Sweatshop

We went in to buy new TomTom watches for Christmas. The guy we spoke to was very knowledgeable. He talked us through the watches & that we could get vouchers back if we bought it that day. He also advised us that we didn’t need the small one as the large would fit fine & we could get different coloured straps at a later date. It didn’t feel pushed or that he was trying to sell us something, just seemed very helpful advice. Very knowledgeable about health & training in general. The shop also has its own running group for anyone who wants to go along. Can also get a gait analysis to ensure you gave the correct trainers!

We want what we can’t have, don’t we. I wasn’t remotely interested in the idea of running until I broke my knee in the most unspectacular skiing accident of all time. When I was laid up on my couch, surgery done, staples out, mother running round after me, then-​best friend now-​fiancé bringing me homebaked fairycakes, stupid irritating leg brace waiting for me whenever I wanted to get up and do anything, swollen to Hell, crutches at my side, watching Gilmore Girls, THIS was when I decided that I wanted to try running.
I suppose it was to do with no longer taking legs for granted. Sounds silly, I know, but I became infinitely more interested in my body and muscles than I was before. Running’s pretty serious too, I see shedloads of people doing it in Salford and Mancheser, and there’s even a specialist Runner’s Magazine available to buy in Sainsbury’s. So after weeks of physiotherapy and hobbling, as soon as my walking was back to a normal level, I ran for the first time in my life since a) high school or b) for taxis in the rain. And then I remembered why I was never interested in the first place. ‘Owww!’ I screamed, clutching my chest in agony, ‘girls aren’t made for running!‘
Undeterred, I realised what I was missing. The elusive sports bra. I couldn’t put it off any longer, wearing two bras and a very tight vest top wasn’t cutting it. Well, it was cutting off my circulation, but that’s by the by. And after mooching half-​heartedly around various sports shops I realised that everything for the runner is located in this superb little store in the Arndale Centre. Not only did I find the perfect £20 bra (which literally makes my upper half as immobile as Angelina Jolie’s in the Tomb Raider movies), it has water bottles with handles, arm straps for iPods, streamlined lycra that apparently eases your muscles and makes you run better (so says my friend who can run 8k in one go, the maniac) and much more specialist equipment.
My running came to an abrupt end, however, as the impact of the concrete hits the knee joints, thus causing me a few post-​surgery problems. I was told this was because of my shoes — they weren’t proper running shoes with high impact soles. Who DOES have proper running shoes with high impact soles? This place of course! They may set you back around £80 but at least you know you’re using something that isn’t straining your knees into oblivion.
Run. Run like the wind, into this shop, if you’re even considering taking up running. The staff know what they’re talking about and will get you set up right away.

After an awful experience at Up&Running i decide to walk into the Arndale as i knew this shop was in there.
Much better service from the staff here.
Every item i asked a question about no matter how stupid or technical, they were happy to help.
From clothing & nutrition to just basic running questions.
I found the trainers i bought from Up&Running were there as well & at the same price but seeing as i got 10% off at the other store i wasn’t to bothered.
Sweatshop also have treadmills for analysing gait & general trying on of trainers.
while i was looking i the shop the staff there help 3 people find the perfect trainer and each time i got the feeling that they cared about doing it.

Running is not something I have ever considered to be fun. Getting from point A to point B is one of the most boring parts of human life, and choosing to do it at a steady jog does not make the process any more interesting. I can think of numerous ways of keeping fit, all infinitely more interesting than running.
Having said all of that, SheRunsHeRuns is a place that very nearly sold me on the idea. Selling everything under the sun, moon and stars for the purposes of running, it lures you in by creating a whole scene full of life and vibrancy, where everyone is fit and happy in their shiny trainers and tight-​fitting Lycra. Of course, such a scene requires an investment, and the specialist nature of the place pushes prices up, but you’d be hard pressed to find somewhere more suited to your running needs.
Ultimately, it’s a shop for those interested. I was almost taken in, but then remembered my life motto: fuck running.

Not an Irish themed bar with a Celtic word for a name that I initially thought it was but actually a jogging specialists– she/​runs/​he/​runs geddit?!
For a while a was pretty confused by this place. Having spent my teens years as a boxer and continuing the training aspect into my twenties running has always seemed pretty straight forward to me– you put your old shoes and holiest jumper on and you get out there and run– that’s what Rocky did and look what happened to him… he shouted ‘Adrian’, got punch drunk and lost all his money… OK bad example but don’t step on my childhood dreams eh?
As far as I was concerned shops like Sherunsheruns existed only to profit from the fact that most people like to put things in the way of just getting out there and doing it or think that they can buy their way to fitness with gadgets and flash treads.
But in the end curiosity got the better of me and I went in to take a look. What I was surprised to find was not only a well stocked shop full of lots of handy things but also a whole social scene going on. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and happy to help with achieving your goals and the trainers do look really shiny and alluring!
Perhaps I was wrong all along. I suppose if this store was needed anywhere it is Manchester– a place where you really notice how seriously the residents take their running. Or maybe it’s just that as I approach my thirties the aspirational yuppie in me is warming to the idea of ‘buying my way to fitness’.