Runners, Gait analysis and sales people - Guidance please

miller82

I realise I might be clutching at straws here.

I've always been a bit sceptical of runenrs advice dispensed in shops. I fancy getting a Gait analysis done, but even with that the shops assistant is obviously going to try sell you there brand of shoes, like Elverys suffolk street for example seem to do a good gait analysis but there range is basically Asics or Nike.

So I'm looking for neutral advice on here before I get my next pair. Here's some of my details :

6ft 2 , 15stone
Fairly flat footed and I get bad shin splints
I'm a slow enough runner

My training is for tri sprint distance at the moment (5km) but will be looking to do olympic distance (10km) at the end of September. Have done half marathon training and race before and shin splints were the problem.

I'm not sure if this would help but on my shoes the big toe on my left foot is worn away a lot and the heel on the left side of the left foot. Similar on the right, but not as sever.

I have had Asics x 3, New balance and Mizuno wave inspire 6 (best runner so far) . I have no problem going back to the Mizuno's again but would love to hear other peoples recommendations for me

Thanks in advance.

menoscemo

Elverys is very hit and miss and most people here wouldn't recommend it. As you say they don't have a good range of shoes either.

Next time you are getting a a new pair, try the gait analysis in a specialised running store. Try Amphibian king (they have a store in bray and also operate out of base 2 race in ballymount) or else Runways on parnell St.

miller82

menoscemo wrote: »

Elverys is very hit and miss and most people here wouldn't recommend it. As you say they don't have a good range of shoes either.

Next time you are getting a a new pair, try the gait analysis in a specialised running store. Try Amphibian king (they have a store in bray and also operate out of base 2 race in ballymount) or else Runways on parnell St.

thanks.

Was more than likely going to try Amphibian king or runways for the gait and runners. Just curious if people on here had any runner recommendations for me.

gottarun

Apart from the Mizuno Inspire 6 what are the New Balance and ASICS shoes that you have been using?

I've been with Mizuno since series 3 and have my ups and downs with the different ranges. I'm now in my third pair of Inspire 7's this year and have no issues with them.

Get the analysis done, if it is done right you will be able to see the difference the video clips are making with the differing shoes. I would recommend, as you are tri racing, to have the analysis done on a floor rather than a treadmill. The spring in the treadmill can make the difference between a choice of shoes.

miller82

gottarun wrote: »

Apart from the Mizuno Inspire 6 what are the New Balance and ASICS shoes that you have been using?

I've been with Mizuno since series 3 and have my ups and downs with the different ranges. I'm now in my third pair of Inspire 7's this year and have no issues with them.

Get the analysis done, if it is done right you will be able to see the difference the video clips are making with the differing shoes. I would recommend, as you are tri racing, to have the analysis done on a floor rather than a treadmill. The spring in the treadmill can make the difference between a choice of shoes.

Thanks for that.

The NB were New Balance MR768 Running - wasn't a massive fan of them
The asics i really can't remember as they were before the NB and i wasnt really too worried at that stage what was on my feet.

How or where can i get the test done on a floor ?
Again, i'm just worried that i will potentially miss out on good runners because of the range in a shop, so was looking for pointers on certain runenrs people thought might suit.

Also the guy in Runways (without doing the gait) suggested possibly the asics DS racer, or the Saucoony GRID FASTWITCH 5 or some brooks pair that were bright orange and seriously light.

rainbow kirby

Amphibian King do the gait analysis on a short track.

Jnealon

Try shoedog, would give you a very rough idea of what you need.

thirstywork2

Are you looking for a racing shoe?

miller82

thirstywork2 wrote: »

Are you looking for a racing shoe?

well i'll be doing three more races this season and then maybe 6 next summer with training inbetween

gottarun

miller82 wrote: »

the asics DS racer, or the Saucoony GRID FASTWITCH 5 or some brooks pair that were bright orange and seriously light.

Until you are running stress free I would not be considering a racing shoe under any circumstances. Yes, lovely and light, but you will get better results from a structured shoe that suits your foot allowing longer training runs.

Its better to lose a 1kg from body weight than 100g on you feet, you will get a much better result. I know from experience

dahat

miller82 wrote: »

6ft 2 , 15stone
Fairly flat footed and I get bad shin splints
I'm a slow enough runner

I fit in around these figures and got gait anyalsis done resulting in moderate over pronation,was suggested i run in Nike Lunar Eclipse,FAIRLY HAPPY WITH THEM
Have been looking at Brooks Beast for my next pair,they seem to be loaded with support and stability

rainbow kirby

Brooks Beast are for big, heavy guys who pronate like their ankles are about to snap off. If you're happy in Lunar Eclipse, I'd stick with them or look at stuff like Asics 2160/Mizuno Wave Inspire/Brooks Adrenaline or Ravenna etc.

dahat

rainbow kirby wrote: »

Brooks Beast are for big, heavy guys who pronate like their ankles are about to snap off. If you're happy in Lunar Eclipse, I'd stick with them or look at stuff like Asics 2160/Mizuno Wave Inspire/Brooks Adrenaline or Ravenna etc.

Going to get 2nd gait done for my next pair in different shop,Place in Cork i can never think of the name of!!
Will look at those runners and see what the lad suggests for me...

Lunar's are pretty good though........

miller82

great advice, cheers folks

sconhome

dahat wrote: »

Have been looking at Brooks Beast for my next pair,they seem to be loaded with support and stability

They are a heavy structured support shoe and are in a league of their own when it comes to dealing with severe over pronation.

Moderate over pronation will appear 'fixed' by analysis in the Beast, but it can result in over correction which can lead to other biomechanical issues in the lower back.

Best as Rainbow Kirby suggests to look at the lower levels of support available in shoes comparable to your Lunar Eclipse. If you have been running injury free in these shoes, structurally you should not move far from them.

miller82

amphkingwest wrote: »

Best as Rainbow Kirby suggests to look at the lower levels of support available in shoes comparable to your Lunar Eclipse. If you have been running injury free in these shoes, structurally you should not move far from them.

I have never had a pair of nike running runners, and for some reason never rated them really.

currently in Mizuno wave inspire 6. I like them but was seeing could anyone suggest anything different or better even, based on my details.

I'm going to end up getting a gait analysis in amphibian king or runways i think and wanted to have some ideas in my head as my choice will be restricted based on the range they have in the store obviously

thirstywork2

miller82 wrote: »

well i'll be doing three more races this season and then maybe 6 next summer with training inbetween

The reason I asked is guy in Runways reccomended some good choices for racing but where you looking for a racing shoe then?

Woody_FX

We havent evolved to run around in big heeled, thick soled shoe.

Try and run more in a manner that we've evolved to run over 10000's of years. Feet dont need 'support'. I've started running in really light simple footwear (vibrams) and I'm no longer plagued by my hamstrings and shinsplints. Takes a few weeks to adjust to using muscles you aren't used to running with. Ready for an ironman now in 2weeks.

TFBubendorfer

Woody_FX wrote: »

We havent evolved to run around in big heeled, thick soled shoe.

That's true, but we haven't evolved to run on hard, unforgiving tarmac roads either.

RacoonQueen

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

That's true, but we haven't evolved to run on hard, unforgiving tarmac roads either.

Is tarmac really that much harder than packed mud on trails and the mud roads they ran on way back when?

We also now have grass and cycle paths to run on. Cycle paths are much softer than tarmac.

gottarun

Woody_FX wrote: »

Ready for an ironman now in 2weeks.

Are you running a full marathon in Vibrams?

miller82

Woody_FX wrote: »

We havent evolved to run around in big heeled, thick soled shoe.

Try and run more in a manner that we've evolved to run over 10000's of years. Feet dont need 'support'. I've started running in really light simple footwear (vibrams) and I'm no longer plagued by my hamstrings and shinsplints. Takes a few weeks to adjust to using muscles you aren't used to running with. Ready for an ironman now in 2weeks.

good to hear. I have vibrams and that is the ultimate aim, but i ended up getting an injury from ruunning too much too soon in them. They are a long term project which i willl tackle again in the winter.

miller82

thirstywork2 wrote: »

The reason I asked is guy in Runways reccomended some good choices for racing but where you looking for a racing shoe then?

probably don't have good enough form to have an all out racing shoe - or so i am lead to believe by what i have read. Flat arches, shine splints and probably not great form would suggest i should stay away from racing runner wouldnt it ?

RayCun

miller82 wrote: »

I have vibrams and that is the ultimate aim, but i ended up getting an injury from ruunning too much too soon in them.

it's funny, get an injury in a pair of runners and it's all the fault of the damned runners and their unnatural padding. Get an injury in a pair of vibrams and it's your own fault, trying to do too much, you have to take these things slowly you know
:rolleyes:

miller82

RayCun wrote: »

it's funny, get an injury in a pair of runners and it's all the fault of the damned runners and their unnatural padding. Get an injury in a pair of vibrams and it's your own fault, trying to do too much, you have to take these things slowly you know
:rolleyes:

No, get sick of getting shin splints so try an different option, i.e vibrams. Get injured in vibrams and go to the physio and the physio tells you its such a different style of running that i tried too much too soon

clubcard

Had a great coversations with some people lately who are qualified to give an opinion on the latest barefoot shoes.
The problem is most people now aren't ready to run in vibrams because they have missed the period from early steps to age 19-20 when the muscles in their feet are developing.

We all look at Kenyans and admire how they run and people will say wow they run so natural.They have deveoped the strength in their feet from an early age and weigh half of what most runners weigh.

While I believe alot of it makes sense I just think people are asking for injuries by using vibrams and going straight into running their normal mileage.

RJC

clubcard wrote: »

Had a great coversations with some people lately who are qualified to give an opinion on the latest barefoot shoes.
The problem is most people now aren't ready to run in vibrams because they have missed the period from early steps to age 19-20 when the muscles in their feet are developing.

We all look at Kenyans and admire how they run and people will say wow they run so natural.They have deveoped the strength in their feet from an early age and weigh half of what most runners weigh.

While I believe alot of it makes sense I just think people are asking for injuries by using vibrams and going straight into running their normal mileage.

I +1 this. IF I'd spent my formative years barefoot I'd be pretty happy to run that way all the time - mainly because I'd have a predisposition for it.

I think the whole shoe thing is a metaphor for the fact that everybody is searching for something in their running. Be it running injury free, running faster, running longer, more efficiently or whatever is the flavour of the month so far.

BobMac104

clubcard wrote: »

Had a great coversations with some people lately who are qualified to give an opinion on the latest barefoot shoes.
The problem is most people now aren't ready to run in vibrams because they have missed the period from early steps to age 19-20 when the muscles in their feet are developing.

We all look at Kenyans and admire how they run and people will say wow they run so natural.They have deveoped the strength in their feet from an early age and weigh half of what most runners weigh.

While I believe alot of it makes sense I just think people are asking for injuries by using vibrams and going straight into running their normal mileage.

RJC wrote: »

I +1 this. IF I'd spent my formative years barefoot I'd be pretty happy to run that way all the time - mainly because I'd have a predisposition for it.

I think the whole shoe thing is a metaphor for the fact that everybody is searching for something in their running. Be it running injury free, running faster, running longer, more efficiently or whatever is the flavour of the month so far.

I agree that you are asking for trouble if you jump into a pair of vibrams and go out and do 20 miles. You will get injured and maybe even seriously. I read a good methaphor recently saying it was like an adult suddenly having a 10 year old childs feet. Our feet are atrophied to an extent due to growing up wearing shoes etc and this has to be buit back up slowly.
I only started running this april and bought a pair of Vibram KSO's (yes ok i read born to run) so i was lucky in that my own lack of fitness naturally limmited how much i could run. I am currently training to do DCM this year and do 75% of my trainig in them with long runs of over 15 miles. I love running in them. I run in a pair of asics hyperspeed 4's (racing flats) for the other 25% as i still find my feet can be tired/tender from the KSO's. So far i havent had an injury(touch wood) so will keep up what i have been doing.

For pure speed i reckon i am a hair faster in the asics as i dont have to concentrate so hard on where i place my foot and my feet dont tire to the same extent.

miller82

went with Saucony pro-grid Omni. Only done two runs so far but they feel like a brilliant runner. Read lots of reviews on them too and they get a good rating all the time.
Great Sale in Snow + Rock on runners if anyone is interested