Here at Love Running we have 2 objectives; the first is to encourage people to THINK about running, and the effect it has on the body, and to see how important it is to have the right sort of shoe, and the right fitting shoe. So many problems (from blisters to shin-splints) could be reduced – or even avoided – through correctly chosen shoes, and we owe it to our feet and legs to protect them as much as possible if we are going to put them through the rigours and shock of running. Road running in particular is a maximum impact sport and should not be undertaken thoughtlessly.
Having said all this, our second objective is to make sure you will love running as much as we do, and we aim to encourage, support, guide and inform to the best of our abilities – that’s a promise!
We only ever sell genuine products from genuine suppliers – not factory seconds, old stock, “grey imports” or copies. We are not a franchise or part of a chain. Love Running is a small, independent and entirely unique shop operated by pair of enthusiastic runners. We do not buy in bulk, and therefore do not benefit from bulk discounts, but we always sell at a fair and honest price and choose all our products with great care and thought.
We would like to give you one little pearl of wisdom, in case you are thinking that the Internet seems so much better value than your local specialist running shop. Whilst it is true that you may see a pair running shoes on the internet, or in the local “sports outlet”, for just £50, compared – say – to the advertised RRP of £100, there are a few very important things you should consider before you buy them:-
- Provenance Most of our suppliers do not allow their retailers to undercut a current RRP by that much, and therefore you should wonder just how genuine the product you are looking at may be, or if it is – indeed – an authorised UK model being sold by an authorised retailer.
- Age Check the age of the shoe you are looking at. Some popular models (the Asics “Kayano” & “Nimbus” and the Brooks “Adrenaline GTS” for example) have been in existence for around 20 years, and each model is updated or altered once a year; hence the number after the name on the shoe (ie: “Kayano 17” and “GTS 18”). Many things deteriorate after time, particularly foam-based soles and gel cushioning, and shoes don’t even have to be worn to deteriorate. In running shoes, the foam/rubber cushioning can become brittle, firm and less effective at absorbing shock over time, meaning that if you purchase a shoe that has been out of production for several years (even if it is unworn) it can already have lost some shock-absorbancy, and have potentially damaging effects on your limbs and joints. When properly “new”, most running shoes have a life expectancy of around 500 miles – or 6-12 months – before the cushioning, structure and shock-absorption becomes compromised. Obviously this also depends on the mileage, technique and weight of the wearer!
- Type Is it a neutral or supportive shoe, and is it compatible with your gait? Only a trained running-shoe specialist can advise you in such matters, and you will not get this support on the internet!
- Customer Service What will you do if the shoe falls apart after a month, causes problems with your running, does not suit your running gait or doesn’t fit properly?
For great one-to-one service, experienced shoe fitting and free advice, please support your local running shop and save the Internet for frivolities!