My Running Shoes

Exhibit A - Not so Everlast

Exhibit B - Yet to be tested.

If you're new to running and are looking for a pair of nice(ish) running shoes without breaking the bank it can be hard to know where to start. I knew I wanted some better trainers than those above in Exhibit A, but the sky seems to be the limit with the cost of running shoes, and when you start researching the topic you find lots of jargon, like 'minimalist', 'neutral', 'stabilising' etc., which makes you realise footwear is quite a complex subject. To offer a very brief summary:

Lightweight shoes - as the name implies, wear these for speed, not overall training.
Stability shoes - for normal arches, and those with a tendancy to pronate.
Motion control shoes - for low arches and to combat excessive pronation.
Cushioned/Neutral padded shoes - for high arches and supination.

Not going to be all plain sailing...

Photo by JESHOOTS.com from Pexels

I kicked off my running training like any total newbie. I put on an old and highly unremarkable pair of cheap trainers and hit the treadmill. My fitness training isn't totally haphazard though. I do at least intend to follow a Couch to 10k regime advocated by a site called myrunningtips.com. The approach is straightforward. You alternate running and walking, starting with a little running and then gradually increasing the amount you run over a 12 week period. Yes, apparently if I follow this training programme I could be able to run 10km in as little as 12 weeks. Isn't that a little soon given my race is 12 months away. Well yes. But, being realistic, there's a fair chance it'll take me longer, and the next 12 weeks coincide conveniently with summer, which means a far greater opportunity to run outside rather than in the gym on the treadmill.

If I manage to run 10km in 12 weeks, then quite frankly I'll be delighted and will be able to put greater effort into complementary fitness training such as strength training and swimming, secure in the knowledge that the distance is achievable. Of course being in the Highlands there are other avenues for improvement. Lots of hilly terrain round here. Less so in Derby city centre.