Brooks are doing some shoe parties at selected retailers. They will be offering free gait analysis and free Brooks gifts.

Friday 3rd February
EASY RUNNER, Bristol 0117 9297787

Saturday 4th February
TOP RUNNER, Leatherhead 01372 384160
RUNNERSWORLD, Rayners Lane 020 88686997
VI SPORT, Belfast 02890 701333

Friday 10th February
ARO SPORTS, Hitchen 01462 420292

Saturday 11th February
ARO SPORTS, Harpenden 01582 768900
RUN4IT, Edinburgh 0131 2283444
SHOEFAIR SPORTS, Banbridge 028 40662750
ADVANCE PERFORMANCE, Peterborough 01733 891111

Saturday 18th February
ALEXANDRA SPORTS, Portsmouth 02392 698285
SPORTS SHOES UNLIMITED, Bradford 01274 530530
CASTLE SPORTS, Enniscorthy 00 353 54 39090

Saturday 25th February
APEX SPORTS, Farnham Common 01753 647339
TRIANGLE, Leeds 0113 2590477
ALFIE HALE SPORTS, Waterford 00 353 51 872837
SWIM BIKE RUN, Oxford 01865 723580

Friday 3rd March
LONDON CITY RUNNER, St Pauls, London 020 73291955

Saturday 4th March
UP AND RUNNING, Bournemouth 01202 522666
ATHLETIC STORES, Belfast 028 90320491

Saturday 11th March
JOG SHOP, Brighton 01273 675717
RUNNERS NEED, Liverpool St, London 020 72473500
ARNOTTS, Dublin 00 3531 8721111

Saturday 18th March
NATTERJACK, Southport 01704 546082
NORTHERN RUNNER, Newcastle 0191 241 1111
JOHN BUCKLEY SPORTS, Cork 00 35321 4508830

Saturday 25th March
CAMPUS SPORTS, Perth 01738 639456

Saturday 1st April
MAX SPORT, Lydney 01594 842515
SNOWLINES, Edinburgh 0131 2292402

Saturday 8th April
RUNNING BATH, Bath 01225 462555
GREAVES, Glasgow 0141 2213322

Ladies Exclusive Party Nights

Wednesday 1st February
CAMPUS SPORTS, Perth
01738 639456

Thursday 9th February
RUNNERS NEED, Liverpool St, London
020 72473500

Wednesday 15th February
FIT2RUN, Abingdon
01235 553899

Tuesday 21st February
RUNNING FREE, Poole
01202 741900

Wednesday 1st March
BIRMINGHAM RUNNER, Birmingham
0121 7456007

Wednesday 8th March
TOP RUNNER, Leatherhead
01372 384160

Wednesday 15th March
UP & RUNNING, Huddersfield
01484 535393

Thursday 23rd March
ADVANCE PERFORMANCE, Peterborough
01733 891111

30th March
NORTHERN RUNNER, Newcastle
0191 261 4322

Intrigued to see how the analysis will work at London City Runner. The shop is marginally smaller than your average portaloo with no space for a treadie or suchlike... Does running up the stairs count as gait analysis?

Is it bring a bottle... and what does a girl wear to these parties

I think I have a bottle of 1988 Lucozade Grand Cru which I've kept for just such an occasion...

At Brooks shoe parties (held at various specialist running store
locations throughout the Spring and Autumn) runners of all abilities, shapes and
sizes get the chance to talk to a Brooks technical rep about their running and
their running shoes. They can have free gait analysis (using the Dartfish
video system if applicable) to help them identify the correct footwear
for their running. In addition if someone purchases a Brooks shoe then they
get a free gift - but there is aso gift for just trying on a pair of Brooks!
Brooks have recently introduced some specific ladies parties (usually
mid-week evenings) where women can see and try ladies specific products as well
as free gait analysis and running advice.

Martin, what's the Dartfish system? How does it actually work?

The Dartfish system is a video analysis system for identifying various body movements. It is used worldwide by many coaches (various sports) to aid looking at technique. At Brooks we use it to film runners through their gait cycle. We can then replay the footage, frame by frame/slow motion etc to help determine if the runner is a severe pronator, mild pronator,supinator, neutral runner etc,etc. Then the correct recommendation for shoes can then be made. The runner can then check (incl filming )the gait cycle trying on various styles of shoes. Some specialist running store retailers have also installed the Dartfish system.

Oh, OK. Thanks. I was expecting sensors, electrodes, etc, but it's just a camcorder at the end of a treadie then... (nothing wrong with this by the way, I've used it and think it's good, just never realised it had a snappy marketing name...)

so Martin... no nibbles and bubbly then

trinity, kind of depends on the retailer. I've been to one and there were light refreshments - OJ, lemonade, jaffa cakes, jammy dodgers. Apparently the beers were still chilling.