Did I get gait analysis done wrong/shoes missold?

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 PPP 13 Aug 2018

I am relatively new to running training and I am hovering around 30 miles per week just now while training for a half marathon. Given the estimated lifetime of a shoe (300-500 miles), I will probably wear out the current ones and will need a new pair by then. 

I went to the same running store where I had a gait analysis done based on walking/jogging. I was told I am over-pronating. I used to have flat feet when I was a child, so I thought that would be it. Given on the current pair (Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18), I was recommended either Asics GT-2000 6 or On Cloudace. I quite liked the feel of On shoes, but at £170 it seemed a bit steep! I asked if any other On shoes (On Cloudace are the most expensive ones) would fit me and the saleswoman just said that given I have had gait analysis when I bought the first pair, these are the best stability/cushioned shoes suited for me. 

However, I dug a bit deeper online and I started inspecting my walking/everyday shoes. All of them seem to have the same wear - from the examples on the interwebs, it doesn't look like I am over-pronating too much. Few photos of my non-running shoes: https://imgur.com/a/KSto9uE . The running shoes still got only 150 miles in, so don't show much enough wear. 

 

Is it worth going to a different running shop and asking for another gait analysis? Am I overthinking? 

 ianstevens 13 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

How you walk and how you run are most likely different due to the different biomechanics of each movement - n of 1, but I find my day-to-day footwear wears in a completely different fashion to my running shoes. 

Somewhat skirting the question - but if you like the Brooks, why not just buy another pair when the ones you have die?

EDit: FWIW, I got about 1000km out of my last pair of Brooks shoes before they fell apart.

Post edited at 13:48
 ClimberEd 13 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

A friend of mine was one of the first ON dealers in the UK, I think I bought my first pair from him over 4 years ago - I can tell you that ONs are all 'neutral shoes' - different styles have different levels of cushioning and drop but they are not based around different pronation styles.

So they sales women is in full on BS mode on that basis.

 

On a more subjective basis I think that gait analysis is 'overdone' and you are best of getting a pair of shoes that fit and feel comfortable and building your milage gradually. 

OP PPP 13 Aug 2018
In reply to ianstevens:

I get what you mean - why switch something that works? I do get occasional knee/hip pain, but this might also be due to greater weight (5'10", 11.7 stone) which is slowly been dropping and increased intensity. Nothing that doesn't go away within days, but knees can feel quite heavy after a long run. Could also be due to form, eh

 r0b 13 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

Brooks Adrenaline are a great shoe for overpronaters, Asics GT-2000 are quite similar. Don't know anything much about On but £170!?! Jeepers creepers I try not to pay more than £60 per pair of shoes.

OP PPP 13 Aug 2018
In reply to ClimberEd:

Thanks! Yeah, I have been basically denied trying a different pair of ON shoes. I liked how Cloudace felt, but I am nowhere near elite levels to require the most expensive road running shoe in the store. 

I believe they are the only distributor around me apart from travelling to a different city. 

 Neil Williams 13 Aug 2018
In reply to ianstevens:

Overpronating is a funny thing.  Allegedly I do (and I've seen it on the video), yet the shoes I get on with best (that cause me least in the way of foot pain, blisters or knee pain) are....completely flat and unsprung barefoot style shoes.  They also last absolutely ages as there is no foam to collapse (and when it does that tends to lead to gait issues in itself).

In other words...if your shoes work for you, stick with them.

Post edited at 14:25
 summo 13 Aug 2018
In reply to Neil Williams:

And many people who do get pain wrongly blame the shoes, when it could other factors, like always running on the road facing traffic on a cambered surface. 

 Toby_W 13 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

I had simple gait analysis done years ago (run over the pad), my feet are big and stiff so soft shoes.  Brilliant.

More recently I had the full on treadmill type done.  Most uncomfortable pair of shoes ever.

From now on I will be trying several pairs and buying the most comfortable ones.

Cheers

Toby

 daWalt 13 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

no expertise here; and my running is definitely.... leisurely.

pronation, or over-pronation, isn't like being pregnant - in that it's not like you are or aren't and there's no in-between. You might do less or more depending on the shoe, and even with neutral shoes you may be more stable in one pair than the other. not to mention that your foot shape could change in response to new activity.

It may be a valid suggestion that you should consider instep support. but you want a good treadmill trial in the shop, with comparison shoes etc.

I'd wear the current ones out properly until you can really see how your feet have landed in them over the miles.

Personal preference: Buy by feel; the less I feel the better in that I don't feel any particular point of contact between foot an shoe,

 

 Neil Williams 13 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

> I get what you mean - why switch something that works? I do get occasional knee/hip pain, but this might also be due to greater weight (5'10", 11.7 stone) which is slowly been dropping and increased intensity. Nothing that doesn't go away within days, but knees can feel quite heavy after a long run. Could also be due to form, eh

11.7 stone is not heavy

 angry pirate 13 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

Back in the days before I was diagnosed with arthritis I was plagued with lower back "soft tissue" injuries. I was told I was an over pronator and Brooks Adrenaline were the best for me by a long way.

I had gait analysis done and specialist orthotics made to correct my over pronation/ differing leg lengths etc which "caused my soft tissue injuries"

I ended up seeing an NHS physio who immediately chucked my orthotics out, gave me some exercises, and most importantly when they failed to yield an improvement referred me to a rheumatologist and an MRI scan.

Needless to say, I'm less than impressed by gait analysis and any running "advice" you pay for. Your milage may vary...

 

Quick edit: Still use Brooks Adrenaline: they're ace!

Post edited at 15:39
 ianstevens 13 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

I wouldn't worry about your weight - 11.7 stone is what, 75kg? In that case you're not a lot heavier than me (single digit kgs) and the same height. I suspect your occasional knee/hip pain is due to intensity increase - how long have you been on the HM plan? Like you say, could also be form related although shoes can be an element of that. Try to add some form-related work into your warm up/down/easy runs - this can be as basic as just thinking about your form and you start to realise your problems. A few conscious thoughts can correct things. For example, I used to shrug my shoulders really badly, and a few weeks of focusing on keeping them down and back during easy runs means I do it far less than I used to.  

As others have said, I'd keep using your running shoes for now and worry about a new pair when the ones you have now start to die - then you'll have a useful wear pattern to go by.

 ianstevens 13 Aug 2018
In reply to Neil Williams:

> In other words...if your shoes work for you, stick with them.

Agreed. I've had a bit of time out of running (~12 months) and am aware that I'll need some new shoes soon-ish. Needless to say, the ones I like no longer exist and the new version is probably going to be subtly different. (Actually it's quite a bit different - they've gone back to "proper" laces on the road shoe, which gives my allegiance away)

 Michael Hood 13 Aug 2018
In reply to ianstevens:

Don't you just love it when they "improve" a shoe you're totally happy with.

Most times I've changed makes is when they've done something to a favourite shoe.

Post edited at 17:35
 yorkshireman 13 Aug 2018
In reply to ianstevens:

> EDit: FWIW, I got about 1000km out of my last pair of Brooks shoes before they fell apart.

Pretty much all my Brooks (admittedly trail shoes but I started running with the Adrenaline) get ~1000km before my wife forces me to throw them out because of the smell.

IMHO I think gait analysis is a bit of a con and you shouldn't read too much into it - there's an argument that its just part of your natural bio-mechanical movement anyway. Much better getting a pair of shoes you like the feel of and seem to work for you.

 ianstevens 13 Aug 2018
In reply to yorkshireman:

> Pretty much all my Brooks (admittedly trail shoes but I started running with the Adrenaline) get ~1000km before my wife forces me to throw them out because of the smell.

Yeah, no complaints at all with that lifespan! I've trashed shoes in under 200 km in the past - no names, but putting graphene in the sole won't stop the top falling apart.

 Dave the Rave 13 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

For £170 I would expect levitation.

OP PPP 13 Aug 2018
In reply to Dave the Rave:

Yeah, I tried them on and I was wondering “are these the most expensive ones?”. They certainly felt weirdly good - very different from any other pair. Their other pairs are in somewhat manageable price range, as long as I’m not doing 100 miles per week (not something I’m planning any time soon!). 

 

Thanks everyone for the advice! UKC has always been perfect to give a variety of opinions and it feels like we have the knowledge in every topic. 

 hokkyokusei 14 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

My top tip (for what it's worth) is that whenever someone suggests "MyFavouriteRunningShoe N" google for "MyFavouriteRunningShoe N-1".

https://www.sportsshoes.com/products/asics/mens/?q=gt-2000%2a&s=3&l...

I'm very happy with my Asics GT-2000s. I'm not exactly sure which number they are, but I've had about three pair and I'm sure they're not all the but they've all felt the same on my feet.

 SouthernSteve 14 Aug 2018
In reply to PPP:

Buy the shoe that is most comfortable. That has a better correlation with injury prevention that that based on pronation (support v flat). If you have some time look up Tom Goom and other physio's podcasts on choosing shoes - the whole overpronation paradigm is a bit questionable unless you are on an extreme.

A shop assistant may vary from very inexperienced to highly skilled at looking at your gait, if you are worried see someone trained.


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