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Original poster

Running trainers

32 replies

Bemyclementine · 01/01/2023 21:44

I'm am going to start running (again) and need some proper trainers. I can't get to a shop for gait analysis for ages yet (nearest o e is an hour away) so I want to buy sone to get me started. I don't have a massive budget.

I am fat and unfit so will be taking it very slowly with walk/run. It's at least 8 years since I ran properly (pre DC )

I do know I had a slight over pronation on the right , which resulted in knee pain until I had gait analysis and proper trainers. Only slight though, nothing special required.

Please can someone direct me towards so e suitable trainers? I will go to a shop once I've got going a bit more and have the time.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 01/01/2023 21:46

I am not a runner but follow Bella Mackie on IG who is and she swears by HOKA.

AuntieStella · 01/01/2023 21:50

I would usually say to get a neutral sole if you don't know about your gait, but it sounds like from your history that you would probably do better with a supportive sole.

Can you get to any shops to try on?

Road or trail?
How much cushioning do you like?
Budget?

Tamarindtree · 01/01/2023 21:51

Hoka.

www.hoka.com

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Clothing Exercise & fitness Fitness

Redcrayons · 01/01/2023 21:52

It’s a real how long is a price of string question.
i used to love ASICS but couldn’t get on with my last pair. I mostly wear saucony now, though I also like New Balance for quicker runs. I had a great pair of Homs trail shoes but I lost a toe nail when I tried the road shoes.

sportshoes.com has an online gait analysis with some good advice and they have a good sale on at the moment.

Redcrayons · 01/01/2023 21:53

Homs = Hoka.

DomesticShortHair · 01/01/2023 21:55

There isn’t just one pair of running trainers suitable for you. I’d stick to a good brand and pay a reasonable amount, because they play an important role in preventing injury, so it’s probably not somewhere you should skimp. The trouble is, without trying them on, you’ll never really know. Each brand tends to have its own idiosyncrasies, as does each range within that brand. I wear Brooks Glycerin or Ghost, (knackered knees so I like the cushioning) depending on what I’m doing, but that might work for you.

I’d look at Brooks, ASICS, New Balance and Nike (not the fashion trainers) as a starting point.

What I would recommend is buying last seasons running shoes. There’s often only minimal tweaks between year to year, mainly colour and a bit of styling to distinguish them. But the actual dInferences when it comes to performance is usually minimal. However, you can often pick them up at a considerable discount.

AuntieStella · 01/01/2023 21:56

For posters recommending Hoka, which shoe/s do you recommend for OP?

It's a brand with a wide range, not a specific shoe. Also, they're very, very cushioned and I'm hoping OP will come back and tell us if that's what she wants

yoshiblue · 01/01/2023 21:57

I got some half price Mizuno ones from Sportsshoes.com they have great prices on lots of last seasons stock.

You really need to try on a few pairs to see what suit your foot. The ASICS I ordered were too narrow for my foot shape for example.

Google articles about how to choose/fit running shoes at home, several published for runners during lockdown when shops were closed. Suggestions about having a certain amount of room at the front and taking the sole out to check width fit.

Sparklingbrook · 01/01/2023 21:58

AuntieStella · 01/01/2023 21:56

For posters recommending Hoka, which shoe/s do you recommend for OP?

It's a brand with a wide range, not a specific shoe. Also, they're very, very cushioned and I'm hoping OP will come back and tell us if that's what she wants

Not sure Bella Mackie went into specifics of HOKA she mentioned them in a couple of IG lives but there may be pictures in her feed.

CaveMum · 01/01/2023 21:59

I looked online when I decided to start running again in 2020 - nothing spectacular, I do 5k 3 times a week.

My research led me to the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus. They update them every year or so, so you can usually pick up the previous edition for a decent price. I think the current edition are the 39 and they’re on sale on the Nike website for £65 reduced from £110 www.nike.com/gb/t/air-zoom-pegasus-39-road-running-shoes-25X2SF/DH4072-600

With my old trainers I used to get knee pain on a regular basis, but have never had that issue with these trainers.

cortisolqueen · 01/01/2023 22:01

I used to wear Brooks for overpronation

EATmum · 01/01/2023 22:02

As above I get on best with Nike Pegasus - which is helpful for me to know but I've tried plenty of others. Even when I've been fitted professionally it's a gamble and until you've run in them for a while, you won't be sure. Sorry - I guess every foot will be slightly different and the way you run will be too.

ReviewingTheSituation · 01/01/2023 22:03

If you've had knee problems before, and haven't run for 8 years, you'd be mad to buy without having someone look at your gait. No-one here can possibly recommend trainers for YOU. All we can do is saw what works for us... which has next to no relevance for you and your needs. If you get the wrong trainers you will just end up injured and out of pocket.

You'd be better off saying roughly where you live and asking for recommendations of running shops.

Original poster

Bemyclementine · 01/01/2023 22:07

I want to say my last pair were Nike, which had a moderately supportive sole.

I know there's a wide variety out there, and sadly I live in the arse end of nowhere so no even remotely local shops to go and try a selection. It will be mostly road running with sone River Bank/tracks. I won't be going far or fast or every day- I'm a single parent with little to no childcare so they will be coming with me or on their bikes at times.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bemyclementine · 01/01/2023 22:11

@ReviewingTheSituation I was hoping for suggestions of trainers suitable for a mild overpronation. I used to get a bit of a sore knee, nothing major or that stopped me running but decent trainers stopped it.

I just want some to see me through the walk run phase up to 5k.

OP posts:

DailyEnergyCrisis · 01/01/2023 22:11

I still quite like Asics- I’ve used them for around 15 years for running and they suit me. I have slight over pronation and use the GT2000 ones.

Original poster

Bemyclementine · 01/01/2023 22:11

Closest places are Norwich or Cambridge though neither are actually close.

OP posts:

greenacrylicpaint · 01/01/2023 22:18

going against the grain. gait analysis in a shop is a bit of a con. they will diagnose you with something to sell you expensive trainers.

if you follow a sensible plan to start running your joints and ligaments will be fine. make sure you also do stretches and strength training between runs.

the decathlon own brand running shoes are decent to get started.
go there, try them and some other shoes on.

if you don't get on with them after a couple of weeks they are cheap enough to relegate them for walking.

ToooOldForThis · 01/01/2023 22:19

I've just ordered online for teenage DD who is starting c to 5k. I know she over pronates even when walking. We can't get to gait analysis either so I've looked about as much as I can on running websites etc and eventually went for a pair from the Asics outlet website. Fx they will be ok for her but I know there might be a bit of posting back and forward- I seem to be different sizes in different brands.
But they were vastly reduced and came with good technical specs,that website might be a good place to look.

littlelilypad · 01/01/2023 22:20

Another vote for Nike Pegasus - my first pair of running shoes that helped me train for my first ever 5k,10k and eventually, a half marathon. They felt like clouds on my feet and never gave me any problems.

Good luck OP! Hope you enjoy getting back into it.

Jumbojem · 01/01/2023 22:21

I'd do the online shoe finder at sportshoes.com recommended up thread. We are a family of runners and buy most of our shoes from them.
It is very likely you can buy and try at home for a while to see if they are right for you. Brooks used to do a 90 day return thing, which I think included being able to use them outdoors.
I've mainly worn Brooks in the past (Ghosts) but have a pair of Nike Pegasus trail run shoes which I adore so they might well be what I'll try next for road shoes.

Jumbojem · 01/01/2023 22:23

Oh, meant to say, I almost always buy a half size up, if not a whole size. Read reviews on sizing as brands vary and the sport show site will have guidance on how the fit is.

DuncanBiscuits · 01/01/2023 22:24

Redcrayons · 01/01/2023 21:52

Interesting. I swore by ASICS Gel Nimbus for years, but my last pair seemed to be more cut away around the ankle, meaning they were less supportive and gave me knee pain.

Very disappointing.

thinkfast · 01/01/2023 22:25

You don't necessarily need gait analysis, but you do need to go somewhere where they can measure you and fit you properly. IMO different brands come up differently on different people, and you may need a different size to your usual one, to ensure your feet are correctly supported but also have enough room to spread as you land. You do really need to go to a running shop and get a good pair, even if you're not planning on running far.

AuntieStella · 01/01/2023 22:28

I need a neutral sole, so am looking at the parallel supportive option (if neutral, I'd suggest Nike Vomero - trying to work out its best counterpart!)

I suggest Nike Air Zoom Structure 24 - looks like a good all purpose shoe

Limited size on offer here
www.sportsshoes.com/products/?q=overpronation

Remember to size up by 0.5-1 size above your regular shoe size. And it can be with getting womens shoes - hate the dinky colours, but they're made on a narrower last, which can be a good thing depending on how wide your feet are

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