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How it all started...
The Cardiff shop is the youngest of the
three Run and Become branches and celebrated
its eighth birthday in March 2008.
Originally staffed by just three people, we have
now expanded to employ five permanent staff and some
extra team members who swell the ranks on busy Saturdays.
We are keen runners, and between us have clocked up
about two dozen marathons and a dozen or so ultradistance
walks and runs as well as many shorter events.
What we do...
Like our sister shops in London and Edinburgh, we offer a full shoe-fitting service, starting with an evaluation of your running style. We also take into consideration the shape/type of your feet and any history of running-related problems or injuries you have had, to help us determine your footstrike and help you choose a shoe with the right blend of cushioning and support.
When a customer comes to us for running shoes, the first thing we do is ask a few important questions: how much running are they doing (or how much they intend to do), what shoes are being used at present and whether there have been any injury problems. Then we put the customer in a pair of neutral running shoes and watch him/her run a few strides outside (on a covered, paved area) to see how the foot moves. Recent research (and our own experience) has shown that runners run differently on a treadmill to a road, so we use this "dynamic assessment" of your style in preference to treadmill analysis. Through years of gait assessment and shoe-fitting, we have found the results "on the road" to be considerably more reliable!
This assessment gives us an idea as to which type of shoe is likely to be most suitable for the individual's foot stike. Then we bring out a few different pairs and watch the customer run in each of them, working together until we find a pair that both works well and feels great. (A full shoe fitting can take up to half an hour, so please arrive no later than half an hour before closing time).
Whether you are taking up running for the first time, training for your first race or continuing a long running career, we can offer informative and impartial advice to help you choose your shoes and clothing, drawing not only on our specific product knowledge, but also our personal running experience. If you are looking for help in choosing your shoes, it is best to set aside at least 30 minutes for a shoe fitting, bring with you any shoes you have already been running in, and wear clothes you will be comfortable in for a few short test-runs (proper running gear is not required for this, just something light and comfortable).
On Saturdays we get very busy and may have to ask you to wait a while for a staff member to be available to serve you, so if you can come in on a weekday the process is likely to be quicker! Our fitting service is offered free of charge, and although we are not qualified medical practitioners, customer feedback has confirmed that the principles we use to help customers choose their shoes are sound and reliable. If you have a recent or ongoing series of injuries we may advise you to see a podiatrist or physiotherapist to get to the root cause of an injury before deciding on the best shoes for you - we can recommend local practitioners with a proven track record should the need arise.
Our staff...
Our stock...
 If you
are an experienced runner and know exactly which shoe
you need, we have the widest selection of road running
shoes in Wales and a great selection of specialist
shoes for road races, fell and trail running, cross
country and track and field events. We stock shoes
from size 1 (junior) to 15 and on selected shoes are
able to offer a choice of widths.
In addition to shoes,
we stock the widest range of running clothing in Wales,
including all the essentials such as Ron Hill Tracksters
and Helly Hansen Lifa tops, as well as specialist
items such as Windstopper and Goretex Jackets, weatherproof
running tights, lightweight racing clothing and wicking/breathable
thermals. We also have an extensive section of clothing
designed specifically for women, and a some key items
in junior sizes (age 7 and up). Our accessories department
offers everything from Camelbaks to shoe goo, and
a range of drinks, gels and bars to provide rapid
fluid replacement, sustained energy levels and optimum
recovery. Although we are based in Cardiff, our customers
come to us from all over Wales.
Races...
 Run and Become is proud to offer
support to a number of local events, through sponsorship
and donation of prizes. These races include the KRUF
10k, Offas Orror, Welsh Castles Relay, Great Welsh
Run and Cornelly Striders 5k. We also organise the
Self
Transcendence Race Series each summer in Pontcanna
Fields. Our current projects include the publication
of summer and winter race fixture booklets for the
whole of Wales, which we are producing in partnership
with Welsh Athletics. If you have any queries about
the products or service we offer, please don't hesitate
to give us a call or come and see us.
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