Gait analysis - First step on the road to recovery 😍🏃🏻‍♀️🐌

[owmeknees]

Took everyone’s advice and went for gait analysis today. It was a really positive experience. I was so nervous; middle aged, overweight woman buying running shoes! Unthinkable! The chap who served me couldn’t have been lovelier though and didn’t bat an eyelid. First time on a treadmill for me too! Fortunately my visions of flying off it across the shop floor turned out to be unfounded! 😂

Anyway, the film showed one foot overpronates so these Brooks shoes with cushion support were recommended. Not going to lie, it seemed like a lot of money to part with - hopefully it’s money well spent. 💰 To be fair, I was shown some cheaper models but I’d already fallen in love with these! 😍😍😍 I didn’t ever really celebrate after I graduated so I’m considering these a belated graduation present.

Now all I have to do is get my gammy leg right again so I can run in them! Spoke to a physio friend over the weekend who thinks my hip is the problem rather than the actual thigh. She recommended some strengthen exercises and just walking for a while. Going to go for a swim tomorrow too. If there’s no improvement within another week I will take further professional advice.

In the meantime I wore the shoes to do the ironing! It’s not glamorous and what I’d want, (which is to run in them!) but I’ve got to break them in somehow. 😂

Thanks to everyone for the advice and support. Hope I get off IC soon. 👍

[Ang33333 Graduate]

Lovely new runners!! My experience of gait analysis was Just like yours. They couldn't have been more helpful and there was no pressure to buy the most expensive runners which of course I did ha ha! Run well in them!😎😎

[owmeknees in reply to Ang33333]

Ha! Yes me too! The other pairs I was shown were a bit wishy washy and I want something where people can see me coming - not that they can really miss me 😂 but I do tend to wear all black, (it’s meant to be slimming!😂) so it’s nice to have jazzy shoes 👍😊

[Ang33333 Graduate in reply to owmeknees]

All my running stuff is mostly black apart from my runners too! 😎

[Marvo69 Graduate]

Mend soon! Cool boots 😎

[owmeknees in reply to Marvo69]

Thanks! 👍😊

[QueenTea Graduate]

I’m a big fan of Brooks trainers - they are so comfy. When I bought mine I asked them to check prices online & they matched the cheaper price! I’ve not yet been on a post grad run due to injury so I share your frustration. I’m also a middle aged overweight woman but we’re now also both runners 🏃🏻‍♀️. Hope your injury improves & you get out there in your snazzy new trainers. 🙂

[owmeknees in reply to QueenTea]

Right back at you QueenTea! 🙌 👍😊

[Fabulous450 Graduate in reply to QueenTea]

I haven’t had an injury and do hope I can keep it that way, but as I guess I’m middle aged (or am I? 🤷🏽‍♀️) there’s no guarantees.

What I love so much is that we women are out there in all different shapes and sizes and yes, we can run at any age! I have seen so many women running and walking and I smile to myself thinking now there’s a woman who’s probably decided “this is for me”!! Nice!

Can’t wait to hear both of you ladies are back out on the run again! Look after yourselves in the meantime! ❤️

[QueenTea Graduate in reply to Fabulous450]

Thank you Fabulous! I’m definitely middle aged (56), but feeling pretty good apart from thigh injury. I want to be as fit & healthy as possible going into my 60s. Like you, I love seeing all us women, in all our different guises, out there getting fit. Lovely to see you out there smashing it & being fabulous xx

[Fabulous450 Graduate in reply to QueenTea]

Yeees!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽! Loud and proud! We are runners!! 😁😁❤️

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to Fabulous450]

And I guess I’m considered by others as old at 60 but I’m feeling very young now.

[owmeknees in reply to Dexy5]

I’m 47 but age is just a number as they say! 👍

[Fabulous450 Graduate in reply to owmeknees]

Sure is and we’re proving it! 😁❤️

[Fabulous450 Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

Dead right Dexy! ❤️

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Wooh nice owmeknees! It’s great that your well prepared to get back out there in such style!! Wishing you a speedy recovery! Can’t wait to hear how they feel when your off IC! Big hug! ❤️

[owmeknees in reply to Fabulous450]

Thanks Fabulous! 🤗 I can’t wait to get going again 👍

[_SimonT_ Graduate]

Great runners! I love my Brooks. Hadn’t even heard of them before started running. If you do walk for a bit definitely wear them to break them in (although mine didn’t need any breaking in).

Look after yourself! 😀

[owmeknees in reply to _SimonT_]

Thanks Simon, definitely going to have a little walk in them tomorrow. Determined to get this leg going again 💪 😊

[Dexy5 Graduate]

They are lovely owmeknees - another brooks babe! I didn’t have to break mine in at all but as you can’t run yet I don’t blame you wanting to get them on straight away.

[owmeknees in reply to Dexy5]

Brooks babe! I like it! I keep looking at them lovingly....😍 Leg feels stronger every day, not going to rush anything but definitely out for a good walk in them today 👍

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to owmeknees]

Good idea . By the way if you find your heel moves within the shoe there’s a different way of lacing up. Runners lock I think it’s called.

[owmeknees in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy, I’ll keep that in mind 👍

[Robert_IS_a_Runner Graduate]

I'm off to London this morning to have a gait analysis and buy my first running shoes.

So thanks for posting this as a little bit apprehensive about the whole thing!

[owmeknees in reply to Robert_IS_a_Runner]

I was so nervous Robert but honestly, it was a really positive experience. Just remember if they don’t treat you well don’t buy from them - go somewhere else instead. I’m sure you’ll get on marvellously though - let us know later and show us your shoes 👟😊

[Jell6 Graduate]

Good looking trainers 🤩🤩🤩

I hope they do the trick. I am pushing my sister into gait analysis, she starts week 5 next run, I keep telling her if I had had it done at that point, and not after post graduation injury, I probably wouldn't be rehabbing now.😑

[owmeknees in reply to Jell6]

Thanks Jell, can’t wait to try them out properly. Hope you rehabilitate quickly! 🤞😊

[Sybilw Graduate]

I love the idea of ironing shoes (despite the fact I’ve not ironed since 1988!!). Hope you’re off the IC soon.

[owmeknees in reply to Sybilw]

😂 Thank you - hate ironing, try and keep it to a bare minimum.Doing it whilst wearing my new shoes lessened the pain slightly 😂

[RunBrianRun Graduate]

Brooks are great for pronation. You’ll wish you got them earlier. I have 3 pairs!

[owmeknees in reply to RunBrianRun]

Wow! I’m really hoping they do the trick 🤞

[Pete1w Graduate]

I was in the same position as you. It turns out my entire right side is weaker than my left. The pain in my Achilles was due to my hip rather than the ankle. Apparently it is quite common. Check out you tube for exercises that strengthen the right side of your body. I've been advised to do lunges, one leg toe raises and hip curls. I failed 3 times at week 4 due to injury but hopefully now I've had professional help I will complete the program. I've also been told to change my running style and land more on the front of my foot rather than the heel and take shorter strides more often. Hop this helps.

[owmeknees in reply to Pete1w]

That’s really helpful Pete thanks, I will definitely check out those exercises. Good luck with the rest of the program 👍😊

[Pete1w Graduate in reply to owmeknees]

Out of interest which shop did you have your gait analysis?

[owmeknees in reply to Pete1w]

I went to an independent - Natterjack Running in Liverpool, I think there’s one on the Wirral too. 👍

[Pete1w Graduate in reply to owmeknees]

Well I'm in Sheffield so maybe that's a bit far to travel 😁 I ask because I had my gait analysis at a store here and I didn't find them particularly helpful.

[owmeknees in reply to Pete1w]

That’s a shame you had a poor experience. If there’s a next time I hope it’s better 🤞

[Dexy5 Graduate in reply to Pete1w]

Pete1w, I would recommend using a local independent used by running clubs in your area. They usually have better trained staff. Also, if you do end up with brooks, the manufacturer will take returns if you don’t like them within 30 days.

[Pete1w Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

I went to up and running. Not sure if it's an independent but I wasn't overly impressed with how they analysed my gait. It took about 2 minutes, told me everything was fine and that was it. Maybe I have perfect gait??????

[owmeknees in reply to Pete1w]

I would maybe try again somewhere else Pete. I was in the shop about 25 minutes and in that time I ran on the treadmill twice in two different pairs of shoes and tried on four different pairs after the analysis over. Had a really good chat with the guy the whole time I was in there. Maybe you have got ‘perfect gait’ but there are shoes for everyone - those of us who are wonky and those who are not! 😂 Good luck!

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Love ‘em. I too had never heard of Brooks before I started running.

My gait analysis experience was similarly great to yours and I ended up with a really comfy pair.

The guy in the shop recommended I wear them “around the house for a few hours to get your feet used to them - they don’t need breaking in but you do”. I guess so we get used to where they grip and hold our feet.

So happy with mine I’ve now bought the same shoe in a different colour way for when I wear the first ones out!

Hope you get to use them in action soon.

[owmeknees in reply to Jay66UK]

Thanks Jay! Just walked 4K in them this morning, they feel great and my leg is on the mend slowly but surely 👍

[Equi-geek Graduate]

Nice shoe Knees! Interesting physio comment about the hip being the source of thigh pain - I’l bear that in mind if mine doesn’t improve as it should! I’m have a week of repair before cracking on with consolidation and then big school towards 10k 😁

[owmeknees in reply to Equi-geek]

Thanks Equi-geek! Good luck in big school, you’ll be great 👍😊