Gait analysis for the perfect shoes

[Fattytumtum]

Guys, advice please. Thus far (end of week 6 and having a ball), I have been running in my daughters old trainers which are nearly dead. I've read on here about sweatshop reviews and I'm pretty impressed by their 100% satisfaction guarantee. The question is; I'm still very slow, and still 3 stone overweight and still get extremely sweaty. As the nearest sweatshop will be a 30 mile trip to Nottingham, will they laugh at me? TIA

[crox Graduate]

Nah, the folks at Nottingham are very good, I got my first shoes from them and I was about 4 stone overweight.

That said you'll probably have a local running shop near by that will be equally good. Though I know they can be a mixed bag, as well as sweatshop we have a couple of locals one of which is very good with all levels of ability, the other doesn't seem to care much for slower runners.

[Julia321 Graduate]

I go to "up and running", the also have a branch in Nottingham:

upandrunning.co.uk/shops

My local branch is Cambridge (but I have also been to another branch when visiting family). I have found them absolutely brilliant. They were fine for me to come in to have my gait reanalysed after I had been running for a few weeks to make sure I was still in the right shoes (they did not push me to buy new ones). Even when being only able to run for a minute or two, I didn't find them intimidating at all.

[crox Graduate in reply to Julia321]

My colleague, more of a proper runner, swears the Nottingham branch are ok, I found them less welcoming compared to sweatshop and running fox at Loughborough.

[Anniemurph Graduate in reply to Julia321]

I found Up and Running in Nottingham very helpful, particularly Rob. He wouldn't let me buy shoes I thought were okay and ordered four other pairs in for me to try. The ones I ended up with were cheaper than the ones I would have happily settled for. I hope you find the right shoes!

[Mummysaurus Graduate]

You should be fine with sweatshop the staff are normally well trained and the shops guarantee is a real bonus if you need to change your shoes.

[Rockette in reply to Mummysaurus]

Yes I can vouch for that , I had my new running shoes 28 days but was getting ankle pain in right foot , I went back , took the shoes to ask advice really they gave me another gait analysis & told me they would swap my shoes for another pair of stability ones for my ankle & if not right after a few runs to go back how's that for service.

[NeverthoughtIwouldrun Graduate]

Hi I'm thinking about going to the sweatshop in Windsor as I keep having problems with my ankles and my knees and as a normal weight 21 year old I don't think this is good....

A) has anyone been what are they like?

B) what kind of price range is the shoes and do you pay to be assessed and do you need to take your current trainers with you?

Thanks

[crox Graduate in reply to NeverthoughtIwouldrun]

You don't pay for the assessment if you buy a pair of shoes. Twice I paid the extra for the insoles that they do, but I'm not convinced. The cheapest shoes I've brought from them was £70 iirc.

As a little tip, if you do a parkrun you should (at least my boy did) get a £15 voucher from sweatshop as a reward for doing your first - don't worry about your ability parkruns are ace - if you show willing you'll be welcomed with open arms regardless of how long it takes.

[tantrumbean Graduate]

I found Sweatshop much friendlier than Up and Running and also, returns are hassle free. Just had to take my shoes back after 6 weeks as the sole isn't very puncture proof and I had acquired a hole after about 30 miles of running and they took them back no problem at all. They were brilliant when I originally bought them as well and spend about 1.5 hours with me, trying different pairs, etc.

[P1glet1 Graduate]

Hey tumtum, as a large lady I can assure you that they are lovely to anyone wanting to run. I was terrified of being laughed out the shop but they were encouraging, check your gait for free and there was no hard sell. Also my one has a free running club that I might look at after week 9. I will definitely go back x