Before I say anything I want to give HUGE shout-out to Run Venture Running Hub in Devon for being an absolutely awesome local running shop.
And here's why ....
I've been struggling with a niggle in my leg for a few weeks, so much so that I had to force myself not to run at all and rest for a couple of weeks. Had myself a physio/sports massage to help and it made a huge difference but I also thought it best to get a proper Gait Analysis done to check it wasn't my shoes causing the problem.
I was a little nervous because I'm really not in a financial position to buy a new pair right now but I couldn't risk running a marathon in the wrong shoe.
My wife was as sceptical as I was nervous. "How much is this costing?" She asked. I explained it was a free analysis but would likely be a hard sell on trying to persuade me to buy new shoes so I would have to be strong. Afterall, you don't get anything for free!
Or do you....
After careful inspection of my current Brooks Ghost 13s and my previous Brooks Revel 3s along with hundreds of questions about my running, he got me on the treadmill for 5-10 minutes while filming me from different angles.
And then we sat down and chatted through what he had seen.
"Firstly, your shoes are not causing the problem, there's nothing wrong with what you've got and there still plenty of life left in them, so I'm not going to waste your money getting you to buy new trainers" was his opening line to me. Which was a great relief, and slightly surprising.
So how was he gonna get my money in order to make up for the 45minutes of his time?
In short, he wouldn't. He didn't try to sell me anything or suggest I needed to buy anything.
He explained that I over stride and that was where my niggles were coming from. He explained that I wouldn't be able to change my running style within the few weeks leading up to my marathon but he did show me some exercises to do that would help. He also recommended I get in touch with the local uni where they often have free or very cheap sports massage available from their students.
An absolutely honest gentleman, who is also a very knowledgeable physio and passionate runner, prioritising my needs over his sales which was an awesome experience. But that could also be how he gets my money cause I will definitely be going back there again if ever I need to buy anything!
I hope you all find a local run shop near you with such awesome service, knowledgeable staff, and a passion for the sport.
And I can now join the collective voices that say "get a proper Gait Analysis done before buying shoes". It really is so worth it!
Things are hotting up now, eek!
New shoes...🏃🏽♀️🙂
