RFI: Running Shoes

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I started jogging a while ago. I was wearing crap trainers. I spazzed my ankle. It's better now and so I'm going to buy some proper running shoes. The trouble is, I have no idea what proper running shoes actually are. What features should I be looking for? I am looking to spend few ££ as possible and am only slightly concerned about what they look like as I will only be wearing them for running. Any advice would be most welcome...

― hmmm, Thursday, 29 January 2004 11:40 (twenty-two years ago)

How many miles do yer do a week? If you're out there most days you should get something decent. I have a pair of Nike air running trainers which were great value at £50 - I think that'd the minimum you should spend.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 29 January 2004 12:51 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know how many miles. I do at least half an hour practically every day.

― hmmm, Thursday, 29 January 2004 12:56 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.serpentine.org.uk/advice/begin/shoes.php

i've been running vicariously through reading websites like this. good advice and lists of shops if you're in london.

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 29 January 2004 12:58 (twenty-two years ago)

A good pair to get are Brooks Beast, they protect against over-pronation (Flattening of the feet arches due to the repetitive pounding of running). But the best advice is to get to a specialist running shop, to be honest. Everyone's feet and running style is different, and if you're planning on running regularly you need good shoes or you'll do yourself an injury.

― Matt (Matt), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Go to a proper running store, where they know about feet and what fits them. Don't go into Niketown or JD sports and expect to get apair of running shoes that are right for your feet.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Is there an echo in here?

― Matt (Matt), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:21 (twenty-two years ago)

apologies, started the post minutes ago and didn't pay attention to the x-post waring doodah.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Go to Run & Become near Victoria where they make you try shoes on then run round a lamppost to see if you are pronating or what have you. This is quite* embarrassing but worth it in the end, they seem to know their stuff.

*actually very esp if you are wearing inappropriate trousers

― Emma, Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:22 (twenty-two years ago)

If you go to the correct section in Niketown, they do actually measure your feet and give recommendations.

― chris (chris), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:29 (twenty-two years ago)

While the whole running round a lamp-post thing sounds tempting, I do not think it justifies travelling from Edinburgh to London for. I actually just found a specialist running shop just up the road from my work so I will go there. I have big feet (UK11) with this make any kind of a difference.

x-post: I will not be going to niketown on principle and because we do not have one in the rural backwater in which I reside.

― hmmm, Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

'will this' bugger.

― hmmm, Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah the screen really should flash red for the cross-post thing. Possibly sirens. Um, shoe size shouldn't matter, I'm a 10.

― Matt (Matt), Thursday, 29 January 2004 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Only to how big the shoes are gonna be.

Oh, I kill myself.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Thursday, 29 January 2004 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I like Saucony. Still (sort of) made in the USA, too!

― andy, Thursday, 29 January 2004 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

if over-pronation is a concern, then new balance are really good.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 29 January 2004 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Saucony was (?) the brand that brought forth the "assembled in [x country], made in [y country]" clause on care labels because 90% of the production was handled abroad and only sketchy "finishing touches" were handled in the usa.

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 29 January 2004 18:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Saucony is an example of a brand I'd never buy becuase I wouldn't know how to pronounce it (viz also Nokia phones - I got utterly ridiculed when I referred to the eight three one oh instead of the eighty-three ten).

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 29 January 2004 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

New Balance were always the best I could find for over-pronation with those little posts they have at the arches. Insoles help too, I can't remember the name of the ones I used to use. They're green, they're common.

Saw-conny I think. (I never liked those shoes though anyway)

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Thursday, 29 January 2004 18:43 (twenty-two years ago)

If you pronate excessively (and I do). Superfeet inserts, whilst v expensive, are very good. I have a pair which go between my various walking/mountain/ski boots and they have improved things no end.

― Ed (dali), Thursday, 29 January 2004 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

I remembered the name of mine--Spenco. I got shinsplints much less often after buying them.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Thursday, 29 January 2004 18:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Depends on thw width of your feet. Asics, Brooks and New Balance are good for wider-footed people like myself, otherwise you might want some Saucony or Nike. Avoid Reebok, Adidas (who don't really bother with running shoes anymore anyway). After you've bought a pair, buy another about 6 months later (if you can afford it) so that you can alternate, and use long-run shoes (best ones) and short runs (older ones).
Also remember that no pair of running shoes lasts longer than a year, if you're running quite a bit.

― paulhw (paulhw), Thursday, 29 January 2004 23:02 (twenty-two years ago)

awesome. Thanks y'all. Going to see if that shop is open when I finish work tonight.

― hmmm, Friday, 30 January 2004 15:01 (twenty-two years ago)

ok, i used to run all the time and i am going to start up again. but first, how does one dress for running outside in the winter? should i just pile on the layers? is thermal underwear going to be a bad idea? is 'gore-tex' still around?

― kephm, Friday, 30 January 2004 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

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