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Standard Sport15 May 2014

A good pair of running shoes can make the difference between breaking your personal best and breaking out in blisters.

So it was essential for all the members of Team Standard to have the correct footwear before embarking on our 12-week training plans in preparation for the British 10k London Run.

This year, the run welcomes New Balance as its Official Sporting Goods provider. The brand remains committed to manufacturing in Britain, making this event the perfect partner for them.

As part of their Runnovation campaign, they are really proud to be bringing their technical expertise and heritage in performance running to this iconic run.

This year, the run welcomes New Balance as its Official Sporting Goods provider. The brand remains committed to manufacturing in Britain, making this event the perfect partner for them.

"Anyone buying a new pair of shoes should get a gait analysis done," New Balance Technical Representative Bradley Howarth explained to us. "It really is the only way to ensure that you leave the shop with the correct footwear and avoid any unwanted injuries."

So Team Standard headed down to Sweatshop on Trump Street in the City to try on our new shoes and be filmed running on a treadmill before having our running styles deconstructed.

We were going to need shoes that we were happy to run in but also shoes that we would be comfortable wearing when taking part in 12 other exercises as New Balance introduce us to the concept of Runnovation in our training for the British 10k London Run.

This was the most exciting aspect of what the 10 of us were about to undertake. New Balance, under Howarth’s guidance, will be showing Team Standard how to get fit for a 10k by doing more than just running as we undertake a variety of different sessions.

After some trial and error, I opted for the neutral New Balance 1080 shoe and was immediately struck by how light it felt compared to the heavy duty brand I had been used to in the past.

Having suffered from runner’s knee for the past three years and undergone two bouts of surgery, finding the right pair of shoes for my comeback race was essential.

Robust, and yet lightweight, with an extremely soft arch, after two training runs I am feeling confident about finishing the 10k on London’s streets on July 13.

TeamStandard

Russell Lynch, Economics Correspondent
History: Has not run a 10k for years, tries to keep fit by going to the gym most days.
Aim: To finish in under an hour.

Steve Cording, Commercial Editor
History: Veteran of seven London Marathons, has not been able to run a competitive race for three years following two bouts of knee surgery.
Aim: To finish without knee pain.

Mark Burborough, Supplements Manager
History: Keen runner who does not compete in races. Generally gets around Hyde Park two lunchtimes a week.
Aim: Get more focus in my running to take me on to the next level.

Jonathan Boseley, Head of Programming, London Live
History: Keen member of Military Fitness in Hyde Park, recently ran a cross-country 10k.
Aim: To improve my personal best over 10k.

Dominic de Terville, Head of Sponsorship and Events
History: Never run a race before but do try and keep fit with early morning sessions before work.
Aim: Not to finish last in the team!

Charlotte Ross, Deputy Editor
History: Keen cyclist who wants to take up running after cycle accident last year.
Aim: To progress, lose a little weight and overcome back pain.

Phoebe Luckhurst, Features writer
History: Very keen long-distance runner (doing the London Marathon on Sunday – though I’m sort of trying to pretend that’s not happening).
Aim: To build on fitness that I have gained for the marathon.

Lucy Tobin, Senior News Feature writer
History: None of doing races.
Aim: Want to improve my fitness and get around in one piece.

Deborah Rosenegk, Head of Strategic Partnerships
History: Started running in January with a few friends who were training for a half marathon.
Aim: Want to get fitter by having more fun in a variety of high-impact sessions.

Kiran Randhawa, Senior News Reporter
History: Had always been keen on fitness but never been into long distance running.
Aim: I have only started running again in last three weeks as took a long break after a fracture, so keen to start building up again.

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