Im going to treat myself next week and im going a specialist running shop 53-12 in colchester and get fitted for some trainers. But what i wanted to know was should i buy them from the shop or would it be wiser to go buy them cheaper from somewhere else, if you can get hold of them?

Local running shops need our support Hayley and most will give discount if you ask nicely enough and most are also pretty good if you are on a budget as well.

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Getting ready for the GNR

O.k i feel guilty now if i go somewhere else, so ill buy from there if i get something!!!

Don't buy anything you are not happy with you want a pair of shoes that correct your gait and that you feel comfortable wearing.

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Getting ready for the GNR

I try to go to my local running shop for gear on a regular basis, as they're friendly and helpful - they've even shouted support when I've been racing! I generally try to pick up clothing and the occasional gel from them.

However, I tend not to buy my trainers from them as I have saved myself £30-40 by shopping online.

I think Hayley wants to get her gait checked out - I wouldn't recommend a newbie buy a pair of trainers off the net as they would probably pick the wrong pair.

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Getting ready for the GNR

Thats another good thing about my local running shop, they do gait analysis too. I would have picked the completely wrong shoe if I'd been left to my own devices.

O.k guys, i'll go there then and get them to do what there have to do to me. Hope it's a good shop, it has a website if you want to take a look, im only going there because its the closest one to home. www.53-12.com.
Im hoping i'll be superwomen after buying good shoes and start running in them

I take the view that as long as you can afford it that if you've used the expertise of the shop then you should reward it by buying from it as long as they aren't taking the mickey. Once you've identified something that works then buy the same again as cheap as you can by all means.

If you really can't afford it then do what you have to.

Nice to see the people on this forum show a bit of loyalty to their local running shop and not decide to use their advice before disappearing to save a few squid online! Of course if your local shop is asking stupid prices then it's a smidge different!

I think in your situation though Hayley, unless you have a photographic memory you're not gonna remember all the best online shoe prices - it tends to be when you have an idea of what you're gonna buy that you can compare prices more easily. Anyway, i'm sure you'll be okay and you local store will sort you out a treat

Thanks for the replys guys im going next week, and will get them from the shop, as long as they are helpful and friendly which im sure they will be

another benefit of getting your shoes from the shop that did your gait analysis, is that if the shoes turn out not to be good for you (i.e. cause pain because they are not the right technical shoe for you or simply have a fault like the sole comes apart/off), they should take the shoes back or replace them with another more suitable type - even if you've worn them for a week!

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Sarah Kleeman
Snowdonia Running Guides

Blogsite: http://sarzmountainrun.blogspot.com/