The Nike gait test – how tech can help with your fitness goals

For the last two weeks I’ve been in the gym at 5am before work every week day morning. I’ve made a commitment to eat clean and do some form of fun exercise every weekend. I’ve made similar fitness goals before, but this time it is different (I know, everyone says this right?). You’ve probably seen some of my healthy living snaps if you follow me on Snapchat (username is iamsamw22 in case you haven’t added me yet) but I haven’t really gone in to detail about why my life has taken this new direction.

You see, it was about a boy.

Towards the end of 2015 I entered in to yet another unhealthy backward and forward type relationship with a guy. This isn’t new. I haven’t blogged there for ages but my original foray in to the blogging world was when I posted about my rather horrific (but always humourous) dating lifeover on that place in my head. This was yet another one for that blog (some of the stuff was funny and, if I was prone to or had the time I’d share) but it also hit home a bit. It made me realise that I’m going to keep consistently finding myself pulled in to the orbit of men that are not good for me mentally or spiritually until I learn to love myself and also realise I am worth it.

Going to the gym and getting fit is the first step.

I’ve always been extremely unhappy with my body. I used to weigh 96kgs and, despite losing most of that excess weight I still wake up and feel depressed about my body, about my strength and about my fitness every day.

Most of my friends, for my sins, are extremely healthy and fit individuals. Being around them sometimes made me feel inferior and lazy. Learning to love the body I was given is step one. Of course I want to lose a few extra pounds but I also want to feel strong. I’ve committed to doing The Warrior Race at the beginning of March and am now working on a fitness plan that combines cardio, weight training and functional training.

So what has this got to do with Nike?

I’m a Converse loyalist. I only own Converse sneakers. I’ve taken it so far that, a few years ago, they did a range of trainers and I own a pair. These are my “running” shoes. They’re the trainers I gym in. However, now that I’m really on the fitness bandwagon I started to realise that they hurt me when I ran or did a Grid Class. My knees sometimes ached and my feet were almost always sore after training. The problem, or so I thought, was that these trainers weren’t really designed to train in. They’re streetwear. It was time to find new shoes.

The Nike Gate Test

I had no cooking clue what trainers to get or how to even choose a pair. I popped in to the Nike Women’s Store in Sandton City and was completely overwhelmed. Trainers are serious business these days, full of funky colours and different styles. Which ones are you supposed to get?

That’s where technology now steps in

I knew there was a reason I loved tech. The Nike Women’s store offers a free Nike gait test. It’s pretty simple really: you jump on the in-store treadmill and run while one of the shop assistants record you on an iPad. That recording is then analysed and your gait style is determined. From there the staff are able to suggest the best trainers to help and support you during your fitness activities.

I thought it all sounded a bit silly really. Can trainers honestly make a difference?

It turns out that they can. Mpho, at the store, was extremely helpful. She explained that I was a special case (grrreat). I have two very different feet when I run. One suffers from over pronation – which means my left foot rolls inward while walking and running and I push off almost completely from the big and second toe. Not the end of the world, it is a common problem. However, my right foot is prone to supination which is the complete opposite of over pronation. My right foot doesn’t have enough inward roll. Instead of my body weight being transferred to my big toe, it is forced on to my smaller toes and the outside of my foot – which actually struggle to take the stress.

This would likely explain why I’ve always found running a struggle and sometimes look like I’m limping.

It also makes finding a trainer that much harder. Nike has a range of trainers designed to support you depending on your gait. Unfortunately for me, you cannot buy two different types of trainers (which is ideally what I need). We proceeded to work through a range of Nike offerings – one with more inner front toe support, another that supports the outside of the foot and finally a more basic offering that offers extra support along the length of the foot. I found the toe support shoe far more comfortable than the outside foot support one but, on trying on the complete support, I knew I had found my trainer.

I’ve been using them for a week now and, despite feeling like I betrayed my beloved Converse, I’m finding them far more comfortable for my training. Interestingly, after doing the Nike gait test I went home and double checked some of my shoes with a heel – I definitely have worn them down rather oddly and the gait issues they pointed out are very clear in how those heels were worn. Next on my list of things will obviously be a visit to the podiatrist.

I really liked that the Nike store incorporated the Nike gait test in to their client offering. Trainers aren’t cheap and after doing the test I felt a lot more comfortable handing over my money for my trainers. I also liked that they had an exclusively women’s store. I’m not sure I would have felt comfortable doing the running test (I had to run a good few times) while a sexy triathlete picks out his training shirts behind me.

Analysis and technology have really become a tool to improve performance in sport – whether it be helping an Olympian shave a millisecond off their lap time or, a complete noob like me finding the right trainers to gym in.

Have you used technology to help you achieve your fitness goals? 

Disclaimer: Because I know someone will likely say something – I purchased those sneakers with my own moola.