Supportive running shoes

4nnabella

I went to a running store called Up and Running here in Nottingham when I started out running. They do gait analysis and he recommended a few trainers for me at various price points and they were really helpful.

http://www.upandrunning.co.uk/shops/index.php?page=map this is a list of their stores, there's one in Birmingham.

Elle7

Thank you all so much. There's been a shop recommended really close to me, so I'll be off there on Tuesday to see what they think. Hopefully they'll get me all sorted out

As everyone seems so knowledgeable, I wondered if anyone could suggest something to make my ankle less painful? Would a sports ankle bandage help at all? It feels so painful, and I've got a horrible burning in the tip of my big toe on the other foot. Are these just because my feet are getting used to running?

Thanks again

jenniewb

Support bandages can help with some pain caused by daily repetative strain (like if your walking and walking and walking all day and feel fatigued and the original pain resurfaces) but don't do so well for the initial pain caused when you start to walk around. The idea is that when your feeling pain its your muscles being used and when you rest they repair (so try not to wear support when resting as the thing with repair is it requires a healthy blood flow to do so, if your feet are crammed into a support bandage the blood flow isn't as good as it could be).

Personally I'd not wear a support bandage unless you have an actual injury caused by the pronation, if its just day to day aches and pains your best bet is to try to learn from the pain, how much you can do how far you can do and adjust accordingly. Support isn't going to suddenly give you more stregnth its just going to limit any swelling and so any inflammation whilst you wear them, inflammation is there for a reason: to cushion the blow, to tell you to stop, to aid recovery. Listen to your body, if you need to stop, stop, if you need to rest its because your body wants to repair. Its your call if you chose to do that or not but in the end your body has the upper hand, if you don't rest, you wont recover and repair for the next day.

If your getting a burning feeling at the top of your big toe this sounds like something very different, have you been fitted for the trainers your running in? if not do you realise your feet swell to about half a size more then their current size? If you don't get trainers large enough you risk all sorts of circulation problems and things like black toenails which is where your toe nail turns black and eventually falls off. Get yourself fitted before you run!

Also wherever possible when running, wear sports socks. These are bigger and thicker then your normal socks and not only work to absorb sweat and so help pronlong the life of your trainers but they also cushion from trainers rubbing and can also help prevent black toe nails (as long as your trainers do fit: they cannpt make up for lost circulation from trainers not fitting!!). Many will also be left/right designed so offer a little biometric support, nothing ground breaking but is useful to bear in mind if your a perfectionist!

With regards to running, if your getting pains your probably going at it too hard for your body. Everyone is different, you will probably get aches and pains as its an impact sport but you shouldn't be in loads of pain at all. If things hurt take a step back, rest for a few days and start afresh pain free. Learn where your limits and and work up to them but not past them. Eventually your body will adapt and you will be able to do more but by pushing too hard for your body you risk injury and recovery then just takes even longer and you end up losing your patterns and habits. Go slow and train up slow, learn to listen to your body if you want to get anywhere at all with it is my advice.