Running Shoes and Pronation. Nike vs Asics.

Whilst mixing Boxing, Muay Thai, Running, BJJ and weights I have managed to screw my lower back. BJJ class working from my back followed by leg press was a stupid idea and sent my lower lumbar into angry spasm. Since then I have struggled to get back to normal. I have been to see an Osteopath a few times and picked his brain about recovery. His advice has been to avoid the twisitng and impact of combat sports for a little while and invest in a foam roller. After a couple weeks he has green lit some running. Unfortunately during each run I am getting pain in my right knee and the following day the right side of my lower back would be extremely stiff and painful, especially if I tried to bend over but also just while sat at work. Much google research later I went to 2 different shops (Asics and Lillywhites) to have my gait analysed. They both provided the same result (which was re-assuring). Neutral left foot. Over pronating on my right foot. ( http://www.runnersworld.com/running-shoes/pronation-explained ) Lillywhites tried to sell me 2 different Nike shoes, the flex and Lunarglide. The Flex saying that my pronation was mild enough that I would naturally compensate as I ran more often and these were light weight and great for my neutral foot (however they fit a little short so make sure you run in them to test). They suggested the Lunarglide should I feel like i would benefit from arch support on my right foot at the cost of weight due to padding. I see the 'flex' shoe everywhere these days. These seem more gym fashion than function. The lunarglide support seemed too overt and to the rear of my arch. I wasnt convinced.

Onwards to Asics. They filmed my gait again, came to the same conclusion, and suggested the Asics GT 2000's would offer mild support to aid my right foot whilst not being too structured. I ran in them and my left foot stayed neutral and my right foot powered through the support and still over pronated. As a result the sales clerk suggested the Asics Kayano. Their most supportive structured and expensive shoe. Seemed dodgey. But this sales clerk was really pushing for the weightier more cushioned shoes which compared with the Nikes felt heavy and hot. Not the nimble running aides I thought i needed.

I went back to my Osteopath and told him I overpornated on my right foot and without missing a beat he said you need Asics Kayano's. "Asics make great running shoes". This was before I had told him anything about the shoes I had tested. When I queried the various Nikes he said "look, you're not some 8 stone Kenyan runner. You need the cushioning offerred by the Asics, especally given the frequency of your planned runs". It was nice to get such a direct answer. So Asics Kayano's it is. The expensive ugly shoe. Ahh well. Time to search online for last years model/colours to avoid the huge expense.