I had a question from one of our team members re: having a gait analysis completed.
As with anything like this, it all depends on what your goals are. If you plan to really get into running and you are worried about having the proper shoes, getting an "over use" injury, or you just want to become more efficient and faster, then it's worth pursuing. Just make sure you are having it done by someone who is certified in the area. There are some "coaches" and store owners who get a 5 minute explanation and start charging people 10's and 100's of dollars for this stuff.
Most reputable running shops will have someone who is experienced who can watch you run (even walk) and determine a lot about your tendencies and weaknesses without putting you through the time and expense of a complete gait analysis. Between my visits to the our local running shop and my visits with my physical therapist, I was able to determine my weaknesses and tendencies and get training, exercises, and shoes to strengthen and balance them out.
So the short answer to the question about doing a gait analysis is, "It's up to you. If you have access to inexpensive, reputable professionals, I'd recommend it. Otherwise, get to a REAL running shop or coach and ask them for help."
Here are some examples of gait analyses from around the world and the country.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4SUNA_en___US209&q=gait+analysis+for+runners&um=1&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title#
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