Hi all,

I'm just over 40, and have, about 9 weeks ago, had an operation on my left knee to remove some broken cartilage. For the first time in about 10 years, I feel that I can start running again - without the pain in my knee that I used to have before the operation. My right knee had a similar operation about 20 years ago, although that operation did not go as well as this more recent operation. I still have a lot of hesitation about running, and the effects of pounding the pavement; but feel that this is the activity that I'm most keen on (more than cycling or swimming).

My question is: Having a healthy respect for injuries, I need some good advice on shoe-buying. Can somebody please recommend me a good shoe shop where I can buy trainers in my local area? I live in Oxford, but am mobile enough to get to neighbouring towns if I need to like Milton Keynes or Reading (but don't particularly fancy a trip to London though).

I think I pronate (if I understand that term correctly), but really just want good cushioning to prevent excessive shocks in my knees. What are the best brands around these days: Nike? Brooke? Asics?

All shoe advice gratefully received.
Karen

bourne sports stoke on trent are very good they are on the net and if you get in touch with them they are good no i dont work for them but i have used them many times

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As you've had knee problems in the past it might well be worth your while seeking advice from a podiatrist and getting a biomechanical assessment.

There is an Up and Running in Oxford and also Fit2Run in Wooton.
Both are excellent running specialists who would be more than able to help you.

Hey guys,

Thanks everyone. I found the Up and Running store in Oxford, and yes they were superb. Assessed my running style on a treadmill, and I'm now the proud owner of some Asics Gel Nimbus VIII's. Expensive, but definitely the ones I was most comfortable with. Have been running with them too yesterday, and yes, my knee still hurts a little, but the pain was gone by this morning.

On the recommendation of seeing a podiatrist - as part of the recovery from my knee op, I had several sessions with a physiotherapist - those sessions are now over, but they, and the surgeon, have cleared me for running again, as long as I start slowly.

So that's what I'm doing - 45 secs running, 90 secs walking - x12 repeats. Can't be too bad?

Sounds good - you didn't say if you were running on grass or not- but grass would be advisable I think. It would also be worth stregthening the medial glute as this will help your alignment when running. You can do exercises to stregthen every day for a couple of weeks then reduce to just maintenance work by doing a few times then just once a week.
http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/ might be helpful.

AJN

Thanks AJN,

At the moment I'm running through my local woodland - so sandy paths and stuff like that. There's no local park where I live, and I don't particularly fancy the concrete pavements, as I know that's not the best surface to run on.

Improved my times on Saturday - I guess all the dog walking over the last few years has given me amore fitness than I thought I had.

Where is the medial glute? Somewhere in my bottom? Thanks for the website, I'll take a look through that.

Karen