Could I have some advice on running shoes please?

[Bigfatsal]

I'm at Week 5 now and running in a cheap pair of running shoes from Decathlon, they feel great, very comfortable and seem to suit my feet well. I would like to get a second pair for those times when the originals are still soaking wet. The ones I bought are no longer available so I have to get a different pair and I got to thinking, should I go for a more 'professional' pair now? It seems I could spend anything from £20 to several hundred :O. Just interested in your thoughts please

[AnneDroid Graduate]

1) If you do get new shoes, you must post a photo of them on this forum. It's the law.

2) How long is a piece of string? As you say, it's £20 to several hundred. If you aren't too worried about money, many running shops will analyze your gait and suggest which shoes would be best for your feet. The trouble is that some of their shoes will be quite expensive. But then, they're a real investment. Supposing you ran three times a week for thirty weeks. If you spent £90 on shoes that would only be £1 per run, which might be seen as good value if they were the right shoes and were preventing injury. A cheaper alternative which some people go for is to get their gait analysed in the shop, have some shoes recommended, then go off without buying any and look for them cheaper online. Of course, this doesn't help high streets very much.

I was lucky with the New Balance shoes I bought online because they were in a sale (before I knew anything about anything!) because they have been very comfortable and I've remained injury free. Unfortunately they're no longer available so I can't just buy another pair.

3) Another thing to think of if you would like to have two pairs of running shoes is that you might like to have one pair be trail running shoes. Unless all your running is on road, trail running shoes are a good thing to have as they have better grip. And if you were road running but your road running shoes were still wet, you can wear trail running shoes on the road too.

[Bigfatsal Graduate in reply to AnneDroid]

Phew! I didn't know about that law! I am a decent, law abiding citizen and I could have ended up in prison

I don't have oodles of money to spare but I don't mind spending enough to get a decent pair if, as you've said, they might help prevent injury. I think I probably need to find a running shop don't I?

The ones I have now are meant to be trail running ones and I would definitely have those again, most of my running is off road not least because it's more fun for the dogs

Thank you for the food for thought xx

[misswobble Graduate]

They might well be still available! Some googling could turn some up 🙂

I leave no stone unturned in my quest to find kinvara 5s 😀

I just bought some new trail shoes, or to be precise, my husband did 😀 You could take yourself off to a proper running shop as they are experts and will know all there is to know about suiting runners with shoes. Trying them on is important in the first instance

Have a look online for the decathlon shoes though if you love them and they suit your feet 😀 What are they?

[Bigfatsal Graduate in reply to misswobble]

It is like a foreign language to me, makes of horse stuff is second nature to me, running is like a parallel universe I had no idea existed lol. My old ones are just Decathlon own brand trail running shoes, I can't see them on their website any more, I will try good old fleabay though. How do I find a good reliable running shop? How do I know if they are knowledgeable and so on? I am close to Manchester/Liverpool/StHelens/ Warrington if that helps

[orchards Graduate in reply to Bigfatsal]

If you're ok with the numerous different brands of horse stuff you'll soon find your way round running equipment too. Just as with jodhpurs/breeches you have to decide whether the Kadence and Shires (lower)end of the spectrum will do the job or whether you have to have Pikeur, you can look around at running things too. For the Kadence end with clothing I strongly recommend taking a look in Aldi - they have some amazing bargains sometimes. For a good place for shoes go in, have a look at their range, see if they will do gait analysis without obligation - good indicators of how good the shop is likely to be.

[Bigfatsal Graduate in reply to orchards]

Thanks, that's handy to know! I've had some great horsey clothing from Aldi too so will bear that in mind! I'm definitely not a Pikeur kinda girl but I do like things that last! xx

[Janglyshe Graduate in reply to Bigfatsal]

Natterjack in Liverpool were helpful with me. Asics - gel. They do gait analysis. There is Sweatshop near Chorley with good staff and gait analysis. They persuaded me to go for expensive shoes Brooks Transcend which sadly only lasted 4 months. There is DW and they do gait analysis as does Sport Direct. Plenty in the area.

[Bigfatsal Graduate in reply to Janglyshe]

Thank you for that recommendation, I didn't know Sports Direct did gait analysis either! Time to start looking I think

[misswobble Graduate]

I am sure being near Manchester/Liverpool means you are better off than most Running shop wise. These shops will be on google and usually show up with a customer rating, which would be a good guide. Folks here might have first hand experience to impart 😀 These shops are staffed by runners and trainee physio's and such like so they know what they are doing. It's worth doing a bit of research. On the running shop websites they have a page with all their staff running credentials on etc, many are race sponsors/organisers too so,know running inside out. They pitch up,at race meets with bargain shoes too. If you are near a race venue you could bag a bargain

[Bigfatsal Graduate in reply to misswobble]

Oooh great, I will have a google and see what is near me. I think gait analysis might be a good thing too, I plan to keep on running so I will try and get the perfect shoes for me. Thank you!

[GoogleMe Graduate in reply to Bigfatsal]

If you are intending to buy trail running shoes (and I'm right behind that decision!), then gait analysis, apparently, does not inform the choice of shoe in the way that it would for road shoes.

I'd also consider going for minimalist trails. I like to be able to feel the ground. Plenty to choose from.

[Bigfatsal Graduate in reply to GoogleMe]

Thank you, I think I definitely want trail running shoes, I feel much more self conscious running on the roads, I like to be able to enjoy the countryside too! I will look at minimalist trails, they sound good!

[Qscout Graduate]

Depending on your ethics, gait professional advice from a good sportshop then shop around.

My wife got shown a perfect pair for her running style, for only £120. While in the shop I did a quick internet search and found she could get them somewhere else online for £80. Great she thought I'll do that. She then did her own internet search and found the exact same pair from an online retailer that had them in children's sizes, she is blessed with dainty feet. She only paid £29.

Okay so she got lucky with shoe sizes but the point is there, shop around.

[Bigfatsal Graduate in reply to Qscout]

Great, thank you, what a great bargain! I am sadly not blessed with tiny feet

[davelinks Graduate]

Slinky had a gait analysis done and found she has a neutral gait and needed a size bigger size 7, so instead of paying £80 there, she now knew what to get so went to Sportsdirect.com and bought a pair of Karrimor tempo3 control at half price £35, still pleased with them..

Whether you're running in regular running shoes or trail running shoes, the most important factor is whether they're the right shoes for your foot and running gait. Some runners need more support and motion control than others, based on the way they run. Running in the wrong shoes can lead to discomfort while running and possible injuries.

Trail Running Shoes vs. Road Running Shoes

The main difference between trail running shoes and road running shoes is that the trail shoes are usually made with thicker materials. They're usually heavier and have sturdier than regular road running shoes, so you're less likely to bruise your soles and toes, or tweak your ankle.

Trail running shoes are generally fine to wear when running on the roads. However, if you're doing faster workouts such as tempo runs or interval workouts, you may feel more comfortable (and faster) in a lighter shoe..😊

[Bigfatsal Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Thank you! That is really helpful! I do run off road mostly and often on less than perfect tracks so good support is very important to me, I am not the most agile of runners!!

[Madge50 Graduate]

Loads of great advice here, I would also add that a key factor is comfort....my fave shoes are like slippers...and that's what swung it for me....I did do the gait analysis thing, but it does seem to be falling out of fashion a bit.....at the moment. There's no harm in giving it a go....although be aware some shops charge for the gait analysis if you don't buy shoes on that visit....🤔

Good luck, happy shopping! Oh and don't forget the picture!

Mx

[Bigfatsal Graduate in reply to Madge50]

Thank you, comfort is really important to me, my feet will complain bitterly if I wear anything less than comfortable!. I will definitely remember the picture too!

[Rosie958 Graduate]

I went for gait analysis a few weeks ago and would definitely recommend it. They matched me up with a fab pair of running shoes which I now love! It's also worth trying on pairs before buying, as sizes can vary a lot depending on the brand, and compared to your "street" shoes. For example, I normally take a size 6, but my running shoes are a 7.5!!

[Bigfatsal Graduate in reply to Rosie958]

That's good to know, shoes of any description are a minefield with variations in fit and size so specialised ones have to be even more complicated!