Aussie210K - Rebooted and now upgraded...

G'day folks,

Well, about to catch up on all things Healthunlocked this evening, but after a BBQ-side chat with some mates I was convinced that I should get a proper gait analysis done just to be sure the shoes I was running in weren't contributing somewhat to the issues I've been having with my knees... (as an update they are a little sore today but nothing like a week ago - I'm ready to run tomorrow!).

There is a Sweatshop down the road a few miles so I headed there this morning in my running gear ready for the "sales chat". Nothing could be further from the truth. The guys and girls there were great and I probably spent about 45-60 minutes with them running through arch heights, running styles and trying loads of different shoes out on their treadmills...

It turns out (and we went through all this on the videos) that I have been running in an under-pronate to neutral shoe whereas I tend to over-pronate a little bit (ie. my feet roll in slightly). This was very obvious on the video and was much more pronounced on the left leg. Without prompting, the guy in the store said "after a while you might find you end up with sore knees on the left leg as it's correcting a lot more than the right leg"... wow... only then did I mention the issues I'd had...

I know it's no replacement for stretching and strengthening but I now own some shoes that are more closely matched to my running style. They didn't push the expensive (relative of course) shoes on me and purposely went for the shoes on sale and let me run in them as long as I wanted on the treadmills and videoing the results. If I don't like them for any reason I can return them at any time in the next 30 days (even if I run in them!) which is fantastic. There was a sale on tops as well so I picked up 2 more running tops..

I can highly recommend the guys and girls at Sweatshop. They know their stuff and they took a lot of time to explain things and make sure I had the right gear. Mrs Aussie even got fitted for a sports bra (I'll have her out there soon) and Sweatshop asked me to join their running club too...

Let's hope these at least "help" these poor old knees... I feel so much better knowing I've had the gait analysis done, really interesting to see how your legs/knees really move when you run...

Happy running folks!

[lizziebeth57 Graduate]

Definitely worth the time and money - plus the look pretty cool

Sweatshop are getting a pretty good write up on here, think I will go there next time too.

[paul2014 Graduate]

Great to hear you may have got to the bottom of your sore knee issue. Only time will tell of course but the day I ran in my new running shoes (after gait analysis etc) I was amazed at the difference they made. Good luck

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Ooh new shoes! Hope they solve the problem with you knees. Look as though they match your graduation t shirt too!

[AncientMum Graduate]

Glad the knees are on the mend Aussie - mine have come out in sympathy now. The Sweatshop people are fab aren't they! Happy running in your new shoes. There'll be no stopping you now!

[TurboTortoise Graduate]

Lovely shoes! I do hope you get your knee sorted, sounds the pronation business might well be the answer. I'm guessing you went to Sweatshop Teddington - they are lovely there and so helpful and knowledgeable.

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Thank TT - yeah, it was the store in Teddington. I'm just back from a "cheeky 5K" this morning. Managed it in 31:51 and the knees seemed to stand up pretty well. I haven't come back from that run (which is a decent pace for me) with aching knees and legs so I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that something as simple (yet as fundamental) as changing shoes to suit my style may just help....

So happy to be back out there and nice to know I can still knock out a 5K...