Computerised Foot Measurement - Gear

Joemac

05/12/2002 at 13:06

New Balance have electronic foot measuring gear in a shop in Bradford - about 100 mile round trip for me.. Would it be worth the drive? Do you know of anywhere closer to Wigan that does this?

tiny toes

05/12/2002 at 17:35

Have you been to sweatshop in Chorley?
I'm not sure if they can measure your feet electronically, but they have a treadmill for gait analysis I think. They are also quite helpful.

Clare Hallam

06/12/2002 at 12:03

When I went to Sweatshop in Chorley they had an adidas footscan which you run across, it puts an image of your foot onto a PC and they use that to judge whether you pronate, over-pronate or whatever which in theory should help them match shoes to your feet more accurately. Just be warned though you do feel a bit silly running down the shop over the pad if there are other people around!

Ironman

06/12/2002 at 13:05

Joe, is it in Sportshoes Unlimited in Bradford? Will have a look next time I am up there.

Gareth

Joemac

06/12/2002 at 13:33

Thanks - very helpful. I'll try Chorley. Ironman, it is in the shop you mention, maybe worth a look. I have one foot bigger than the other but New Balance shoes seem to fit me well for some reason. I really like them.

Tom Bombadil

06/12/2002 at 14:15

Clare, just a thought do you run over the pad barefoot or in trainers ? Most people run completely differently barefoot to what they do in shoes.

When running barefoot, you naturally land on forefoot using the foot arch and calf muscles as a spring to absorb the impact. The heel only momentarily touches the ground (with no force). When in shoes most people rely on cushioning in the heel, in fact most shoes don't give you any option but to strike with the rearfoot since the heel is so elevated.

Surely if the pad was to be used barefoot then this would be completely meaningless if you're a heelstriker when running in shoes ?

Clare Hallam

06/12/2002 at 14:20

Hi Tom, Am trying to remember, I'm 99% certain I did it barefoot.

New Balance Running

06/12/2002 at 14:49

Hi Joe - just scanning through the forum when I spotted your message. I work for New Balance (running marketing) and we're based around the corner from you in Warrington.

Sportsshoes Unlimited do indeed have the electronic pro-fit machine and Sweatshop are always worth a visit for quality of service. However, if its easier, pop into our office and I'll be happy to do the measuring for you in our showroom. We don't always have the pro-fit machine permanently in the office but have other measuring devices to hand which do the same length/width job....let me know what days are convenient and I'll arrange to meet you.

Joemac

06/12/2002 at 15:34

Very kind offer - your service seems as good as your shoes! If you'd care to mail me at steeplechasing@aol.com with your name and contact number I'll call to make arrangements.

Joemac

Andrew Whaley

06/12/2002 at 19:10

NB Running, its not often that we get chance to talk directly to shoe manufacturers directly, do you mind if I ask a question ?

Why do shoe manufacturers not make shoes for forefoot strikers ? All shoes on the market are aimed at heel strikers in fact all marketing material put out by shoe manufacturers even states that heel striking is the correct way to run when it clearly isn't (try running barefoot or watch the elite athletes next time they're on the tv). Anyway merits of heel/forefoot aside, a significant proportion of runners are forefoot strikers and usually have to manage as best they can with existing shoes mostly by opting for racing flats. There must be a market there for an enterprising manufacturer to exploit. What we need is something like the RX Terrain but with a thinner midsole at the heel and obviously a road style sole, in fact not dissimilar from track spikes but with a little midsole and obviously no hard plastic underneath.

Have a look at Gordon Piries comments on suitable shoes in 'Running Fast and Injury Free', downloadable from http://www.gordonpirie.com

I'm sure you get asked this all the time from other crackpots too ?

popsider

06/12/2002 at 21:07

Adidas Footscan - this is a pad on the floor of a shop? Do they seriously get people running across the floor of a shop and try and crack on that it has any relation to the way they would strike the ground mid-way through a race or a training run?

Pizza Man:-)

06/12/2002 at 21:52

Andrew, this is something that has concerned me for a while, since running barefoot on the treadmill.
Humans have evolved for forefoot running, why are we forced to land on our heels when wearing trainers?
More to the point if I ran as mother nature nature intended and ran on my forefoot would I stop tearing my bloody calf muscles?

New Balance Running

09/12/2002 at 10:22

Hi Andrew, you raise a fair point.

You're probably right in that many brands' running shoes are developed with a bias towards heel strikers, supinators I guess would be another group who often feel underserviced.

However, I do think that more running shoes are appearing on the market more naturally aligned to the gait and action of forefoot strikers. Just talking about NB, we've recently addressed this with 3 new additions to our line. The 830, 730 and 770 (same as 730 but with an anti-pronation post) were all developed more for forefoot strikers to complement our range of plusher heel striker shoes (1220, 854, 764, 1021 etc).

All 3 are lightweight performance responsive trainers with much thinner midsoles but still the same grippy durable road outsole. If you go to the NB page within the gear section of this site you can see the reviews of all 3.....the 830 in particular has done great for us within race event shoe counts among the elite, efficient forefoot runners.

Granted they're not as thin in the heel as the racing comp line which is the next step but are popular enough with our sponsored athletes and triathletes.I guess the issue is of communication ie are brands doing enough to shout about the differences between the range and you're right that we can do more.

Thanks for the feedback.

popsider

09/12/2002 at 11:11

Thanks for that NBR, checked out the reviews, look like possible alternatives to my current Nike shoe - will try them on for fit when I need a new pair.

Tom Bombadil

09/12/2002 at 11:28

Looking through the range, I would have thought the RC240 might be the best bet. Interestingly, this is the shoe recommended by the infamous Dr. Romanov on http://www.posetech.com

Personally, I would like to see something really radical more like a ballet shoe with a rubber outer sole. I like to run barefoot when I get the chance but its just way too cold, wet and dirty to do it outside in the UK, so a shoe that was the absolute bare minimum would be great. I've tried just running in socks but Mrs. B. shouts at me when I get back for ruining them.

Apparently there is a current trend amongst top athletes to train in Nike Zoom Waffles which are similar to a slipper.

I haven't really found a road shoe that I like yet, I may try the RC240 next though. My all time favourites are my Walsh racers (Sorry, NB I did try the RX terrain but the Walshes had the better fit for me), I can't wait for some decent snow because then I can wear them for road running aswell.

New Balance Running

09/12/2002 at 11:40

Tom - if you want a shoe that's the nearest thing to a sock try our RC150...142g, lightest shoe we've ever maunfactured. Very little support as you'd expect but good fun and extremely responsive...more so than the heavier RC240.

Tom Bombadil

09/12/2002 at 11:45

Funnily enough, I just found that on the US site - it looks perfect. I couldn't find it on the UK site, is it available in this country ?

Slowboy

09/12/2002 at 12:19

NBR, can I transfer to marketing please, then I can read the forum as my job instead of only ever coming on in my lunchtime, honest.

I've found the 770 a great shoe for trying to go from a heel-strike style to a forefoot strike, as there is enough cushioning in the heel for when you get tired and fall back into the heel-strike, plus it's posted.

New Balance Running

09/12/2002 at 13:05

Tom - it is available but not as widespread as in the US. Try one of our 'premier fit centre' running specialists (can get local dealer from our NB UK website) and if they haven't got it they can order direct from our head office if size is in stock.

Slowboy - so you claim to be on the NB payroll as well....expose yourself please, I'd love to know who you are.

Slowboy

09/12/2002 at 13:09

Just click on my name on the message above and the horrible truth is revealed.....