The Science of Running

The Science of Running Essential Fitness for Heli Skiing

Biomechanic analysis of my running patterns.

Summer has sprung in the Northern Hemisphere, and in Britain it’s a very social affair. Henley, Wimbledon, Ascot, for starters, and they are just the organized events. How does one manage the waistline to keep it trim for impending seaside holidays, and maintain the fitness for the upcoming winter?

I have always been a fan of running outdoors, ideally in a woodland or park, preferring to run on grass in order to cushion and preserve my knees for the sport I love. This was further made necessary after an injury this winter requiring knee surgery. On return to full activity, I needed a new pair of running shoes, and after meeting the Profeet guys recently at the City Ski Championships, they told me about the custom running shoe fitting they do. I decided it might be the right way to go.

Gait analysis by video proof showing my pronation in three different running shoes.

When I arrived at Profeet’s Fulham London store, despite being a runner since I was a teenager, I never really knew much about the science of running, or the difference between shoes, but was well educated after my visit. The guys at Profeet told me that each one of us is unique. No one shares your precise body structure, your biomechanics, your injury history, or your ambitions. So the path to enjoyment in whatever it is you love doing, cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach.

They take you through a process of having you run on a treadmill (under video surveillance), running distance over special pads, and a consultation about your exercise habits, and running goals.

From all of this, they select several shoes to try on, and then by showing you how you run comparatively in those (via the video footage again), they prove to you why a certain shoe is best for your particular makeup.

In my case, I have very high arches, (apparently my mother’s insistence on me wearing the correct school shoes, despite my Aussie upbringing, didn’t flatten my feet much) and I pronate, putting more pressure on my old knee injury in my inner knee joint. My previous running shoes had effectively been too soft and had been exacerbating my previous knee injury, not helping it. Oh well, the benefit of hindsight.

 

This is the foot analysis documentation you receive and are explained about your characteristics by your fitter.
 

Once they help you select the best fitting shoe, based on your biomechanical evaluation, my technician then hand crafted my insoles (orthotics) while I waited and fit them into my new running shoes.
The whole process took maybe 90 minutes. I have been running a number of times since in my new shoes, and have already noticed less knee pain, and also less hip aching afterwards. It was quite amazing to experience the personalized consultation blended with state-of-the-art technology, scientifically engineered new running shoe options, their dedicated fitting process and a wealth of experience and knowledge.

I was very impressed and decided to do a partnership with Profeet for our London based clients, as they have the reputation as being the best boot fitters around. Check out our Profeet member offer this month for all Total Heliski members who recommend others to us.