before anyone posts ‘see a specialist shop’ i am looking to get proper help/advice on this, there is not a specialist shop locally and besides i will buy online so don’t think its fair to go ask a shop with no intention of buying, but until then…

a few years ago i did go to a specialist shop and as i severely overpronate and was heavy was recomended brooks beast due to their massive support.

now need new shoes, still hugely over pronate but am 4st down (around 12’ish now). quite happy with the brooks but do find them bulky and they are damn expensive.

question is, because i now weigh less can i get away with a shoe designed for over pronating but less cushioning.. in which case via sportsdirect etc i can get a discounted old model asics or similar for a lot less.

before anyone posts ‘see a specialist shop’ i am looking to get proper help/advice on this

Erm, I think the point about seeing a specialist is to give you proper help/ advice rather than the limited experience of internet nobodies 😉

Give these guys a ring – their shop in Bradford was ace but they’re now web only: http://www.sportsshoes.com/contact/

Specialist shops sell you what they have, not what you need.

but they’re now web only:

So they give you expert tailored advice over the phone? 🙄

limited experience of internet nobodies

I suspect there is more combined expert help on STW than I have ever been given in any shop. There are exceptions of shops owned by famous runners but even they are experts on running but usually business people first and foremost.

question is, because i now weigh less can i get away with a shoe designed for over pronating but less cushioning.. in which case via sportsdirect etc i can get a discounted old model asics or similar for a lot less.

Its a difficult one and I wouldnt recommend “changing” shoes without trying them on. I buy almost totally off the net or the Nike outlet at Cheshire Oaks because I know my size and I mainly only buy Nike or Inov8’s so I dont need to try them on. I am also pretty neutral and dont over pronate.
I would suggest visiting a shop that stocks lots of brands, ive never been a fan of Brooks shoes as they have alway been very bulky and heavy IMO. Maybe go for something with some medial control such as Asics. If your feet arent too wide as I said I would recommend Nike and they do shoes with a medial pillar, Saucony are also very good IMO

I used to really worry about having the right type of running shoe but theres a fairly big school of thought now that thinks thats all BS

Yep, but if they carry a massive range they’re more able to provide an objective view of weight parameters and comparative fit across brands and price ranges than individuals.

I could tell you loads about lightweight adidas shoes and nowt about Brooks, for example.

This is a specific query about the weight-bearing characteristics of one brand of shoes.

Yep, but if they carry a massive range they’re more able to provide an objective view of weight parameters and comparative fit across brands and price ranges than individuals.

Dont be soft

Too much is made of pronation in my opinion, its poor technique more than anything. A lot of people seem to diagnose over pronation because its easy to spot and easy to resolve using structured shoes with loads of support but that doesnt actually correct the root cause of the problem. Although its not the shops job to correct technique, thats teh root cause of people over pronating. I have Asics Guide 8s now having gone from shop diagnosed over pronating and they recommendation of big chunky Nike things to support the foot. The more I ran however, the more my technqiue improved, the less I now pronate, funny that!….

I dont believe that people over pronate for long, sure they might when they start running but i think most people folow a similar pattern to me if they run regularly.

Structured shoes just stop the arch collapsing, its questionable how much effec this is having to then prevent the impact of pressure as the foot continues through the stride pattern. To me, structured shoes just seem to resovle one issue and push the problem elsewhere in the foot, ankle, shin etc…

Why Running shoes do not work: Looking at Pronation, Cushioning, Motion Control and Barefoot running.

I agree up to a point. I do think too much is made of trying to correct it. I have a friend who I have run with for years and he is quite competitive (around 52 mins for 10) and he pronates on one foot terribly. The only real problem he has had is when he made an effort to correct it wearing “control” shoes. He had no end of problems until he went back to running in neutral ones.
I think as long as you train sensibly and build up slowly then your body will adapt and compensate to many biomechanical imperfections.

thanks guys. stuff to mull over.

the specialist sell what they have is interesing. it was a small shop and that was the only option they gave me… and the most expensive!

So you know that Brooks shoes fit you. Try the Adrenaline. It’s Brooks ‘standard’ support shoe. So not as sportive as the Beast but still very suitable for an overpronater.

But

Order online from Sweatshop. They offer a two week returns window even if you’ve run in them outside. You can only exchange but you can give them a good go.

I’ve been running in Adrenalines for the last couple of years after a specialist told me I over pronate, but I agree with surfer. As I’ve got lighter (16st down to 13st) and ‘become’ a runner, I’ve found less need for the support. I regularly run in Adidas Kanadia trail shoes, and Brooks Racer lightweight shoes without problem, and both are neutral shoes.

When Sportshoes had there shop, I went in to get assessed. Once that was done he showed me shoes that cost up to a hundred but also a sale shoe at £40. So not exactly a rip off. Then again it was a huge shop!

run neutral, change frequently, introduce running drills, and try to work on all round leg muscle fitness, up to and including your core.

I got my shoes (and was gait analysed) at Runners Needs, I would purchase from the net to save money like everyone else, but they had a price match.

So went back within 7-14 days (or whatever)with a printed webpage showing the cheaper price and they refunded the difference no questions.