Hiya,
Coming Tuesday is my birthday and I asked my parents for new running shoes as a present. Today me and my mom went to a running shop for a gait analysis.
I took along my old shoes, my trusty pink Asics which I bought 6 years ago when I ran a couple of months and which came out of the closet again when I restarted running last year (mid) November. The guy checked my old shoes, let me run over a plate and showed me how my feet roll off in a step. Very interesting, I obviously roll a bit to the inside of the foot.
He brought out 3 pairs of shoes, all in size 40,5. My old kicks are size 40 which is already 1 to 1,5 size larger than my regular shoes. But he found it best to try a half size up. The 3 pairs were Asics, Brooks and New Balance. I could test all 3 and was allowed to try them in a little run outside on the road.
The Asics felt very good. Lots of space for the toes, but no feeling of sliding to the front. My heel was kept nicely in the back and the cushioning took my breath. Only then I realized my old kicks are dying...
The Brooks also felt good, lots of space and such. But I found them slightly less cushioning.
The New Balance were my least favorite. My ankle gave a niggle in the short run of 2 minutes and my heel felt as if it was too loose.
In the end I decided to stay with Asics, the brand that has helped me get this far. My mom paid them et voila, I have my (early) birthday present. In the picture the blue ones are the new shoes: Asics GT 2000 9. The pink are my oldies.
This afternoon I had a 10K planned and thought to put the new shoes through their maiden run. Unfortunately I don't know if that was a good idea. I got niggles in my ankles, though it might also be I have to switch the inner soles for my sport soles (which I wear in my old kicks). Or I just had better kept the new shoes for a 5K instead of a 10K and wear them in slowly.
My next run I'll wear my old pair again and the 5K after I'll try the new ones with the sport soles to see what it gives. Fingers crossed that I'll get used to them!
Cheers, Evy