New member week 2 completed

[Marmiteman]

Just finished run 6 in the rain and wind before the snow fell any advice on karrimore running shoes

[icklegui Graduate]

Karrimor - I've been warned off them and Sports Direct in general. People on the forum have said stay away and also the running shop I went to advised "whatever you do, don't go there" as they said they found a lot of people with injuries coming from having visited Sports Direct and ending up in unsuitable shoes.

[misswobble Graduate in reply to icklegui]

Well I love my Karrimor Tempo shoes that I bought when I first started the programme! 😃 I got trail and road shoes. You’ll need a half size bigger at least. Do try them on before you buy!

They look beautiful too I gave away my road shoes, which looked fine considering i’d Done miles in them and walked the dog in them. I use the trail shoes now for wearing in the house to do core strength exercises. The trail shoes are ok for the price but I got some better ones as my trail is bad and has lots of wooden bridges and slippery bits, and a more specific shoe was called for

For the price they’re good! I live near the dreaded SD Direct and was there a few weeks ago. The staff are fine and hard-working. Some are miserable and not interested Mind you. I bought a pair of Mizuno from them and the guy was clued up. They have several gait analysis machines there and I think the bigger stores will as well The one in Sheffield Meadowhall does. That store has just moved to bigger premises.

If you don’t want to fork out much, and let’s face it who does early on in the programme when you don’t know if you’ll take to it or not, I would get a pair I think there very comfy straight out the box and wide in the toe box which i appreciate Choice of colours too

SD did give me duff info recently about water bottles but I got a full refund and got to keep the two 500 ml bottles

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum.

I have had two pairs of Karrimor trail shoes, which were cheap, comfortable, but not particularly durable. Trail shoes are all neutral, so no need for gait analysis, but do bear in mind that they are not suitable for running on concrete or roads.

Apart from their dubious employment practices, Sports Direct offer cheap sporting goods, but the training of staff is abysmal in my experience. I can guarantee they will suggest Karrimor brand to you, as it is their own brand. As far as I know they do not offer gait analysis, which, again in my opinion, is essential for every new runner, to discover things about your running style that you will never discover any other way. Without gait analysis you are making a shot in the dark when it comes to buying your first pair of running shoes. Far better to go to a specialist running shop and get advice from well trained staff, who are probably runners themselves, even if it costs more. Physio fees soon add up.

[Hidden]

Staff being bullied, sexual discrimination, zero hours contracts, appalling working conditions......Do you really want to give your money to Mike Ashley?

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Try to go to a specialist running shop. I went to Up and Running and had my gait analysed. The staff tend to be runners themselves, are very experiencd and offer all sorts of advice specific to you. Even staff in their warehouse for online sales know what they are talking about. Then, once you know your foot and gait type, you can make informed choices. I had some More Mile Cheviot 3 trail shoes when I began the program, but I was running on roads with them and they grip wasnt good on wet pavements. I was amazed at the difference when I got proper road shoes.

[mrrun Graduate]

Shoes have to be of reasonable quality and fit to purpose regardless of brand or price.

What matters is how a guy in the shop finds something that's good for you. Expert fitting. We often pick wrong and find out later.

A JD Sports guy sold me something that transported me to a physio's table in no time. Wrong type, wrong size, no insoles, no suggestion of any analysis. The shoes looked great and felt comfortable.

Perhaps l should have used them as home slippers instead....

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

We are all so different ,thank goodness, and what is right for one is not right for another

Go get checked out and find what suits you!

[Marmiteman]

Thanks everyone for your information I will now look for an independent to buy new running shoes as my running is all roads or concrete promenade