Has anyone been for a professional trainer fit... - Couch to 5K
Has anyone been for a professional trainer fitting?
I went to a running shop and had a proper fitting for trainers in week 4 - I knew I needed proper trainers. There are loads of brand new pairs on Ebay (people who have given up or people who have bought the wrong size??) but I had heard from others that the sizes can be different in different makes etc and you might need adjustment inserts depending on how you land your feet. The shop was really good - they get you running on the treadmill and film your feet and explain it all really well. The different makes do have different sizes to your standard shoe fitting so you really do need to have advice and try them on before buying.
I knew that because I had spent quite a bit of money on the shoes I needed to keep going with the program - gave me added incentive, otherwise I would have wasted my money!
I went along for this too - quite good fun and nothing to worry about. A short run on a treadmill while the assistant films your feet. The film shows how you land and stride and a decision can be made about if you need soles that are softer on one side than the other (to allow your foot to roll into a more flat position). I tried several shoes after I understood what sort I needed.
There assistant did not automatically offer me the most expensive shoes, she was more interested in what I had found comfortable in the past and what I expected my future running needs to be.
The shoes I bought were fine - but after about 3 weeks they developed a fault - my toe was poking though the canvas. The shop replaced them for me with no hassle at all.
All in all a good experience - I'm glad I did it. I have bought my last few pairs of shoes via mail order as they are cheaper but I will do a runshop check maybe once a year. Whichever shoes I buy I get the toe through canvas problem - it seems when I run I have a tendency to curly my toes 
Hi Laura,
I had my shoes professionally fitted too! The whole treadmill filming thing was a bit offputting (does any sensible woman really want a camera aimed at her rear end when she's running??) but in the end the analysis was well worth it. Within two mins the guy there asked me if I'd ever had surgery on my left leg (yes, knee surgery 30 years ago!!) and told me that I over pronated quite badly on that leg (which I could see on the film). Result was a well fitting pair of support trainers which have never caused me any problems and never had so much as a blister. I get the occasional black toenail after a hard training session especially if running downhill but apparently lots of people do. The shoes are definitely big enough, I have loads of room in the toebox.
Carole.
Hi Laura, I had my trainers fitted when I first started the Cto5k. Helpful assistant sorted out the right shoes for my feet, rather than go for a high price sell, have had no problems with them.well worth doing J.
The Lincolnshire Runner. Absolutly transformed my running. Quality shoes that fit, and worked. Well worth the outlay.
50 yrs old, female. I started the program with discounted running shoes. I developed ankle pain and had to stop. Perhaps not connected, but I suspect it might be. After about 3 months of slow recovery, I went to a running shop and was fitted for stabilizing shoes- also a shoe size greater than I generally fit.- lots of toe room. Wonderful! Well worth the investment. I've developed slightly different calluses on my heels, but no pain. I love these running shoes. I'm just about to start week 7. Taking it slow and really listening to my body and giving it recovery time.
All this echoes my experience. It was something I'd recommend to any runner - beginner or otherwise. The difference between my off-the-shelf £30 trainers and the ones I had professionally fitted was amazing and the niggling shin pain I had - vanished immediately.
Absolutely worth it, for all us geeky types the videos and discussions about pronation and ankle rolling and actually seeing the difference some trainers make (and other don't) is fascinating. I pronated slightly on my left leg and was straight up and down on my right leg so just needed some that offered mild support.
At the end of the day what's the worst that will happen, you still end up with a pair of trainers you can wear around. Its not like buying one of those funky fitness gadgets that clutter up the garage then go to the skip unused.
I went into the Sweatshop who are always tops and had a chat with them about it before I did my week 1 run 1 and, I precis it slightly, their point was "what if you start running and bad trainers make you sore and you hate it and give up when a good pair would ease the transition?" If it does end up being a fad then we are back to the point about at least you still have a pair of trainers.
You have nothing to lose but your sore knees!
Next time round I am going to do it again as I know my leg muscles have changed significantly since I started which may have affected my running gait so the requirements may have changed. My treat to myself for the spring.
Woo hoo I have worn out two pairs of trainers through sporting endeavour alone! Its such a wierd thought. 
Having only just started running (on week 5) not had a professional fitting before. However, reading the advice above and the fact that I have a little shin pain / sore knee I'm going to treat myself to new trainers with a fitting and see if that improves things.
bump
I bought basic adidas running trainers & had no pain from my running even after running for an hour, but all of mine had been done on a treadmill. am now repeating c25k with my children & run outside with them & have developed shin pain on one leg. had an analysis at dw sports ~ it is brilliant watching the video back & comparing the difference that trainers make.
anyway, I roll in on my left foot which is why I am getting pain so now need to invest in trainers for the great outdoors. they didnt have my size (humungous size 8s) so have found the same model on ebay, much cheaper I might add!
well worth going for an analysis.
I went for an analysis yesterday (I'm about to start wk3) and the assistant had me videod on the treadmill and I discovered I was running on the outside of my foot (can't remember the technical term) which was backed up by my old trainers having rubbed on the outside of the shoe. I've had those for approx 6 years and though they were great and really comfy until I tried other pairs on!
I now have a shiny new pair of k-swiss trainers waiting patiently for me to do W3R1 tomorrow
Hi everyone,
I've been running with a pair of fairly un-used 30quid trainers from JD sports and was doing fine. I'm in week 6 but have developed runner's knee (left knee soreness/mild pain) and think that going in for a professional trainer fitting might help. Any suggestions of good shops to go to in London? Thanks!
Thinking I need to go and get my gait analysed but scared of running on camera!!!
Don't worry - they only film your lower legs and ankles!
I did this earlier in the week and was very pleased with it - and fascinated to be able to see how having the right shoes corrected my gait. I tried 7 pairs of what should have been the "right" shoes, but in fact only 2 pairs actually worked properly. The other thing was that I'd been wearing shoes which were 1.5 sizes too small! I'd definitely urge you to get it done. I can recommend Foot Traffic in Bolton, for those who live in the area.
Filmed on a treadmill for any problems and then running in the street with different shoes on each foot until I found the right pair. Running has been great, no problems with feet at all. Well worth doing - as others have done in previous posts I would recommend Easy Runner in Bristol if you live in that area. Have converted a friend to the programme recently and she got her shoes sorted out there a couple of weeks ago.
Hi, I am on week 4 and think I should go and get a gait analysis. Does anyone know of a good place in Brighton please? I know that there is a running shop that is popular with the running club, but think they only do it by sight and experience. Is this a good option? Thanks.
This is an old thread, but you can Google gait analysis near me and should get a few suggestions. I had mine done by a sports physio as I was having treatment for a knee injury at the time. In a good running shop the staff do know what they're talking about, plus you should be able to return trainers if they don't work out for you.
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