CHOOSING the right running shoes can decrease the risks of injury and improve running economy.

They won’t turn you into Paula Radcliffe, but will benefit you in the long run.

For the last few years, I’ve been wearing a combination of some generic Nike trainers given as a birthday present and a pair of my dad’s old trainers.

This cavalier approach to shoe selection is used by many and for me it worked well, with only a couple of minor injuries over the years.

A few weeks back, I thought I’d get fitted out properly and see what shoes I should be wearing based on my running gait.

Gait is basically the way the body moves when you run.

We’re all different. Some of us land on our mid-foot while others adopt a heel-to-toe technique.

We all have different leg lengths, ankle flexibility, hip stability, and arches.

Often we aren’t aware of exactly what is going on so we adapt.

Sometimes this compensation can lead to injuries in the foot, knees, hips and lower back.

And it may be a few years down the road before this becomes obvious.

A few minutes on a treadmill was enough time for Liam Dixon of Run Swindon to film and analyse my gait.

I was surprised that, despite my feet being flat as pancakes, I am not bad technique wise.

My body had adapted to my old shoes, but the new pair of Asics prescribed by Liam would offer me support while being light and well fitted.

After feeling weird initially, I’m more stable, and I’m much more confident doing longer runs knowing the shoes are fit for purpose.

If you run, don’t just pick the shoes that look the best. Give your body what it needs.

Ronny Terry is a Swindon-based personal trainer and fitness writer.
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