What shoes for complete beginner runner?

[Sadik]

Any top tips on picking shoes? I'm planning to try C25K this autumn - usually cycle & swim, but struggling with a shoulder injury for swimming, and fitting in bike rides gets harder as the weather / nights draw in, so running seemed like a good alternative.

Need to buy online really (I know I should go to a shop, but the nearest option is Sports Direct (so zero useful help) and that's 25 miles away, & realistically not going to happen in the next couple of months) - but happy to pay return postage as needed & worth through a few options.

I'm a very 'average' size 4 & happily buy walking boots (usually kids ones as no VAT) online.

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I was a beginner like you and started with C25k. I bought a pair of Nike Free Runs for about £30 and they are great! Very light and very supportive. They also go through the washing machine a dream. It’s 2 years later and I’m only just thinking about replacing them as I’m running a half marathon so they were excellent value for money.

That's really helpful, thanks - it's just really useful to know what others have found good and what sort of budget I need to be thinking about to get something reasonable!

I should also say I just bought mine online as I am usually reliably the same size and that all worked fine!

Look out for sales and go for other websites (sports direct is usually cheapest!) to get the old versions of Nike Free. The new versions on the Nike website will be eye watering.

Make sure you go a size or half size up from your normal shoe size - feet can swell when running and you need a bit of extra room.

I buy my trainers on sportsshoes.com as they are so much cheaper than elsewhere. To start with, get something cheap and neutral, then you can try on a load when you are running more and are somewhere you can try on.

Brilliant, I'll have a look at sportsshoes. Like you say CMOT, what I want is something basic to start with, then if I take to it I'll make the time to go somewhere I can try shoes on.

I'm wondering having had a look if something like this would be appropriate - I'm hoping to run off road on reasonably well made footpaths, but not tarmac-ed, hadn't thought of that needing different shoes.

It s worth going to a running shop a d doing gait on their treadmill to see if you need support for pronation. Or not.You can try some shoes and no obligation to buy then.

Sadly I've looked and my nearest running shop would be 60 miles away, & the way life is at the moment that's just not going to happen. (Hence the need to take up running because I can do it in short bursts without having to travel anywhere!)

Trail shoes are much easier as they are all more neutral and less specialised than road shoes.

I am a standard 4 in all normal.shoes and brookes cascadia (I have version 11) are a great hybrid shoe. I take a 5 in those

In the absence of a running shop, wet your feet and make a footprint to check where the pressure is on your feet. Also look at the wear patterns on your shoes, it will give an indication for over/ under pronating.

DH is just beginning... he did a gait analysis at Decathlon (good economy option if there is one, or they do online). We discovered that he runs like a girafe and his ankles are all over the place and needs a lot of support to help stabilise his lower legs. I was aware that I roll through my feet, but turned out to be significantly more stable than him. The running is paused so he can adjust to the feel of the shoes as they're activating long neglected muscles!

I have a pair of Asics GT1000 and they are great. Am also doing C25K and had not done any running before so really didnt want to fork out huge amounts in case running wasn't for me. I bought one of the weirder colours (mine are turquoise and pink) as they were much cheaper than most others. They are really comfy and really strong around the ankle.