Shoe change-mid training ?

My first post since joining RW, apologies if this should really be in the Shoe section, but I'm hoping to tap into the vast knowledge of the Marathon veterans. My wife and I are both running London, training going well, but wife's shoes are clearly going to need changing before race day. She has always (3 years +) run in neutral shoes (Pegasus) and NEVER seems to be injured (10k to 1/2 M), she has always been incredibly flexible/abnormally double jointed ! She has just had a Gait analysis at LRS, and its obvious that there is considerable pronation in her technique. She was advised to buy structured shoes, which she did(Brooks adrenaline12) 1st run in them tonight , had to stop at 3 miles due to ankle pain. Sorry for the long winded way of getting to the bottom line......what does she do ? Persist with new Brooks ...try and adapt....or Buy new neutral shoes knowing that although she pronates heavily ,it's never been a problem due to her flexibility levels ? She currently does her long runs at 10:15 ish pace, and is aiming to go sub 5

If she had no trouble before then it would seem that neutral shoes would be the obvious answer?  Some running shops will allow you to change if you have just run in them on a treadmill.  If you can find one that does that then your wife could always bring them for a test run first.

Agree with clearly. If it ain't broke don't fix it.... It's a running shop not a sports laboratory... You could get a second opinion if you are still not convinced. Some podiatrists do gait analysis too.. And they are better qualified than shop staff.

Good luck at VLM

Thanks for the responses guys.

I don' t want the thread to imply we were wrongly advised at the shop, the analysis and service was superb and it was very clearly pointed out that there was a risk from making a change mid training...

But surely is there also a risk from increasing mileage in the wrong shoe type?

It's more that I was wondering if anyone had similar experience, or whether pronation needs to be "cured" or left alone until it does cause an injury?

Either way, I'm properly in the Doghouse at home , my dear wife was blissfully ignorant of the condition until the weekend, and is now worrying about a foot strike that is technically wrong,but never caused an issue !

I may be unable to finish this thread ,as if she gets injured I'll be living in the garden shed !

There's nothing "wrong" with pronation - its just natural flexibility in the ankle etc.  Also its more comon than a neutral gait - so she's in with the majority of runners.

As the other have said - if it ain't broke don't fix it.  Best bet is to stick with Pegasus or maybe try another brand's equivalent shoe.

As a cautionary tale, when I started running I just got a pair of Asics 1000 series (i.e. mild support shoe) from the nearest sports outlet, and didn't have any issues.  As I'd got into this running lark, I treated myself to a pair of shoes from a proper running shop and these were neutral based upon the gait analysis.  With hindsght I was never fully happy with the new shoes, but after six weeks I was struck down with really bad knee pain.  After a month or so off, the only cure as going back to mild support shoes.

This may not happen to your wife - but if it did, that knee pain would be just before VLM and ruin her chances of participating.

 

I agree fully, stick to what you know and works, miles of experience is better than a few minutes on the treadmill even if it is well observed.  It is worth noting that movement and flexibility in the air and near to the ground is very different from actual strike and should be observed seperately this is heightened by hyperflexibility.  Another point is that gait is changed markedly by speed and the treadmill tests are often performed at the wrong speed for an individuals actual running pace, for example I slightly pronate at jogging pace but am neutral at race pace.

In short don't worry if its working

Choisty wrote (see)

Another point is that gait is changed markedly by speed and the treadmill tests are often performed at the wrong speed for an individuals actual running pace, for example I slightly pronate at jogging pace but am neutral at race pace.

 

I think this is worth emphasising. I can see from race photos only this weekend that I'm a heel striker, but I think at lower speeds this is just exaggerated, which would lead someone to observe me being an overpornator, even though I'm happy racing in shoes with cushioning and neutral or minimal support.  So I think years of running experience trumps a short analysis, which may not even be a good simulation of her everyday running anyway. 

PhilPub wrote (see)

which would lead someone to observe me being an overpornator. 

I think we've all observed you that way Phil.

Dammit!

Kernow,

I know exactly how your wife feels . I too run in Neutral shoes (Nike Vomero) with no problems, including training for Amsterdam Marathon in 2011. Traded for a pair of Brook Adrenaline 12 on advice of gait analysis at Sweatshop, and within the space of 3 runs was crippled. Couldn't run for a week without severe heel and lower shin pain. Changed back to vomero and pegasus) and no problems.

I agree with the advice above, if its not bust don't change it... Clearly she is a neutral runner (or mild pronator at least) if had no problems before.

Good luck for VLM...

 

Thanks everyone, much appreciated advice.
I wish I had listened to my gut feeling initially. Lesson learned.
5 miles in the Pegasus last night and pain free !