On the subject of buying shoes..............!

Well, I had an interesting little visit to a shop this afternoon and thought it might be worth posting. Some of you might find it slightly amusing (I was quite unkind to the poor little assistant) but it's possibly useful information for anyone going to buy running shoes for the first time.

I was off to Tesco (living in a small space I have a tendency to shop a little more frequently than most people) and I thought "Ah, there's an outdoor shop (they sell all sorts of sports things and camping stuff as well) about half a mile further on and they have running shoes, I'll just go have a little looksie". As it happens, they also have a treadmill for gait analysis but..............

I was just looking at their running shoes (very limited selection) when an assistant asked if he could help. I said that I'd just done C25K and was thinking about new pair of running shoes. I made it clear I was just looking at this stage and said that the shoes I had already were nowhere near the mileage they were good for but I needed to think about another pair to start breaking in shortly. Despite the fact that I was standing right next to their treadmill, he immediately started recommending a shoe which he said would give me plenty of support and that it was the shoe that would suit me - bearing in mind I had given no information at this stage. Hmmm....! Conversation goes thus:

Me\; Why are they so suitable for me?

Him: They'll stop your legs wobbling.

Me: Silent but with raised eyebrow.

Him: And they'll stop your ankle giving way.

Me: I see. And you are recommending this shoe without having any idea what my feet do when I'm running?

Him: Er, well I could do gait analysis. Er, what I mean is, he (points at another assistant) could do gait analysis.

Me: I've had gait analysis when I bought the shoes I have at the moment. I over-pronate.

Him: Ah well, then this is the shoe you want (as he takes a different model off the display).

Me: But what about these cheaper ones. They were advertised in a recent promotion as being suitable for gaits like

mine.

Him: Er, no they're not really suitable.

I told him thank you but I would find a branch of Up and Running somewhere (my preferred choice). However, the moral of this story is that it would be only too easy for new runners buying their first pair of proper running shoes to be caught out by someone who (whilst trying to be helpful - or possibly under order to sell slow moving lines) didn't know the first thing about running shoes. He may not be trained to do gait analysis but should have called a more experienced assistant from the outset. Gait analysis should have been offered from the outset especially as I was almost leaning on the machinery put there for that purpose. At the very least he should have asked if I knew what type of shoe I needed or if I had been gait analysed in the past. Not a shop I would go to again.

So, if you are new to this malarky, take heed from more experienced people on this forum and go to a shop that is recommended (people here can recommend stores where they have had good experiences). Running shoes are not cheap and, in light of the fact that the wrong shoes can cause injury, go to a shop that is staffed by people who are runners and know about running. Gait analysis machinery in a general outdoor shop is no indication that the staff know what they are doing.

My apologies for this post being a bit lengthy.

Best wishes.

[Lovefood1984 Graduate]

Thanks for the advice, I'm planning on having gait analysis done next week at the sweatshop in the metrocentre now that I'm up to 6mile runs. I did buy my current pair when I wasn't running (general work outs) from a proper running store and rather than doing gait (which they had the ability to do) they only asked which way my shoes wore, which is why I'm picking sweatshop instead of going back to my original one. I think I'm wearing the right shoes but I really don't want to take the chance!

[Nilzed in reply to Lovefood1984]

Judging based on how your shoes wear is not invalid. It might not be as good as the gait analysis machinery, but it is data. As opposed to just saying advice-like comments based on nothing.

[pot58 Graduate]

Just thought I would say the graduation badge looks good!!!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

wise words of advice to all new runners...so easy to get so wrong....

[no-excuse Graduate]

Good advice Fitmo, people need to be careful. I had great service at Sweatshop when I got my lovely new shoes. They offered a 30 day exchange service too, if for any reason you are not happy with them. So at least you can go off and try them for comfort. I've often wondered how many people have to go back and change them. I suppose they must be pretty confident in their fitting service or they would have too many people go back for exchange. x

[Muffintop Graduate in reply to no-excuse]

I got my shoes at Sweatshop and had to take them back after a few runs because they were feeling too tight across the top of my foot and loosening the laces just meant the laces weren't left long enough to tie properly. They changed them no problem at all, I am 100% happy now and I wouldn't hesitate to go back again when I need a new pair.

[Hidden]

Lots of people recommend Sweatshop. I used Up and Running because it was recommended and also we were short of stores where I used to live. Bedford isn't well served either although there's an U&R in Milton Keynes so not too bad. Thing is, the general shop for 'Outdoors' isn't staffed by runners (as far as I could tell) and it is this situation that could put a new runner buying shoes in a difficult situation. General sports or outdoor shops are not necessarily the best option and it may be worth travelling. I wasn't looking to buy today and also, thanks to more experienced people on this forum, I'd learned a bit about gait analysis and the pitfalls of getting new shoes. I just feel it is worth newcomers asking on this forum for recommendations before spending their hard earned cash. What annoyed me today was that they had the equipment to do gait analysis but didn't offer it, nor did they ask any questions as to what I might need. Disgraceful.

[ufon]

Thanks for the advice Fitmo, and congrats on that graduation badge!

[ZoomZoom Graduate]

Ah, so how was your shop on Riverfied Drive ?

[Hidden in reply to ZoomZoom]

Basically, the same as a shop in any other Tesco Store. Are you somewhere near this area then?

[johncw]

Welcome advice Fitmo. I'm wearing general trainers at the moment but will need to upgrade I suspect.

And very well done on the graduation.

[Hidden in reply to johncw]

Hi John, Lots of people get by for several weeks with general trainers. It's only through forums like this that they start to learn (as I did) that proper running shoes are essential if they are going to stick at it and do the longer runs. I bought my shoes last year (the first time I tried C25K) at week 2. I gave up at Week 3 due to hassles from villagers where I lived at the time but re-started this year. I went to Up and Running in Swansea (last year) and they spent a good 45 minutes making sure I got the right shoes. I felt it was worth the money the shoes cost me as I've never had any problems with them. Thanks for your comment re the graduation. Progress you are making I daresay you will be graduating in a few weeks.

[GoogleMe Graduate]

I do feel that gait analysis may be of limited benefit. I'd never run on a treadmill before and won't be in any hurry to run on one ever again. It was such a weird experience I have no idea whether my running style on that was anything like the way I run usually. But certainly the indications from the gait analysis and from looking at how my shoes wear were completely opposite.

I did get a lot out of going to Sweatshop and felt they were very respectful and gave me a lot of time (there were a few members of staff around who I suspect would not have been as competent - but I think they may have known their limits and passed me on) I also discovered what those extra holes are that no-one ever seems to use and how to use them, which has been very helpful. But they didn't get it right first time... the first pair were truly terrible for me (my knees knocked!), the pair I swapped them for are bliss.

[Hidden in reply to GoogleMe]

I guess it's often pot luck with who you get when you go to buy shoes. I've run on a treadmill (for the gait analysis) and it's certainly a lot easier so could possibly give a false impression. However, I was also running around the shop (Up and Running) in the shoes I preferred and was told I could go for a run down the street and back if I wanted to. The thing that annoyed me so much yesterday at the other shop is that I was given 'advice' about a particular shoe he was trying to sell me (in the £75 bracket) without having any idea of my needs or asking any questions in this respect, in addition to the fact that I merely said I was browsing and I hadn't actually asked him for any advice. Also, of course, the fact that I was standing right beside the gait analysis equipment at the time. Best wishes.

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Hidden]

You are absolutely right to flag up the problems. I feel very cautious about going to places like Sports Direct where the vast majority of the staff are on zero hours contracts.

The funny thing about Sweatshop was that I was talking to another runner but one who would not dream of running off road - so despite being middle aged and overweight, he seemed to think I was more intrepid than him.

Oh and here's a tip I don't think most people will need (but I think I did).... don't go shopping for running shoes wearing a maxi length dress....

[ChrisL Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

...especially if you are a bloke.