Been looking at the minimalist running shoes and alternatives to standard trainers, including Vibram, Nike Free. Looks like a lot less shoe for a lot more money. I'm thinking of heading back to plimsoll land following a bit of research and questioning if "Poroper running shoes" are doing more harm than good.
Would be interested in the experiences of others. Read Born to Run at Christmas and I had a lot of empathy with some of the theories.
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Hi Tinsel,
I asked at my running store about the viability of Vibrams for running. I was told that it's all hype and if I wanted to go "minimalist" choose Nike Free which is less support but not as radical as full bare foot. I was told to start off very slowly and be careful of my stride and footwork. I would love to try it out and am a little put off by the feedback that I got from a running professional. He said that he uses Nike free but only on shorter distances and never on tarmack.
(Note: He could of been particularly negative because I overpronate)
Still, I do not want to dismiss running shoes with cushioning. My common sense tells me that it is all about finding a good balance between the two extremes - going totally barefoot and running in mega thick soled gel shoes. What I have learnt is that the real issue here isn’t whether you should run barefoot, or wear a minimalist shoe, or a traditional shoe. The real issue is about HOW you run!
Sam Murphy, who is a reputable fitness professional in the UK and has written several books about running and fitness wrote a very good article about the barefoot/minimalist shoe running debate, you can read the article here:
http://www.sam-murphy.co.uk/newsandevents/?paged=2
I hope this helps.
OTOH I was talking to the chap who runs our local running shop (a very good local runner) and he said he'd gone for a run in a (different) minimalist shoe, 8 miles, and though they were very comfortable at the time, his calves were then b*gg*red for two weeks after!
ISTR also that when MT interviewed Barefoot Ted and they asked him how someone interested in minimalist shoes should start, and he said something like "at a few hundred yards a week!"
Tinsel-Celt - If you do start to change - can you keep us updated on how you feel/get on? I'd be very interested to hear about your experience
http://www.podiatry-arena.com/podiatry-forum/showthread.php?t=48566
Its starting to be discussed on other blogs and sites as well.
http://joemaller.com/2861/barefoot-running-stress-fractures-a-theory/
http://www.runningbarefootisbad.com/stress-fractures-in-the-vibram-fivefingers-barefoot-shoe/328/
Make of that what you will.
You do have to have patience though..to build up but I have always been good and not pushing it too much and easing off when I need to. I run a lot and I just absolutely love how grounded I feel in these.
Personally though, if I hadn't have had knee problems and wasn't trying to resolve that I would have never tried them. It seems in the last 4 years though they have become much more expensive and there are lots of different styles of minimal shoe now that you could use.
I think even if you have no injury problems you may get a lot out of using them but you have to have patience...and I suppose I don't see the point of changing shoes if you are running fine in what you have.
Emmy Bug...I'm just back from a 5 mile on the dreadmill, using my oldest and least supported track shoes, again no pain and real joy experiencing every footstep without the niggles. It, for me, is the way ahead. Now to research plimsolls versus green flash versus converse.
Before this I ran in a pair of Nike Pegasus 26, read BTR by chance when my shoes were nearing the bin and opted for the Frees. I can honestly say I'm a better runner for using the Frees, I ran several Half Marathons and the Edinburgh Marathon in the Pegasus shoes and had no complaints but I do feel I'm a better runner now.
The furthest I've ran in the Frees is 21 miles with no problems.
Saying all this, my Frees are nearing the end and I've recently bought a new pair of Pegasus 28's, but I absolutely maintain I'm now a better runner/have better form for wearing the minimalist shoe.
Hope this helps. A.
Large selection of Vibrams on sale at Sports Pursuit if anyone is looking to buy.
http://www.sportpursuit.com/join/grantyoung_1b8a4f
ive walked in vibrams for 4 years, but i never ran in them much beyond chasing the kid round the park. i do run barefoot these days (new balance miniumus zero on road, merrell trailglove for mixed terrain/trails) but that was after a year or more in a 4mm drop shoe and then even after all the years walking zero drop and running in low drop, i still spent 3 months building up to zerodrop shoes, most people ive spoken with about it think its the soles of your feet that need adusting, but if you run anyway they are pretty tough, its the calf that you feel it most, 1st few runs and they are on fire, once that goes though it felt to me at least, like i'd been given a tune up, i felt more efficient and fatigue over long distances affects me far less, this may perhaps be a phychological thing though, knowig i cant get sloppy on form and heel strike, who knows, it doesnt matter if it is.
My 4mm drop shoes were the GoRun's from Sketchers, more than anything they helped me improve my form and i stopped heel striking 100%,
switching to zero drop has improved my times, form and recovery times etc, I dont think its for everyone, and a lot of the hardcore barefoot people come out with some pretty questionable science/myths, but for me its much more enjoyable, and my running is much better,
I still dont run in my five fingers, (i own classics and sprints) because when i have, i've on occasion got a stone or bit of wood etc stuck between the toes and you have to stop to remove it because it drives you mad, there are plenty of (far cheaper too) vibram soled shoes with zero drop and minimal to no cushioning with very wide but closed toe box's, the merrell bare range are brilliant, very very durable, i think you'd be unlucky to get under 1000 miles out of a trailglove,