When I first started running I had no idea that trainers were different, I don’t mean that brands as you can clearly see by the price that something with a recognised name on the side might be more expensive than others, may look good but at the same time, they can really damage your feet. I learnt the hard way and I know I am not alone in this. I normally take a size 10 in a shoe, and dutifully went out and bought a pair of cheap trainers at my size. After just a few little runs in my shoe of choice, I started to get pains in my feet ankles and calves. A running friend asked me a really important question, he asked “have you had your gait analysis done?”… my what? He took the time to explain that not all trainers are the same and that I could cause myself immense damage by running in the wrong type. I have wide feet, I didn’t realise it at the time but did notice my toes were hurting in the shoes I had purchased.

I went to a specialist running shop and asked about my gait analysis this is a completely painless process and involved running for a short distance on a treadmill whilst someone filmed my foot strike. I found out that I have wide feet and I would need a trainer with a larger toe box ( top of the trainer) and that I overpronate this means that I would need a trainer that helps my foot to stop rolling inwards again causing discomfort in the wrong trainer.