Shoe Porn, Gait Analysis & A Little Sermon For You

[90ldfinch]

Hello all- shiny new kit!

Saucony Ride 8 in Midnight_Black_Orange - comparatively muted, eh?

As I'm starting to (slowly) rack up the road mileage, I thought I'd better get some "proper" footwear.

Oh my, I'm so glad I did. I'll be strutting around the Parkrun tomorrow.

Went for gait analysis at a running shop (Alpha Sports, Lichfield).

It was the first time I've used a treadmill- eek! props to those of us that use them- it was a right palaver. I somehow didn't fall off, but I did come close several times <facepalm>.

Anyway, the whole process was really interesting. The upshot for me is that my left leg is "normal" and my right foot rolls inward/pronates. It was a shock to see it in replay, because you can clearly see my ankle turning in, causing the rest of my leg to push outwards, and cause my right hip to be pushed out of alignment. It looked awful.

Clearly running like that, in inappropriate shoes, is a disaster waiting to happen.

I had a right old chinwag with the boss, Dave. Turns out he used to go running on the same streets as me- small world, eh?

I just wish I'd done this at the start of C25K. I know there is some talk in the world of running, that gait analysis is a waste of time, and you should just wear "comfortable" shoes. If I followed that advice, I think I'd end up on the IC for a long, long time.

It's a valuable tool, why not take advantage of it?

So, if I may proffer two bits of advice:

1. Get your gait analysed. ASAP.

2. Support your local running store -they are hugely passionate about running, training, and customer service. They are not like Mike Ashley.

Here endeth the sermon- have a great weekend

[stecal Graduate]

Nice shoes your the same as I was when I got mine and my hip problem has since gone, plus I also found it weird running on a treadmill glad I don't have to regularly good luck at parkrun tomorrow.

Steve

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Nice colour on those shoes.

[davelinks Graduate]

Nice shoes! were you having a problem with what you were wearing then? getting aches & pains? The wife had a gait analysis done last week for new shoe's as her treat, not because of a problem and found she pronates slightly but not enough to warrant support shoe's, so she stays neutral..

[90ldfinch Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Thanks Dave. I wasn't having any particular problem. I bought some trail-running shoes at the start of C25K, because I only planned to run on grass/trails- I wasn't keen on pavement running.

That lasted for 2 weeks, and I switched to pavement running. The trail shoes just felt like they weren't providing enough cushioning. In retrospect, they definitely weren't.

[davelinks Graduate in reply to 90ldfinch]

Ah, trail shoe's, yes I know what you mean about cushioning finchy, I got a pair of those specifically just for muddy Parkrun's, would never use them on the road.

Think you'll find a big difference with those road shoes tomorrow, (l take it you know how to lace up using the top hole?) let us know how you get on..😊

[90ldfinch Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Yes, handily there was a post here recently about lace locking.

[Ullyrunner Graduate]

Ooh new shoes! Lovely!

I hope they give you wings!

[90ldfinch Graduate in reply to Ullyrunner]

Haha! Thanks Ully- I wish

[Noaky12 Graduate]

Loverly!! I hope they bring you miles of happy running together ☺x

[poppypug Graduate]

Cor !! Look at those babies !

Nice one Finchy, Show those beauties off tomorrow at parkrun .

Good Luck ! xxx

[sparky66 Graduate]

Nice shoes enjoy parkrun tomorrow

[yatesco Graduate]

I can only say 'vibrams' :-).

[90ldfinch Graduate in reply to yatesco]

There is something deeply unsettling about Vibrams, yatesco

[yatesco Graduate in reply to 90ldfinch]

Yep, that would be the awful, awful smell. Dead rotting corpses that lie in the bottom of a stagnant pond turn their nose up.

[90ldfinch Graduate in reply to yatesco]

I understand putting gloves on fingers, but there's something wrong with splaying your toes into individual pockets.

Having said that, the guy who did the gait analysis, has lots of referrals from private & NHS docs, and from the local army barracks.

He was saying that foreign soldiers in the British army from Fiji(?)- some Commonwealth country- my memory's already fading- are the only people he has seen with feet-shaped-feet because as kids they either run around barefoot or in simple sandals. All westerners have shoe-shaped-feet - their feet have been damaged by ill-fitting shoes when they're young.

So, I can sort of see the logic behind Vibrams (and barefoot running) but....

[AncientMum Graduate]

Hope you and your lovely new shoes are very happy together

[misswobble Graduate]

No deffo not Mike (five bellies) Ashley ☺ They have a dedicated gait analysis suite at his main branch though cos I've seen it with my own eyes 👀

Love the shoes! Very tasteful, restrained colour 😊 I have Saucony kinvara which are very light and good for races. I am after a pair of their Zealots for training runs

Have fun in them. Vrooooooooooom! ☺

[90ldfinch Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Ooh misswobble - training and racing shoes. <wallet gives me sidelong glance>.

[PippiRuns]

Very nice! And good that you got the gait analysis done! Is your "normal" foot wearing a "pronation shoe" now or?

[90ldfinch Graduate in reply to PippiRuns]

Yes, Iben. my left foot (although the gait is good) has a high arch, so it fits brilliantly.

[PippiRuns in reply to 90ldfinch]

Perfect then!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Ooooooh lovely!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Great advice and I just love the orange bottoms!!!

[90ldfinch Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

Thanks Juju- By happy coincidence, they coordinate with my favourite jogging bottoms- happy days

[Feelingsilly]

Totally agree, have had none of the sore ankles and knees since I got gait analysis and shiny new proper shoes 😀

[boptillyoudrop49 Graduate]

Ok point taken, will get a gait analysis done, maybe in 2 different stores though just to be sure the analysis is right. I love my shoes though. They are a very dignified hot pink with bright yellow. Please nobody say the word "garish".

[Swnymor Graduate]

Great shoes. I quite fancy shopping somewhere with massive of choice but I've got to echo what everyone says, get that gait analysis done! I went to a local shop (local to my daughter anyway) struggled with the treadmill Got a lovely pair of Brooks, second one that was brought out for me to try and I've just done wk5 run3 with none of the knee pain that has stopped me every time by week 5 for many months! (touch wood, touch wood touch wood!). Now what's the feeling on shoes to match every running kit? (Whats this about matching running kit in any case?!)

[Hidden]

Very nice shoes you will fly in those ☺

[90ldfinch Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Did a Parkrun earlier Hidden - they're super-comfy- but I'm no faster. Maybe I should get a refund

[Mat30 Graduate]

Great Shoes!!!!!

[misswobble Graduate]

There's also trail running shoes Oldfinch😊 Deffo have to have some of those. I don't drink or smoke, so running shoes are my only vice☺

[Madge50 Graduate]

Lovely shoes! I got another pair recently, did the treadmill thing, nearly flew off the back! Had to laugh, it had been left on an automatic setting to speed up, 😄, Or it was a cruel trick by the shop assistant to see if I'd progressed any further than my last pair, ha ha!

Mx

[CentralPark Graduate]

OOOOOh how appropriate...it's my right hip that gives me gip after my run...and in truth I'm wondering at this time if it would actually let me make it to that 8K I need...so after reading your post I'm going to find out where my nearest gait analyist place is....thanks very much for the interesting, informative and hopefully hip-saving post