Well that's been an interesting week!
First time I've ventured into a running shop for over a decade, as I thought it was about time to get my gait analysis done again ... I had it done once before, at a time when I thought I might give running a go. Never really got going as I didn't know what I was doing and was probably trying to go way too fast. Wasn't long after that I broke my ankle (not connected to the running attempts), followed by a herniated disc, and the idea of running just fizzled. But I did have the trainers! As they've only had gym use over the years, I used them throughout C25K and they were fine.
Anyway, gait analysis done, and I was really surprised to discover I no longer over-pronate, and now have a neutral gait - all the ankle rehab seems to have built my ankle strength up correctly. So there's a lesson - even if you've had gait analysis, it's worth a re-check.
Spent the next hour or two in the shop surrounded by zillions of pairs of sale shoes, none of which were quite right for my odd shaped feet! So then we moved on to the "second mortgage" full price ones - and I manage to find the perfect right shoe, but the left is unaccountably digging in. Yes, I've found the only faulty pair in the shop! The pain of the price tag is mitigated slightly by a 10% discount for parkrun, which I promise hand on heart I'm intending to do, so a non-faulty pair is ordered for me.
The day they arrive is my second big first - I actually took them OUTSIDE for a run! I've done the whole programme thus far on the treadmill to protect my ankles and back, but have been building up to getting outside. On advice from my Pilates teacher who has been instrumental in the rehab on both back and ankles, I went right back to W1R1. Actually found it surprisingly tough, I think in part down to the stop start I'm not used to now, but loved being out. Planning to build up by doing R1 from each week outside, alternating with a longer run on the treadmill keeping up my progress there.
Which leads me to my third first, the biggie - I actually ran 5K yesterday, for the first time in my life! Wasn't intending to, but got to the end of the guided run I was doing at 4.2K, and realised I could actually keep going. And given that the previous outdoor run had been a lot less running, I was still within the 10% increase limit for the week. Grinning like a Cheshire cat now 😀, cos 5K is what was on the goals list.
On the subject of buying shoes..............!
Damn nikes
New shoes for week 6! Yay! 
Should've got a gait analysis done before I got trainers!
