Feeling Stylish

I am by no means a runner, I am someone who jogs and complains about it. But I’ve been doing this a short while and there’s a lot I’ve learned. As a beginner runner I hope there’s something I can share with you. I enjoy running but I never realised just how much there was to take into consideration.

Shoes.

Get proper running shoes. If you can get a gait analysis done at a running shop (their shoes tend to be quite expensive though so if you are strapped for cash find out what they recommend then buy from somewhere such as Spartoo.)

I overpronate, which greatly affects how I run, where I might get injured and what shoes I need to buy to correct this. Runner’s World explain this here.

Because I’ve been finding myself with some calf and shin pain I’m thinking my current shoes aren’t really doing the job. I currently have the Asics shoes below. They are a great mid-distance running shoe that aren’t too highly priced.

They’re comfortable and nothing rubs but I’ve just got this feeling that they aren’t right for me. They’ve now also done a great deal of miles so it’s probably time for an upgrade.

Other things to think about

• You can’t always run through the pain, if anything hurts then you should take a look at how/where you are running.
• The impact on your joints is huge when you run. Bear this in mind if you have bad ankles, knees, hips or lower back.
• It’s easier on your joints if you run on grass or treadmill than if you run on road/pavement.
• Walking quickly at an incline burns as many calories as running.
• Stretch! It helps to prevent injury. Dynamic stretches before you run so you just warm your muscles.

I am not an expert. These are just things I’ve learnt from being a beginner runner. If you have any questions or are injured then please consult a physiotherapist, doctor, personal trainer or similar. If anyone would like to correct or further inform me on anything above then please do so!

I recently bought some Patagonia Scree Shield hiking shoes.

I’m getting past the initial breaking in stage and am loving these. I went on a Geocaching walk around Thorpe in Norwich. At first we stuck to paths in the woods until our GPS decided to send us somewhere ridiculous. I climbed a big, pathless hill amongst wet leaves, brambles and holly bushes. It was scratchy and tiring but my shoes did their job.

I didn’t slip or lose my footing once. The tread in these held me onto the side of that hill perfectly. I then decided to climb on a fallen tree in them. I felt good.

They have a special way of lacing up that ensures your foot stays put. The sole is designed to keep your foot stable and reduce pronation (walking on the insides of your feet).

They look better than some hiking trainers which means you could probably bear to go to the pub in them after a day out and about doing some walking.

I do a fair amount of walking and it is amazing what a difference a good pair of hiking shoes/boots/trainers make. I have two pairs, these for summer and some huge furry boots for the winter. Getting a decent pair of shoes will help you avoid injury and be at your most comfortable when hiking around.