slightly less mobility in my left ankle, which I confirmed was the case during yoga, plus it was the foot I’d had PF in, or whatever it was - I explained how it had felt and he said it could have been many different things. It’s long gone in any case.
Then the fun started. I had to stand barefoot on a sensor pad and stand stock still to see how evenly, or not, my weight was naturally distributed. Passed that test - he said my yoga would have helped. 🧘♀️
Then I had to walk back and forth over the same pad a few times so he could analyse my step. No problems there. ✅
Next I had to do 3 single legged squats on each side. He said my knees rotated out slightly rather than point straight forward, possibly caused by weak hips. He’s sending me some exercises. 😀
Then I had to do 20 x heel raises on each foot. No trouble there - apparently they can cause issues.
We sat down and he showed me all the images he’d recorded. It was very interesting and literally every nuance of the foot and step were shown. My feet are basically very even. Yay! 👍
Back on with my trainers and treadmill time! 2 minute warm up, then 4 minutes running whilst being filmed. 🏃♀️🏃♀️
Here’s a handy tip - check whether the treadmill is set to mph or kph! 😳 I was thinking to myself “crikey this is a bit quick”, after he’d set the pace for me, and there you have it! Muppet!! I managed though. 😅😅
More analysis on the laptop followed, and he showed me how my running style is very good, neutral and efficient, although I have a tendency to tip forward at the hips slightly (another sign of hip weakness) and I overstride a little bit with my right foot. Who knew? No corrective trainers needed though.
He brought me out 4 pairs to try (absolutely zero pressure to buy any - I asked if I could!) and I had a go on the treadmill with each. All very comfy, but the ones I picked I couldn’t even tell were on my feet. Brooks Revel 2 😍
Matt said my trail shoes were perfect too so I’ve been given the all clear to wear them! 👏👏👏
I’m soooo sorry about the length of this ridiculous post. My husband will have fleeting interest as will my friends, but I’m hoping you guys will “get it” and forgive me! 🤞❤️
Can’t wait to run on Thursday! 🏃♀️🏃♀️😀😀
Thanks for bearing with me lovely VRBs, and happy running. 😍
Written by
cheekychipmunks
Graduate10
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That was a very thorough analysis cheekychipmunks and it’s good to see how you run on film because you can’t really tell yourself . It’s not too long a post because some people don’t know what’s involved. The gait analysis in my independent running shop is not as detailed as that, but that is what you (or your thoughtful OH) is paying for. I hope you love your brooks as much as I do. I’m off to pick up the new pair now so more shoe porn to follow 🥿👠👡👢👞👟🥾
Not long at all and really interesting CC. Confidence is such a big part of my running....both over confidence followed, by the opposite at the slightest hitch! So your gait analysis is brilliant; you know you have got the right shoes and have recommended exercises to fix a bit of a weakness. Brilliant bit of investment by your OH. No excuses now though 😊🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
I totally agree BC. I was pleasantly surprised that I’m running more or less correctly. Just need some extra hip strength to help me run a little more upright, which in turn will protect my joints and give me more oomph. 💪 I’d never have known about that before. 😀
Fancy not having a pedicure before you went🦶💅, so glad you didn't have any issues, and that your trail shoes are appropriate.
No way can I do a one legged squat, definitely not on my left leg, I can't even hop on it, that is my over pronating leg. It sounds like you are pretty neutral and stable.🤩
I thought it was an interesting post, and you got ANOTHER pair of trainers, where are you going to keep them all?
I've been hoping you'd give us a full report, everybody keeps saying it's worth it, or it's not, so to me that does sound worth it; now I must stop procrastinating and get myself booked on one. Looks like your shop is just in Bristol, though.
Anyone out there know somewhere in the Herts Beds Bucks area that does it well? Thanks all (sorry for the derail, CC)
Definitely worth it GOG. Loads of running shops do gait analysis, and I’m sure there are plenty that do the advanced ones too - just maybe not the chains (or maybe they do?)
Interesteding post from you Cheeky, you don't need to apologise for the length of it, I have "got it". I bet you are looking forward to Thursday.
I was quite interested in what you said about part of the analysis gait, the part when you had to do three single legged squats on each side, after I read your post I tried that, ouch, I would rather do 3 minute plank than that, anyway a happy birthday present to you from your husband, I am sure you enjoyed the gait analysis. 😊 🏃
Glad you got it AlMorr! I’m sure my non-running friends would glaze over if I went into such detail with them! 😅
As for the squats, I was relieved he said I could hold onto something. I’m not sure I’d have managed too well just balancing. It was so interesting and not at all intimidating. He was such a nice guy. 👍😀
My son used to collect Beanie Babies when he was tiny and he had a favourite one, a chipmunk, which he called Cheeky (think he still has it and he’s almost 23 😅).
Thanks though AlMorr, I like to think I’m friendly - as are all the fabulous people on here it seems! 😀
Yawn!! Haha 🤣🤣 not really Cheeks 🙈 Blimey we love this sort of thing on here don't we?🤓 (Yes, I have become a running nerd) I totally get what you mean about wanting to go into the finer details - friends look interested (for about a minute🙄) husband is genuinely interested, bless him (but maybe not THAT interested 😳) Us lot. We can't get enough of it! That was an analysis and a half ~ and very interesting to know what a proper one involves! And look at those shoes 😱 Looking all pert and poised just like TailChaser 's Bert & Ernies (sounds wrong 🤣) Love love love Brooks 🤗 Enjoy them 🦋❤️🦋
Do I really want to hear about TC’s Bert and Ernie’s? Isn’t that a different forum?! 🤣🤣🤣
Oh I know, I’m turning into a complete and utter running nerd. 🤓 I can’t get enough of it! My husband is the same way with his rowing and watches ultra slow-mo video footage of their coaching sessions - with the sound on. Slosh, slosh! Really?! 🚣🏿♀️ 😅
I’m so excited to run in both pairs of my new runners! 👏👏👏
Thanks TC! I’m so relieved I didn’t make a total idiot of myself - although the speed of the treadmill would have been an issue if he’d have had me running much longer! 😅
Looking forward to Thursday like you wouldn’t believe! 😀🏃♀️
Hey Cheeky, ( pronounced chic - ee in your runner’s 😄) - yes absolutely we “get it”. It sounds a bit like a runner’s foot pamper - you just needed the massage and pedicure too! 😂
All very interesting - you can gazelle on your way with confidence now (especially now you have had an accidental gazelle session on the treadmill!) 😃
Hahaha Elfe5, now if they can turn this 🐌 into a gazelle I’ll be mighty impressed! And yes, the treadmill was going about 10mph - way faster than I snail along normally! 😅😅
I’m with Flaraflarkin cheeky, we love a bit of nerdy runny talk on here, and if you’ve seen any of my posts over the last (nearly) year then I can ramble on more than someone dressed in an entire Berghaus wardrobe with extra red socks! And single legged squats, how fit and balanced are you? I’m just going to have a go at one...back in a minute...<footstep noises>...scary crunching noises came from my knees and ankles... Good old yoga for keeping you flexible 🧘🏻♀️ The analysis must have been a fascinating experience, I know my freebie on just the treadmill was quite an eye opener.
Bert and Ernie and their non-identical twins say hello to your Revels (oh no, I think I’ve really lost it now, talking shoes...😂). I hope they look after you and give you many miles of happiness 👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟😀🦆
One legged squats were only possible for me as dear sweet Matt said it was ok to hold onto something, otherwise epic fail I suspect!
I’m so relieved there are fellow ramblers on here. I do the same texting - and I always use proper punctuation and check spelling. Saddo! 🤓🤓🤓
I have 2 pairs of shoes to name then. 🤔 My trusty old Asics never got names though - but they’re still good for walking so maybe I can retroactively give them names! That’s tomorrow’s task then! (Yep, properly lost it now!) 🤣🤣
I’m the same as you with texts - one has to keep ones standards up after all 😁 Good luck with the naming ceremony, I was thinking maybe something confectionary based? 🤔😆
Sounds very thorough Cheeky - glad you enjoyed it! Mine was shorter, at an independent shop, before I started c25k, and I think getting it done was one of the reasons why (so far - tempting fate?!) I haven't yet been on the IC.
Yes I think a gait analysis should be encouraged for all runners. It was an hour very well spent and now I know I have no major mechanical issues I can simply work on strengthening exercises.
Good for you staying off the IC. I don’t fancy it, and *touch wood*, like you I can avoid it too! 🤞🤞
Loved reading your post Cheeky!
Sounds like an amazing experience having a gait analysis! 🙌
The new trainers look awesome! I bet you’ll have so many happy miles running in them! 👌
Thanks Dreams, yes I am very happy and I thoroughly enjoyed my gait analysis. I’ve turned into a real geek and I found it fascinating when Matt showed me the footage of me running and all the images of my foot placement etc. I can’t wait for the report to be emailed through to me! 😀
And my new trainers are dying to go for a run, but they’ll need to wait until Thursday! 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Cheeky that sounded brilliant !!! 👍. Can’t believe how thorough it was. As I was reading I tried the heel raises too but failed 😂. Must say I am disheartened and disappointed in you lack of attention to your toe nails. But it’s winter so will let off. I won’t ask about leg hair 😁. Your new runners look great and I am very jealous 😊. You will be gone..... 💨. I am dropping massive hints to OH. Don’t know why. Will probably get a pen for my birthday 😂 or something equally useless unless I buy it myself.
Hahahaha! You’ll be relieved to hear that my legs weren’t hairy today Wimborne! 🤣🤣 I cringed a bit looking at my sad toe nails though. I like to give them a couple of months off from wearing nail varnish - oh well, I’m sure he’s seen worse than unpainted toe nails! 😖
You must definitely keep dropping hints to your OH Wimborne. It’s definitely something worth doing! Go on Wimborne’s OH, do the right thing! 😇 😀👍
This is super encouraging to get my gait analysis done (suffered from knee issue of late which has impacted my ability to run massively, so need to find the cause and remedy it), thank you for the perfectly lengthed post! I was a bit sceptical thinking it would just be a means to sell me new trainers, but you've reassured me. Which company did you have yours done? I wonder if they have a branch in Oxford... Keep posting and enjoy your awesome new footwear!
I’m glad my post helped Crikey. 👍 I too was quite sceptical about the hard sell, but I honestly didn’t get any whatsoever. He just asked if I’d like to try some new trainers, but he didn’t tell me the prices and the ones I chose were the cheapest of the 4. Bonus! Realistically my old Asics are still super comfy, but being “entry level” ones I don’t want them to deteriorate and injuries start creeping up on me. I have run more than their recommended 200 mile life. I’ll keep them for really foul days! 😅
The place I used was part of a small 2 store independent running shop, one in Bristol and one in Bridgend (I think). I’m sure you could google “advanced gait analysis in Oxford” - there’s bound to be something similar. Good luck! 🤞😀
Great new shoe porn! and your post is great.... don't apologize!! I get it too!! sounds a fab present and very detailed and informative. excellent.
I had mine done before Christmas but was nothing like that. I basically just had to walk a few steps bare foot, and then stand on one foot with each leg. I think before I get new shoes I need a more thorough one.
Thanks CH! I’m dying to try them out. Not sure where I’ll run tomorrow - it depends on the weather. Dry, 4k with intervals on the common with new trail shoes, wet it’ll be 5k on my usual route with my Brooks. Not a bad dilemma to have really! 🏃♀️😀
What a great birthday present! It sounds totally different to my experience so very interesting to hear all the details! Mine was an indifferent 2 minutes on a treadmill and that was it! I’m glad it went well and happy running in your lovely new shoes!!!
Thanks so much HS, yes hubby picked the perfect present didn’t he? 😀🏃♀️👍 It was fascinating and I loved all the detail he gave me. I’ll be getting an email report shortly too - so I can pore over it all at my leisure! 🤓🏃♀️😅
Fascinating post. I had a quick gait analysis on a running machine before I bought my first running shoes, but loved reading about your experience. Sounds as if every penny was worth it!
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Time for gait analysis and new shoes!
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