Advice about running shoes please

[MrsPatrickDempsey]

Ok - I have started C25K and signed up for the race for life. Feeling good! I am I guess what you would call jogging (made the mistake of going too fast before) and am in a pair of memory foam sketchers. They are lightweight but mega comfy. I need to think of replacing them, don't I? Don't know where to start and don't want to spend a fortune. Help please.

What do define as a fortune? High St chain sports shops should be able to fit you up with a reasonable pair, but less likely to offer gait analysis (if that's what you're after). But even specialist running/tri shops have sales of older stock, so state your budget if you opt to shop there.

Good luck with training and Race for Life!

I did gait analysis for my first pair from a specialised local running shop (I knew I had many problems, previous shin splints etc) and spent approx £100

Since then I've bought the same trainer each time from here who are significantly cheaper than the high street

Exactly what Blowin said. Get your gait analysed, see if you need additional support or are OK in a neutral shoe, and then buy the trainers on Sportshoes. I get all mine on there, usually paying no more than £40 for Brooks.

ditto, only I got mine from wiggle and they weren't quite as dramatically reduced as I'd have hoped. (Until 2 weeks later when I got their newsletter in my inbox and low and behold they were. So annoying.)

I would say though that my experience at the running store was less than inspiring. I was thinking I'd pay full whack this one time as I was expecting to pay for their expertise but the sales people were really not very knowledgeable (turns out they weren't runners!) and were just working off a sales sheet. "HAve you considered insoles?" to everyone who walked in the store. That was at a Runner's Need in central london,but talking to friends they've had similar experiences. I guess my point being that unless you go to a really good shop, don't expect too much from a gait analysis.

I had gait analysis done too, found a pair that worked for me and buy the same model over and over again!

I've had gait analysis done, bought the perfect shoe from independent and got my 350+ miles out of them.

I bought exactly the same brand / type of shoe from Sweatshop and have had nothing but problems since. Ran in my old shoes - no pain, nothing. Went back to the independent shop and explained what was going on and he said it isn't unusual to see this happen as not all shoes of the same brand are made in the same factory and can be cut slightly differently! Even a different colour shoe can feel different on. Weird!

Is it weird to go and have gait analysis before you've started running?

I'm thinking about starting C25K, currently my only exercise is yoga and swimming, I don't own any footwear even vaguely suitable for running in. My everyday shoes are Vans. I've just got my feet sorted out by the chiropodist and they said I have very high arches and uneven pressure. I would spend up to £100 but hopefully a bit less.

Just don't want to be laughed at turning up for specialist running shoes when I'm clearly unfit and can't really run (yet!)

Pheonix Going to get gait analysis done before you start running is exactly the right thing to do - no one will laugh at you.

Phoenix they should jolly well be professional if they want a sale! Agree that gait analysis first is the clever way to do it, rather than waiting till you've had an injury like I did!

I had gait analysis done and spent £105 on a pair of trainers that have been awesome. They bring out a new version of the same trainer each year so when I had to replace them I just bought last seasons. And I got them for £55