Running shoes

[proby24]

A belated Merry Christmas everyone.

i have a general question regarding running shoes. I have long earmarked 2020 as my marathon year. It will be my first real Marathon and possibly my last. I am not a great runner but have some half marathons and similar runs under my belt from my 30s, almost a decade ago. Last year I was in the habit of walking a marathon once every couple of months. I know this is going to be hard and my target is to finish. The race is Berlin in late September.

Since my last real running was a decade ago and I just slipped on my Trainers and ran as far as I could each day, I know things have moved on quite a bit. Looking for advice on shoes, especially any recommendations on specialists in London who can help with fitting the right shoes. I have a history of ACL surgeries on both knees and I want to look after them at 42!

[Pitch3110]

And likewise squire.

Well sounds like 2020 is going to be a great year and good luck. There is a TZ running thread and certainly worth popping over for a read, there are some great and experienced runners posting.

2019 has seen me back running after a few years off and joining a club which has been great. Shoes ....... lots said about gait analysis but one look at my shoes tells me exactly what I am doing. This year I have found myself migrating to Nike, they have a great line up of footwear to suit every pocket. If you sign up to their app there are always great discount codes and I bagged some Vaporfly Next% with 20% off. Plus there is a no quibble 30 day money back if you don’t like any purchase. I could not recommend the Next% enough, believe the hype, they are that good.

Good luck again and have fun.

Pitch

[Martylaa]

I run about 4/5 times a week, used to suffer from shin splints, by far the best running shoes i've ever had are the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35's, I have 2 pairs, one for home and one for when I go back to work, they are better than any trainer some sports shop has recommended after studying how I run on videos/computers etc etc...

Serious read up on them, I've also had the vapourfly mentioned (actually only wore them a few times) and they aren't a patch on the Air Zoom Pegasus 35's...

[Alasdairmc]

I find it dangerous to focus on a specific shoe style or brand. I’ve had two pairs of the same type of shoe and they’ve felt completely different - I bought the second set blind and they were nothing like the first to run in. At the moment I’ve got a cheapie set of Adidas from Sports Direct as I didn’t ever think I’d get back into running, but now that I’ve committed again I’ll get something fitted properly at a running shop.

[pacifichrono]

I urge you to at least try on a pair or two of Hoka One Ones. Their cushioning is unsurpassed and make great trainers for piling on distance without killing your feet, knees, or hips.

[Andrzej]

Go to a proper running shop and they will do a simple gait analysis linked between their running machine and computer (charge should be £15), which they will not make if you then buy a pair of shoes. I think that any shoes are very personal, and I now like Asics - though for years I ran in the early iterations of Nike Pegasus. Lots of friends swear by Altra, I tried 2 pairs, but gave up as I did not find them long lasting.

[SydR]

^^^^ This in spades.

Running shoes are a very personal thing and what suits me, for example, in unlikely to suit you.

[Wilson_smyth]

^^^^ This in spades.

Running shoes are a very personal thing and what suits me, for example, in unlikely to suit you.

Get your gait analysis done and purchase in a specialized running store.

Running is one of those things that, because it's so easy to stsrt running, it's also very easy to stsrt off "on the wrong foot" as it were.

E.g your knees are designed to take your weight and then a lot more besides. When running, which is a mini jump each stride, you're actually putting 4+ times your body weight on your joints. They can handle that quite a few times, but doing it a few thousand times a day, day in day out increases odds of cumulative damage, getting to a far worse point than if you had one catastrophic injury.

I have a physio who says it's much easier to treat weight lifter injuries as usually, the injury happens, hurts and the person immediately stops and seeks help because it hurts, but with runners, each stride, doing a tiny bit of damage is not that sore so the runner just runs through the pain building up to a much worse injury.

At least if you have your gait analysis done and are wearing the correct shoes, you minimize the joint strain and the cumulative damage.

[proby24]

Many thanks everyone, this is exactly the advice I was after. I am more than happy to pay a few quid for a gait analysis, especially since I have never had this done. Being in central London I am lucky to have quite a few running specialists close by, just wondering if anyone had any particular recommendation on shops?


Alex

[SydR]

Do you have any health insurance, or other memberships, that may entitle you do discounts?

I know Vitality Heath give up to 50% discounts at Runners Needs for example.

[Ivan Drago]

Do you have any health insurance, or other memberships, that may entitle you do discounts?

I know Vitality Heath give up to 50% discounts at Runners Needs for example.

I've just had a letter through from vitality saying the 50% is being cut to 25% from mid Jan.

Regarding shoes I've always had problems with Nike they make the side of my foot ache after about 10 mins.

I'm now in Saxony ( Ride ISO ) and no pain.j

Also brooks do a money back if they don't the shoes don't agree with you after 30 days.

[SydR]

I started out in Asics which didn’t work for me and moved to Brooks. Their 19 version of the shoe I buy is somewhat different from the 15 & 18 versions I have.

Added to that a recent(ish) pelvis fracture I’ll be heading off for another gait analysis when I get back running.

[Andrzej]

Many thanks everyone, this is exactly the advice I was after. I am more than happy to pay a few quid for a gait analysis, especially since I have never had this done. Being in central London I am lucky to have quite a few running specialists close by, just wondering if anyone had any particular recommendation on shops?

Alex

Have mine done at Runners World in Eastcote, the other branches also have the same equipment. Our tri club members have also benefited from the services of The Running School in Acton - but their cost is the same as several pairs of shoes!

[Dave E]

As everyone else has said, get into a shop, get looked at at try a few pairs on. Also be aware that shoes change from year to year. I started out with a pair of Asics, but when I wore those out and went to get a new pair, the more recent Asics just didn't feel right. Ended up in a pair of Brooks which I never quite gelled with, but then went to a pair of Mizuno Wave Riders about 5 months ago which I'm very happy with. (I'm not a serious runner, I'm out about 3-4 times a week, longest distance has been 10 miles, more usually 5k or 10k.)

[MB2]

Many thanks everyone, this is exactly the advice I was after. I am more than happy to pay a few quid for a gait analysis, especially since I have never had this done. Being in central London I am lucky to have quite a few running specialists close by, just wondering if anyone had any particular recommendation on shops?


Alex

Profeet are really good and don't charge a crazy amount for their shoes - although you do pay for their time.

I usually get fitted at a running shop and buy a pair of shoes from them and then go home and buy the same/closest on-line as a 2nd pair to alternate - you can often pick up last years colours etc. at a bargain price and if you are marathon training you will blow through 2 pairs or more quickly enough.

[Waxman]

For neutral gait (cushioned shoe) I’ve had ASICS gel nimbus for the last 5 or 6 iterations.
Tried a few other cheaper models from ASICS and other brands but find you get what you pay for on the running shoe front.

[pacifichrono]

I used to swear by the Asics Nimbus, through about eight generations, but the last couple have not been as cushioned as in the past.

[Boss13]

Asics Gel Kayano for me. No other works or feels as good for me personally. Plenty cushion. Recently upgraded to new model but yet to run in them. I have been running in c. 5 year old model and love them.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

[gregwhitehouse]

I went to a running shop years ago and found Brooks Adrenaline were really good. However, I'm now a convert to barefoot trainers and use Merrell trail gloves or vapour gloves.

I'm 1.9m and over 100kg and with cushioned shoes I still got knee pain, but it has gone with barefoot shoes as they force me to address my technique rather than use shoes to compensate

[demonloop]

Asics Gel Kayano for me. No other works or feels as good for me personally. Plenty cushion. Recently upgraded to new model but yet to run in them. I have been running in c. 5 year old model and love them.

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used these for a while too, but eventually went back to Adidas Boost (various models) and find them tough to beat. Made the ASICS feel a lot former under foot. They’re also the grippiest shoes I’ve ever worn, which is useful for me anyway.

[djacks42]

Have a gander over at www.solereview.com

I've had alot of the ASICS range but really like the Saucony ISO Guide now. Obviously, trying them on at a shop is best, but that website is especially good at explaining the differences between model years (part of the reason I switched away from ASICS).

[Alasdairmc]

I just noticed that Run and Become have a shop in London. Their Edinburgh store is excellent, so hopefully the same applies to their London one.

[LRB255]

Have a gander over at www.solereview.com

I've had alot of the ASICS range but really like the Saucony ISO Guide now. Obviously, trying them on at a shop is best, but that website is especially good at explaining the differences between model years (part of the reason I switched away from ASICS).

👍 second Saucony guide

[ahandle]

I ran Berlin in 2019, you will love it, the atmosphere is great. Good luck!

As for the shoes, think most have covered it here already, go to your local proper running shop to get fitted.

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[Theboydonald]

I ran Berlin in 2019, you will love it, the atmosphere is great. Good luck!

As for the shoes, think most have covered it here already, go to your local proper running shop to get fitted.

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Not if you are trying to cross the road with 30 school kids in tow to get to a museum!

As already said; find out what kind of shoes you need!