I got new running shoes over the weekend. But I didn’t just walk into Sport Authority and pick the prettiest ones off the shelf like I did last time, I went to the New York Running Company and got properly fitted for a new pair of running shoes.
The fitting is done through a gait analysis, which determines if you’re a pronator, supinator or have a neutral step.
I was pretty sure that I was a supinator from the way that my old sneakers wore out, and I told the guy helping me that, but he made me jump on the treadmill anyway, so that he could record my running to make sure.
Turns out I was way wrong. The sneaker wear actually indicated a mid-foot strike, which is muy bueno, but I am actually a pronator! When you pronate, your foot rolls inward as you run and you need a more stable shoe to correct the pronation. A stable shoe provides more medial support and keeps your ankle from turning. If you’re the opposite, a supinator, you need a more neutral shoe with midsole cushioning to provide extra shock absorption that the lack of pronation causes.
You can see how my foot rolls inward when I run in shoes that don’t provide enough stability. The salesman (whose name I forgot! :/) told me that even though I had no trouble running in my neutral shoes for now, as my millage increases, I could be more prone to pain and injury because of my foot rolling inward. He also told me to save my old shoes for gardening because they were way too worn out to run in. Oops!
I had my foot measured and even though I wear a 9 1/2 or 10 in normal shoes, he told me it was important to size up in running shoes to ensure that your toes aren’t repeatedly being crushed into the front of the shoe and so that there is room for your foot to swell a little when running longer distances.
The shoes in the store are set up by type, so once you know what kind of shoe you need, you just find the right row and choose. For me it was between a pair of Brooks Adrenaline and Nike Zoom Structure+ 15. In the end, the Nike’s won out because the Brooks were a little too wide in the toe and I felt like my foot was moving around in the too much.
I’ve run about 10 miles in the new shoes and they feel great! I will be tracking the mileage on these shoes so I don’t wait too long to get new ones like I did with my old ones. It is recommended that you should switch out your shoes every 300-400 miles, so once these babies hit around 300, I’ll start looking into some new ones. Hopefully these will give me lots of good miles!
Have you ever had a gait analysis done? What kind of running shoes do you use?
I have had a gait analysis several times, and I’m somewhere between a neutral and a stability shoe, so I’ve gone back and forth, trying to figure out what works best for me. I love the advice of going a size up- I credit this for the reason I have never lost a toenail!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..The Fit Mom Controversy
Yes! My old shoes were the size I wear in all shoes, and my toes were starting to look funky after running. Sorry for the TMI. 😉
fun! I had it done several years ago but I really need to have it done agian b/c I keep getting injured!
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I found it really helpful. Hopefully it\’ll help with your injuries!
Looks like a thorough job on the analysis. Sounds like a good shoe.
Looks like a great store. I love it when you find knowledgeable people to help with running gear purchases.
Carrie@FamilyFitnessFood.com recently posted..Birthday Wish List
awesome new kicks!! I did something similar at a place here called Road Runner. I got me some shoes that I love! I think everyone should do something like this, especially if they are serious about actually running some miles in their shoes!
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Thanks! I think it was really interesting to learn about different kind of shoes and to see how my feet work while running.
Not that I want to be the bearer of bad news but you need to read “Tread Lightly” by Doctor Peter Larson. Did you know that there is zero scientific backing that says that stability shoes help pronaters. Now, if what you had before wasn’t working than I understand the need for change, but there is absolutely ZERO reasons for a “over-pronator” to try minimalist or “Neutral” shoes. I had my gait analyside and Road Runner Sports said that I needed a stability shoe because I was a pronator. I’ve run fine in the New Balance Minimus line and even in Vivobareoot shoes. People look at me like, “those cant be comfortable, and they have zero stability or support…all I think is that they are not supposed to. We were born to be pronators and we all do a little. Find what works for you and make sure your form is right. You have a foot size not a shoe size.
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To each his own, I guess. I\’m reading a few books for beginner runners, and they all stress how important the right shoe for you is, so I gave the analysis a shot. So far, I am very happy with the shoes. Does this mean I will always stick with a stability shoe, probably not. I love to try out new things, so I know a minimalist shoe will enter into my collection eventually, even it if might not work for me.
I have gotten the shoe dog done on me at road runner sports. They kinda told me what I already knew. And that was that I was a midfoot/forefoot striker. They told me that my right foot pronates but that sense I run forefoot, that I can run in a neutral shoe. I currently run in only minimal shoes, because that fit best for me. Anything higher than a minimal is to constricting to my feet and they tend to hurt my feet. My favorite shoe right now is the Vivobarefoot Evo. It has such a great feel.
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I\’m having good results with my shoes so far, but I would like to try a more minimalist shoe for my next pair, just to see how I feel in all different kinds of shoes. Getting the analysis done was something I had wanted to do for a long time, but I do take it all with a grain of salt. I\’m a fairly new runner and I know shoes are the most important part, so I wanted to get the advice of someone who knew what they were talking about.
How much were the shoes? Did they have you run barefoot on the treadmill or just with shoes on?
I have had a gait analysis done, I find it to be a big sales pitch! I use vivobarefoot shoes and the minimus trail shoes. I also have a pair of huaraches that I put on when I go to the track and do speed work.
I dont understand why they would sell you a stability shoe if your a forefoot/midfoot strike runner… I mean you can run in any shoe there is on the wall. I wonder if they took into consideration that you are a midfoot runner. Did they also recommend insoles?
The shoes were the same price that I would\’ve paid at any other big box sports apparel store. I wouldn\’t have purchased them otherwise. I really didn\’t feel like it was a sales pitch. They didn\’t recommend insoles and I never felt pushed. I had a friend who was having horrible pain running and went there and got awesome results from the new shoes, which is why I decided to go there finally.
Thanks for sharing your gait analysis experience! Lovely shoes too!
Thanks! 🙂