Advice on running shoes for a child?

[BandX]

I am running with my very slender but not very fit 9 year old (although improving) and she is currently running in her knockabout trainers (we will do W6R3 tomorrow!) I have promised her some new running shoes and she is keen. Can anyone recommend a good place where they will do a proper fit (she has very obvious pronation) for a child? I am based in Kent but visit Somerset a lot! NB this forum is excellent and so supportive, thank you all.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

There is a link in the guide to a post about shoes, which will give you basic information. Get a gait analysis done.

Enjoy your journey.

[BandX Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you so much for this and for the way you look after the community. I'll check it out. We've just done the first 25 minute run (R3W6) and all is great!

[nowster Graduate]

For a kid you really want to be looking at shoes with an adequately sized toe box. Lots of us have squished up little toes due to inappropriately shaped shoes during our childhood.

It might be useful to contact an NHS podiatrist/biomechanics department through your GP if you're concerned about her flat-footedness.

Encouraging her to go barefoot indoors (when appropriate) will help strengthen the calf muscles which will help a little with the pronation.

Then when she's older she can choose to ruin her feet with fancy shoes. 🤣

[BandX Graduate in reply to nowster]

Many thanks for this great advice, I need to take her anyway as she is a tiptoe walker when excited about something or just forgets to put her heels on the ground! The price I pay for her start-rite shoes, she better not ruin her feet!