I bit the bullet last week and bought a new pair of running shoes. My last pair I have had since 2000. It is fair to say that they had completely had it and were starting to fall apart. They also smelt; badly.

Buying a pair of running shoes is the most important buying decision you will make as a runner. One of the most common causes of foot and leg pain and injury when running is a condition known as over pronation. This is when the arch of your foot collapses and flattens when your foot hits the ground.

Understanding your running style and personal pronation type is crucial to choosing the proper running shoes for you.

You can work this out for yourself (by standing with wet feet on a towel apparently!), but if you are anything like me you will want to seek the advice of a professional.

There are a couple of dedicated running shops in Brighton and Hove. The Jog Shop on George Street in Kemp Town and Run on Blatchington Road in Hove. As Run is the closer to where I live I went there.

A word to the wise; when you go to buy a pair of running shoes be prepared for some running and dress accordingly!

I popped in on my way home from work on a particularly muggy evening wearing jeans and a shirt.

There I met Fred who handed me a pair of extremely light and flexible running shoes. He explained that in order to sell me the right pair of runners he would firstly need to see me running. So out I went onto the street followed by Fred carrying a video camera. I had to roll up my trouser legs so Fred could capture my feet in all their glory on film.

Up to the corner and back was enough for Fred to identify that I suffer from over pronation. We watched the video back in slow motion, freeze framing on the point of impact.

From there I was given a pair of shoes that would support my arch and sent back out onto the street and instructed to run round the block. Trousers still rolled up of course.

Once back, I was given another pair and sent out round the block once more.

And finally a third pair, and yes, you’ve guessed it, around the block I went. By this point sweating profusely and maybe ever so slightly out of breath.

That was enough for me to settle on the perfect pair. Once the right style of shoe has been identified the only thing that really matters is how it feels to run in them.

I was really impressed with the knowledge and expertise from the guys at Run, so I asked Kurt Hoyte to impart some of his knowledge:

DR: Why do you run?

KH: Sense of wellbeing. I really feel invigorated after running early in the morning.

DR: Where do you like to run in Brighton and Hove and why?

KH: On the Down's, They are epic in a thoroughly English sort of way.

DR: What one piece of advice would you give to someone training to run a marathon?

KH: Do the homework. Then there will be no surprises on examination day!

DR: What motivates you to get out the door and run?

KH: The motivations are many and varied. What is constant is that I enjoy the act of running!

I have no excuses now; better get on with the training!