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Running trainers

Hello everyone. Just new to triathlon and was looking for advice on trainers. Should i be looking to go and get trainers from a specialist running shop that provides gait analysis or will an everyday sports retailer do.

Thanks in advance guys/girls

Comments

  • Specialist running shop.

    Running in trainers bought off the shelf can lead to injury.

    Once you get a pair your happy with you can always try getting the same online for cheaper.

  • Dave - There is a lot of evidence that all this specialist running shoes for specific gaits, has not reduced injury levels.  In simple terms, we are all used to our specific gaits and our body has adapted to them.  Trainers that try and provide specific support can actually throw us out !  

    So my recommendation is go for a well known brand, buy from a well known retailer so you know you are getting a genuine item, go for a normal all round type shoe, which offers reasonable cushioning (unless you intend to go off-road / muddy a lot, then you might need a trail type shoe) and look for offers.  I have a number of gait issues, pronate, land on my heels, one leg longer than the other - I have had all sorts of makes and the occasional minor niggles that I have are all due to not stretching properly and regularly.

  • Hi there

    I'm new to triathlons too, about to do my first sprint in mid October. Got the Lycra tri suit - very tight indeed, certainly is like a second skin, but feels really good to wear and just the right size. I'm now looking at zoot ultra TT 7.0 running shoes. Does anybody have any comments, good and bad about buying a pair?

    Thanks

  • risris Posts: 1,002

    do you already have some running shoes? it's your first race, so if you have some runners that already fit and you know work for you then consider some £5 elastic laces and it's job done. 

    if you haven't got any running shoes at the moment do you know what your gait is like? the zoot ones look like cushioned/neutral so if you have support needs (pronator) then you are probably out of luck. if you like subtle colours you would be disappointed, too! 

  • Hi ris

     

    Thanks for your post

    I do have some trainers at the moment, but they're very old and need replacing quick!

    My gait it pretty standard and don't have any special requirements really. I've read a few reviews about the zoot's and they all come out favourably, light weight, quick to get on, dry quickly after wet feet from the swim etc. They're coming out tops at the moment.

    I've embraced the fact that i'm wearing a Lycra tri suit for the first time in my life, so a pair of bright green running shoes after this........is a walk in the park! ????

  • Zoot are a loose fit in the toe box and I dont get on with them at all, but others swear by them.

    You need to get your gait analyzed and check before you buy that you can return them, if you don't get on with them.Sweatshop have a 30 day returns policy and I know that some shoes come back covered in all sorts. Sorry I don't know if any others do the same. 

    With gait analysis its on a treadmill, it is not that accurate ( I run in a different way on a treadmill to tarmac.) but it is a good starting point. A good running shop will work out any problems with width and have a selection of varied widths- foot roll, foot spread.

    I use adidas zero for all running I used to be a runner and cannot get on with the boost, but with narrow feet I cannot use a wide toe box, it makes transitions slightly slower, but 5 seconds is nothing when doing distance. 

    TRI specific shoes are great but only if they fit you and your style.

     

  • Hi mate

    Thanks very much for your valued advice. Sorry for the delay in reply.....been training hard for the tri next month, getting to grips with front crawl again!

    I'll take a look at the adidas zero and give them a go while I'm getting my feet measured in a specialist running shop.

    I've run for quite a few years now and have never paid too much attention to a proper fit of my shoes. I'm embracing triathlons for the first time and want to sort out the shoes properly. I'm sorted with just about everything else apart from the trainers. I'm strangely drawn the the luminous zoots, but I know that shouldn't sway my decision. Will let you know my outcome.

    One last question mate. Do you wear socks with your cycling shoes and trainers or go bare feet?

     

  • Here is a link to a podcast Bobby McGee (6-time Olympic running coach) talking about his favorite trainers and why. Hope this helps!

    http://goo.gl/DH8qov

  • Hi mate

    Thanks for the link. It seemed to be invalid when I typed it in!

     

  • acsacs Posts: 4

    The link worked for me - cut and pasted into address line

  • Got it! Didn't work on the tablet, but has on the desktop machine. I'll have a listen.

    Cheers.

  • As others above have said there may be a liberal dose of snake oil about certain things but at the end of the day trying on a pair of shoes and ensuring they're comfortable is the most important bit, but the key is ensuring they're comfortable when you're doing what you'll be doing in them, i.e. running. This is where a specialist shop comes into its own, they will usually let you run on a running machine and as part of the gait analysis will often video you so you can see what you're like in them. If you put a shoe on and it's not comfortable, it's a non-starter. If you put a shoe on and when you run in it you find that the previously comfortable part where the toe box was accommodating now means that your foot slides around, it means you'll get blisters.

    Someone mentioned Sweatshop and they're 30 days return policy, it's good advice, but equally they'll do the above anyway so are a decent place to start.

    For me, i don't get on at all with Mizuno, Adidas or Saucony but love Brooks and Asics. Go figure... or rather go try on your own!

  • Hi mate

    Thanks for your advice. Lots of sound tips on something that is very important to get right.

    I tried on the zoots at a specialist shop, and really liked them, they're perfect. Running in them is like running in a very comfortable pair of slippers. They're light, no movement in the toe box area. I bought a size bigger(on advice from others) than I normally take and this has been a good choice. No rubbing on the feet.

    They are tri specific and this is what I ideally wanted. Really like the bright green, i've also been knocking valuable seconds off my running time.

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