Danimalrunsagain wrote: »

The best advice I can give is to find a store that specializes in running. They can answer all your questions and many can provide gait analysis where they can match shoes based on your running stride and footstrike pattern.

This!

arp125 wrote: »

But then again i did just start running long distance, so i will for sure go talk with a running store. I actually found one recently, just been kinda shy to go in.

Don't be shy!
The running store is awesome. Mine has a running group that meets 3x a week. So I'm there 2x week and its great for getting out in this cold weather

arp125 wrote: »

But then again i did just start running long distance, so i will for sure go talk with a running store. I actually found one recently, just been kinda shy to go in.

Running stores love runners. Running store employees are nearly always runners themselves and they love to help other runners find what works best for them. There is definitely no need to be shy.

brenstar05 wrote: »

I agree... go to a running store and they can answer questions. Most running stores will also do a gait assessment where they put you on a treadmill and take video of your stride and then recommend the best shoe for your particular running style. I did this when I started running and then I took their shoe advice and found them for cheaper at another store. Sometimes the specialty running stores are expensive, but the advice is beneficial.

1. not all running stores have a treadmill to do this - most of the ones in Connecticut and the one I've been to in Maine don't.
2. Even if it's a Fleet Feet store, it is still a local running shop and it's kind of a *kitten* thing to spend an hour with the person and buy the pair elsewhere. Buying a second pair of the same shoe elsewhere is one thing. But I would feel really bad spending all of that time with them to not buy from a local shop.

lorierin22 wrote: »

603reader wrote: »

2. Even if it's a Fleet Feet store, it is still a local running shop and it's kind of a *kitten* thing to spend an hour with the person and buy the pair elsewhere. Buying a second pair of the same shoe elsewhere is one thing. But I would feel really bad spending all of that time with them to not buy from a local shop.

Some stores will charge a small fee for their initial assessment (my LRS charges $15), but if you buy the shoes there, they will waive the fee. So if you are getting a great discount, it may be worth it to just pay for the assessment and shop elsewhere.

However, the great thing about buying shoes at your LRS is the return policy. Most of these stores allow you 90 days to try out the shoes to make sure they feel as good on your runs as they do in the store. I can't remember the last time I ended up with the same pair of shoes I started with (I'm still desperately trying to find a suitable replacement for my beloved Mizuno Elixirs that were discontinued!)

I love the return policy. With the exception of my fitting in March 2014, I have never left the store without having to return for a different shoe or an insole.

I wanted to cry (and may have) when I got fit for the Saucony Guide 7s by the sports med director at the West Hartford Fleet Feet. That lady has changed my life.

But the stores have a great return policy since they realize that a 5min jog around the store or block isn't really telling.

DonPendergraft wrote: »

I would just add that in my experience a barefoot gait analysis on the treadmill is better. I went to a Fleet Feet about 10 years ago when I really started running and they put me in neutral shoes and did a gait analysis. As a result I spent many years in stability/motion control shoes. I did another gait analysis about 6 months ago or so at at LRS and they do it barefoot. They said I could easily run in a neutral and the correction may have contributed to some of the knee issues during a previous ultra. No problems since. While I said goodbye to a lot of shoes on the market when I went neutral, it did open up another world of shoes for me which is awesome.

Just to add to the barefoot thing, I was sent to a physical therapist for a full body gait analysis (the running store looked at mid calf and down).

She's watched how my ankles roll, how my pelvis tilts, how much or little ROM I have in my ankles. She's made me run barefoot on the treadmill and it's rather telling. It showed me just how much the shoe absorbs the impact from the treadmill (and I was on a non-traditional TM) and how my body compensates to reduce the pain. It was cool.

Nike shoes in general and especially the Nike Free have very flexible soles, I don't think they are great to run in everyday unless you are just running 10 minutes on a treadmill. I had one pair and I used to use them as a lightweight race shoe for 5ks. Asics, New Balance and Brooks are some good brands to keep in mind. But its not just the brand, its the shoe. Try on different ones and see what works best for you. Keep in mind that a good pair of shoes can be costly, but in my experience you get what you pay for. For "arch support" definitely look into getting insoles for whatever arch type you have. The default insoles in running shoes are typically a cheap styrofoam and meant to be replaced.