I was having huge knee, shin, and ankle problems and had all but given up as a runner. I tried four different running shoes, all of which felt great in the store and the salesman talked them up, and had continuing problems with all of them. In high school XC and track I never ran past 4 miles because I’d get knee pain, shin splints, or other minor injuries.

In my early 20s Someone suggested I go to the salt lake running company and get a gait analysis. I did. They put me through a bunch of shoes, video taped my stride, talked to me about them, and suggested which shoes I get. I got them and have had probably 30 pairs of that shoe since, mostly without the injury problems that had plagued me.

Maybe shoe quality has improved since the late 80s early 90s enough that gait analysis doesn’t matter as much anymore, but it sure did for me then.