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And probably a bit of walking too when my lungs collapse due to being less fit than Rick Waller. Me and Mrs M are starting to do a bit of jogging to get fit and hopefully compete in a bit of a local fun run thingy. Unfortunately I dont think I will be able to run very far in Vans or SPD shoes so I need some running shoes.
Does anybody have any idea where I can get some pretty cheap but ok trainers from and any recommended models? I don't want to spend much as they will only get used for an hour a week.
Thanks.
Decathalon for uber cheap, however I would advise you spend a reasoniable amount (£50+) otherwide you will get some that don't fit/are uncomfortable and then you will hate running even more!
Even if you're only using them once a week i'd still get some proper running shoes and get them fitted properly at a running shop. Not worth the risk of injury imho.
Bear in mind as well that once you have been a few times you might actually find you like it and start doing it more often (running that is) and trust me it's worth buying a decent set of shoes to avoid injury. I'm only talking £80 here even when going to a gait analysis place.
If your planning to run off-road forget all that gait analysis stuff though. Every foot fall will be at a different angle to that of a treadmill.
Out of interest has anyone come across any non manufacturer sponsored research that demonstrates motion control/stability shoes reduce runner injury?
Before you buy running shoes read this
[url=
Truth[/url]
[url=
DENVERPOST.COM Running[/url]
I run in Vibram Five Fingers, no problems, and never heel strike.
As for non manufacturer sponsored research that demonstrates motion control/stability shoes reduce runner injury?
Not likely too imo, industry is worth billions, and they are selling a product, much like the industry/magazines tell us we all 5" travel on our bikes front and rear, do we?? The running shoe evolved from a theory that if you put wedge of foam under the heel, the stride could be lengthened so we would run faster. Let's just forget the evolution of man, and the fact that no animal runs on their heel.
“The human foot is a work of art and a masterpiece of engineering.”
—Leonardo Da Vinci
[url= http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/05/07/vibram-five-fingers-shoes/ ]Human Foot & VFFs[/url]
Its just going to be pretty slow running and I'm really not going to be doing it more than once a week I just don't have the time plus we need to get a babysitter (my mother) when we want to go out so its a bit too much to ask.
Do Decathalon do mail order I don't think there is one near me.
Honestly - all this guff about gait analysis and correctly fitted shoes.
Just make sure you start slow and don't rush things. Your first runs should be no more than 1 mile and build up nice and slowly - and don't forget to warm-up and cool-down. You run so many more risks causing injury by over-training than by having shoes that didn't cost £100+.
I bought a pair of running shoes (Reebok I think) cheap off the internet and trained in them for 9 months (4 times a week, up to 12 miles) in order to do the Great North Run. Only injury was a loose patella causing discomfort.
I have since had a pair 'correctly' fitted by Up and Running (original store in Harrogate) as I over-pronate. I find them less comfortable, I get more numbness in my toes and they make my knee injury more painful than the old ones which I still have.
You are clearly not going to be running huge distances so just make sure you get a decent pair that fit well and run sensibly.
If you get addicted, you MAY want to get a pair professionally fitted, but then again, in my case it was £120 wasted.
Out of interest has anyone come across any non manufacturer sponsored research that demonstrates motion control/stability shoes reduce runner injury?
Gordon Pirie did his own research however he had some very strange ideas.
There is other (I cant find sources) "research" that indicates that modern shoes actually increase the risk of injury, Pirie concluded this also.
One thing to remember is that a lot of unsubstantiated rubbish is repeated about damage to knees, joints etc through running.
I saw Dave Bedford last year in Liverpool organising a 10k and although he was overweight he was pretty sprightly, he was with Tim Hutchins who also looked non the worse for wear after years of 100 mpw! Bedford was renowned for runnning in excess of 200 mpw and as well as winning all before him held the WR for 10000m
The majority of our older distance runners ran much higher mileage than our current crop, consistently out performed them and did so in plimsoles!
You are clearly not going to be running huge distances so just make sure you get a decent pair that fit well and run sensibly.If you get addicted, you MAY want to get a pair professionally fitted, but then again, in my case it was £120 wasted.
Once you are running regularly you will be better qualified to know what make and model are right for you rather than having a shop assistant who has been on a manufacturers sponsored training course telling you you need to spend £120.
My advice would be as MF says, start slowly, find comfortable neutral cushioned shoes and run off road as much as you can.
Oh and enjoy it, its meant to be fun!!!
Out of interest has anyone come across any non manufacturer sponsored research that demonstrates motion control/stability shoes reduce runner injury?
Hardly research but I suffered badly with Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) when I first started running
The only thing that cured/controlled it was motion control shoes, if I run for more than 15 mins in normal shoes, I'm in excrutiating pain
I trained with a friend some years ago who pronated terribly. He rolled very far inwards on one leg particularly. He told me it caused him no problem unless he tried to correct it with anti pronation shoes!!!
He had clearly adapted. He was fast as well.
I trained with a friend some years ago who pronated terribly. He rolled very far inwards on one leg particularly. He told me it caused him no problem unless he tried to correct it with anti pronation shoes!!!
That concurs with my experience - my knee injury is amplified when using 'correcting' shoes. Over time my body had clearly adapted to my gait. Unfortunately I am not that fast though.
I would have said to get professionally fitted shoes until...yesterday. I was running on neutral shoes that are now getting on for three years old and probably have 1000+ miles on them. I'm as prone to believing the hype as anyone else and while I enjoy running, I really want my knees, ankles and hips for other stuff later in life (and I need them for work too). So I thought...time to replace them. Originally, I bought a cheapish pair from I can't remember where and then had some Pumas from a proper running shop. To be fair, my running was a whole lot different afterwards.
Went to a newish shop in Bristol that everybody raves about and had a look at my gait analysis video. To be fair, both of my legs were doing different things. Left strike was textbook but right was all over the place. Tried a few different shoes and settled on a pair of Mizunos that felt really nice...on a ****ing treadmill in a shop.
Took them for a run last night and now I want my neutral ones back. I know you're supposed to "break them in" for a while but at the same time, you just "know" if something feels right or not and there was definitely something that didn't feel right about these. I'll give them another few weeks and see how they go but I feel it's been eighty odd quid wasted - and I may very well end up looking for the latest incarnation of my Pumas and just going back to those.
While I don't necessarily agree with what m_f says i.e. bugger any kind of analysis and just ****ing get out there and do it, I think we underestimate the ability of our bodies to adapt to whatever style of running we start out with...i.e. what surfer is saying.
I've got the Cardiff half in a month's time - here's hoping...
EDIT: what m_f says in his last post...yep, I think I might be with him on that...
The manufacturers will state some truly scary numbers regarding forces slammed through the foot and knee joints when running, yet seem to think 10-20mm of EVA foam will protect you, wrap a egg in a towel now smack it with a hammer, still breaks! This is the problem with running shoes. The foot needs to feel the terrain it is landing on so it can correct itself and hence the body will run correctly. I run in the mountains and pull on running shoes, for tough terrain, but for trail running 'barefooting' is the best method for technique development and strength in the foot and legs. If you start heel striking when barefoot you'll not walk home never mind run
....the only problem with the Vibrams, KSOs in my case, is they are about a million quid.
Otherwise i would get some as after reading [url=
To Run [/url]i really want to try them out.
Anyways, currently doing 40miles a week on some Brooks GTS7s which have about 800miles on them with no ill effects so will just keep on as i am i guess 😉
Deadly - I was being anecdotal and did say [i]If you get addicted, you MAY want to get a pair professionally fitted, but then again, in my case it was £120 wasted.[/i]. I am sure expensive shoes can help some people, I just don't think they are the must have some would have us think.
Yeah, I know what you mean m_f...I think the whole expense thing might be psychological too. You know..."well, I spent this much, so damn it, I'm going to run better...".
Just like bikes really 😉
I always buy last year's [or older] models now that I know what suits
£40-£50 max
deadlydarcy - I always struggle with new shoes too - even the same make & model
After the distance you did in your old slippers, I'm not surprised new ones aren't working for you
I tend to introduce them slowly over a few weeks.
I'm not surprised new ones aren't working for you
That's what I'm hoping uplink...my feet just felt so different. Though I did find I didn't go through the whole mind **** for the first 20 minutes when I question my whole existence! And for the middle 10k of my run, they felt fine.
I suppose taking a new pair of shoes out for around 9 miles was never a good idea...I know, I know...but I'm not the most patient. My new bike felt absolutely fine when I did that... 😆
I got some shoes with mild support early on in my running career - given I do have mild over-pronation (pronation is normal, it's when you do too much it's a problem). I did find they helped a lot. However subsequently I ended up using mostly neutral shoes, since I was largely doing trail/off road running, and those only come in neutral flavour. Got chronic problems with my achilles which the physio treated but didn't really fix, so eventually ended up going to the podiatrist. Got properly assessed there (the gait analysis you get at running shops doesn't look at the fundamentals in quite the same way) and ended up with mild orthotic canted insoles. These are designed to be used with neutral shoes, and despite being far simpler with no hi-tech stuff, do a far better job than generic support shoes. So the correct answer is to use neutral shoes which have been fitted to you with insoles - unless you're so efficient that you don't need them. Despite them working OK for me years ago, I'm actually now relatively unconvinced by the idea of support shoes.
Of course at the moment I've had plantar fascitis since April, so may not actually be the best example (I do think I understand the reasons behind that though, and why it's taking so long to recover - the fact I don't get to just rest with my feet up at home certainly doesn't help!)
Let's just forget the evolution of man, and the fact that no animal runs on their heel.
Which animals run on just their hind legs, and how biomechanically similar to man are they? You could just also ignore the fact that a heel strike is part of the normal relaxed gait of humans, and that children naturally run with a heel strike.
I've never really gone into the science of it but how normal is running with a heel strike?
when I run, the ball of my foot strikes 1st
There is a lot of fuss when it comes to running techniques, and shoes.
To start with go gentle and dont push yourself too hard - if you are a cyclist you might find you have the engine (heart and lungs) but can easily injure yourself. Soft surfaces (like off road) are more interesting and take some of the sting out of the impact while your body adapts.
Get some well fitting running shoes, dont buy over the net - you need to try plenty of pairs on and make sure they feel right. Its not essential but worth getting them from a proper running shop, explain you dont want to spend much money you shouldnt need to spend too much (£40-£65). I'd go with something fairly neutral to start with until you know what your running style is.
Run how feels natural and right for you - dont get too tied up with all the science just yet - start slow and enjoy it.
Run how feels natural and right for you - dont get too tied up with all the science just yet - start slow and enjoy it.
+1
Take a look at your weight and build and do two things:
1) Do a Google on reviews and prices for running shoes for your "type"
2) Go to a local running shop (I mean a proper running shop, not JJB, etc) and ask for a fitting (pronation et al) - you'll be surprised at how patient and helpful they can be.
If you're 5ft and 9 stone you don't want a pair of Brooks Beast, likewise if you're 6ft and 16 stone you don't want a pair of featherlight Nikes, blah blah.
SM
Do beware of prices though. You might well feel obliged to buy whatever the running shop "recommends/feels right" and pay top dollar. Whereas if you were to look online for last year's model, you'll probably save 50%.
Not a big deal if you're after £30-£50 trainers, but if they're nearer £100 then worth bearing in mind (IMO).
6'4" around 16 stone, I run in shoes with no support, effectively barefoot. You need to establish your running on your own.
Go to a local running shop (I mean a proper running shop, not JJB, etc) and ask for a fitting (pronation et al) - you'll be surprised at how patient and helpful they can be.
We have covered that subject quite comprehensively already 😉 ^^^^^^^
Starting running just as we head into winter. Might not be the nicest experience if you force your selves to go out on a regular basis regardless of weather. Keep the running to nice weather and enjoy it.
Can recommend a Wii fit for indoor exercise which isn't too tedious.
Check out http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stw-fatclub-not-a-member-but-still-lost-weight
for example of what can be done reasonably easily between April and August
What the bloody hell do you all mean when you say the type of runner I am? Does slow fat and lazy count as a type? I know what kind of mtbr I am but don't have a clue about support and style etc.
Ive got a pair of thin flat soled pumas somewhere would they be any good? They have no cushening at all just the insole and a couple of mm of rubber on the bottom.
Ive got a pair of thin flat soled pumas somewhere would they be any good? They have no cushening at all just the insole and a couple of mm of rubber on the bottom.
They'll be fine, unless they cripple you, then they'll be crap 🙂
Ive got a pair of thin flat soled pumas somewhere would they be any good? They have no cushening at all just the insole and a couple of mm of rubber on the bottom.
Although expensive gait correcting shoes may not be important, at least get some proper running shoes/trainers with a bit of padding. You could end up with all sorts of injuries with the sort of shoe you describe - most likely shin splints, which are awful and can take ages to recover from.
[i]Ive got a pair of thin flat soled pumas somewhere would they be any good? They have no cushening at all just the insole and a couple of mm of rubber on the bottom.[/i]
I guess it's a bit like asking I'm taking up mountain biking, i've got a rigid singlespeed, is it suitable? Opinions on suitability may vary 🙂
Those three answers are what I was after really. I don't really think they are suitable but did wonder. This is a pic of the style I mean.
[img]
We want to start now to train for a short race next summer and for something to do together. We are not going to be taking it too seriously its for fun really so I dont want to be worrying about all the geeky gait and pronation stuff.
What type of grips for cold weather on the other hand...
[i]Does slow fat and lazy count as a type[/i]
At last! I know what kind of MTBer I am!
I always knew that describing myself as a hucking, phat, all-mountain race whippet semed wrong.
FWIW I've been running in my 5:10 freeriders for the last few months, 3 or 4 times a week and don't find them too bad. Am planning on getting some shoes from the local running shop, or at least getting my gait looked at.
Andy are you planning to run on grass/dirt/mud or pavement/tarmac? If it's the former then you can't go far wrong with something like this -
[url]
INOV-8.COM If it's the latter - haven't a clue 🙂
It will probably be pavement as it will be dark and I don't fancy tripping over tree stumps when trying to show off to my wife.
Keep the running to nice weather and enjoy it.
Its just that attitude that has taken us from a world force in distance running to a bunch of poofs! (a large dose of :wink:)
surfer - The africans seem pretty good at distance running and I think it is purely down to the fact they have more sunny days so they enjoy it more!
In fact I might even write a sports psychology thesis to prove this!
😉
I always get my trainers from here
SPORTSSHOES.COM I've been getting the same pair of Saucony's from them every year or so for about 10 years. Last year they were discontinued so I bought a newer replacement, which look more wizzy but are not actually as good!
I never pay more than £35 for trainers. IMO its better to replace them regularly than spend a fortune and feel that you can justify doing that. Also its like ski boots, try as many pairs as you can until you find a brand that fits you.
Oh and are not all fell shoes and track shoes pretty flat and very little padding? I think alot of it is marketing trollocks.
Oh that forefoot strike thing is whacky guys!
I can see it happening in a sprint but seems AAF for a run.
I've just had a go and you do have to be running very very fast, Then I tried walking by putting the ball of my foot down first, tis very odd
The bit I can't work out how you cope with is this. Looking at your leading leg you have to point the foot downwards as it strikes which seems to bend the knee. I can't get my head round this. Got a vid?
Here's something about the differences between forefoot & heel striking
I midfoot strike
Oh that forefoot strike thing is whacky guys!
I can see it happening in a sprint but seems AAF for a run.
I've just had a go and you do have to be running very very fast, Then I tried walking by putting the ball of my foot down first, tis very oddThe bit I can't work out how you cope with is this. Looking at your leading leg you have to point the foot downwards as it strikes which seems to bend the knee. I can't get my head round this. Got a vid?
Oldgit, tis true. I find it unnatural to run on my heel whatever speed. Although I do move forward more the faster I go. The bulk of my training means I land around mid to forefoot. The majority actually land on the outer edge then roll inwards to varying degrees.