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The Running Debate.
The truth about running shoes…
In the past, probably the advice was to give too much support and cushioning when maybe so much wasn’t needed. Recently the pendulum has swung in completely the other direction and ‘barefoot’ and ‘minimalism’ are the current trend. In truth, it’s a balance and most people will probably need something in between these two extremes.
We (Up & Running) are not here to tell people what to have. We give advice based on the benefit of our experience and training. Everyone is an individual and to say in general that people need a certain type / make of shoe (or none at all!) is wrong. What might be suitable for one person may not be suitable for another. The video analysis in the shop is a tool to help get the customer the right shoe for them. It is not a prescription machine, just part of an information gathering exercise so that we can work with the customer and get the right shoe for their needs. So many factors contribute to what shoe would be best. What will they be doing with it, how long do they run for, what distance, what frequency of training, what surfaces are they running over, what are their goals etc. This, along with any past history of injury they may have, their weight and build, will have an impact on what footwear is best suited to their needs.
So many people have come back to the shop and thanked us for helping with their injury issues (shins, knees, ankles, back etc) as a result of getting the right shoes for their running style. It is always great to have this type of feedback and gives us confidence that we are helping runners make the right choices.
There is no conspiracy with the suppliers. They all make a complete range of shoes to suit most people’s needs. It’s about giving the customer a choice. Our job is to work with the customer to help them make the right one.
Occasionally, the media deliberately try to be sensationalist about these issues. This isn’t always helpful and can be confusing. That’s why our staff will help guide you through the choices with a minimum of fuss.
The truth about nutrition supplements.
“I don’t need all these supplements, all I need is a jam sandwich”. Just one of the many phrases which come from the media and are designed to be sensationalist. Actually, there is nothing new about the nutritional value of a jam sandwich. The carbohydrates in jam sandwich provide both immediate and longer-term energy release. They are great for eating before an endurance event. They are not so useful whilst in to your second hour of running. The key in the phrase is the use of the word supplement. The nutritional goods on offer in Up & Running for example are to be used in addition to a normal balanced diet and will be more practical to eat and more palatable to consume. The supplements will also generally be quicker to be absorbed into the body and will aid faster recovery.
For longer distance running (anything over about 1 hour), then some form of energy intake on the go is beneficial. The amount and frequency of intake is an individual issue and can only be assessed by trial and error during training runs. Your body cannot hold enough energy storage for anything over 18 – 20 miles of running and so some form of energy intake will be required to help make the exercise more comfortable and will avoid you “hitting the wall”.
Hydration
Nothing beats a bit of water to keep you hydrated. If you don’t like the taste of water all the time though the calorie free hydration tablets are a good alternative. In addition, the electrolytes they contain (mainly sodium and potassium chloride) can help to reduce the onset of cramp. Fat burning? Well yes but only because they contain no energy and in that respect, similar to drinking water. Additionally, it should be remembered that too much hydration can be dangerous (fatal even). Again it is all a question of balance.
Video Analysis
It's important that your running shoes are the correct type for your individual running/walking style and our trained staff can help find the right shoes for you. In a short session on our treadmill they can do a video gait analysis using our specialist Dartfish software.
NB if you would like to enjoy the full benefits of our gait analysis system and shoe-fitting service, please arrive at least half an hour before shop closing time.
Why should we buy our shoes from a specialist running shop?
We believe that buying shoes from anywhere other than a specialist running shop is a false economy. Our service is all about injury prevention; making sure that you have the right shoe will certainly help reduce the risk of getting a running injury and help prevent ankle, shin or knee pain.
As one esteemed runner once said - "The cost difference between an ordinary pair of trainers and a good pair of running shoes wouldn't pay for 30 minutes with a physiotherapist!"
Our Stock
We have hundreds of shoes in stock at any one time, plus they come in half sizes. Not only will we ensure that you get the right type of shoe but that you will also be able to try on a large selection from the leading running manufacturers so that you get the shoes that actually fit the shape of your feet.
Please note however that some products are seasonal – track or cross country spikes for example and junior running shoes. If you are looking for a specific product please phone to check we have it before travelling.
Don't forget, our shoe fitting service is free when you buy from us: there's no need to make an appointment, just pop in anytime and let us take the guesswork out of selecting your next running shoe.
Clothing and Accessories for running and for the gym
We also carry a huge range of specialist clothing including Sub 4, Ronhill, Brooks, Hilly etc. Our accessories include GPS and Heart Rate Monitors from Soleus, Polar and Garmin together with other essentials such as water bottle carriers, elastic laces and energy food supplements plus many other goodies!
New GPS watches from Soleus in stock now
 Soleus GPS 1.0 - £100
GPS: high-sensitivity receiver• Distance: current & total in Miles or Km• Pace/Speed: current & average• Interval Timers: set up to 5 individual timers• • Calories Burned: current & total Kcal burned• Chrono: 1/100 second resolution• Data Storage: 50-lap memory• Water-Resistant: 3 ATM• World Time: 106 cities covering all time zones• Rechargeable Battery: USB rechargeable lithium-ion.
Soleus GPS 2.0 - £130
GPS: high-sensitivity receiver• Distance: current & total in Miles or Km• Pace/Speed: current & average• Interval Timers: set up to 5 individual timers• Data Upload & Storage: USB pc upload and 100 lap memory• Calories Burned: current & total Kcal burned• Chrono: 1/100 second resolution• Data Storage: 100-lap memory• Water-Resistant: 3 ATM• World Time: 106 cities covering all time zones• Rechargeable Battery: USB rechargeable lithium-ion.
 Soleus GPS 3.0 - £175
GPS: high-sensitivity receiver
Heart Rate Monitor
Distance: current & total in Miles or Km
Pace/Speed: current & average
Interval Timers: set up to 5 individual timers
Data Upload & Storage: USB pc upload and 100 lap memory
Calories Burned: current & total Kcal burned
Chrono: 1/100 second resolution
Data Storage: 100-lap memory
Water-Resistant: 3 ATM
World Time: 106 cities covering all time zones
Rechargeable Battery: USB rechargeable lithium-ion.
 Soleus 10K - £35
The Soleus 10k is the running watch that you'll run in, sweat in, and live in. Filled with intuitive running features including extra large digits, easy push buttons, and lightweight polyurethane that keep you training for the next big race day. The 30 lap memory enables you to track splits for any distance and the 5 interval timers allow you to keep interval training at the forefront of your race day preparation.
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