The painful truth about trainers: Are running shoes a waste
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I bought a pair of the New Balance Minimus about three weeks ago so I'm just easing into them. I've been running with varying seriousness for the last three years or so - one marathon (3:39) and just under 20 half marathons (PB 1:37). I pronate and have worn mid-range Mizunos for road and an assortment of off-road shoes. Generally I've been pretty happy with my shoes and, while I haven't picked up any serious injuries directly related to running, I have the usual niggles particularly right hip and knee "issues". <br />
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Like a lot of people the barefoot running movement has intrigued me and the idea of running with less pain is very attractive. <br />
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I got the off road Minimus and have had two trail runs, two beach runs and a few short park sessions. Overall I've been pretty happy with them. They have a nice feel with the variety of conditions I've used them in (grass, sand, trail and mud). I got a little ahead of myself and did about 40 mins on the beach for my second run in them and paid for it over the next two days - especially when standing up or walking down stairs. After that initial over-reach, I eased back for a while and have slowly worked my way up to an 1:10 minute trail run today. <br />
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I'm planning on using the Minimus in the first race of the xterra trail running series in late May look to be on course at this stage. <br />
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At this stage I have no set plans to ditch my road runners in favour of barefoot running or for one of the road Minimus options but I'm open to the future possibility. -
A couple of weeks ago I listened to this professor. His own experience was intriguing. <br />
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[url]http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/stories/2011/3175756.htm[/url] -
[quote name='davidav'][quote name='mooshld']Save yourself the cash davidav and teach yourself the style by running barefoot first, if you like it and it suits you then get the shoes. If you buy the shoes and try and run in a heal toe fashion, you will get injured and you will have just blown the cash.<br />
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Mooshld.[/QUOTE]<br />
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That is a sensible suggestion, but the idea of running totally barefoot on roads frightens me. Stepping on pebbles, glass and such.[/QUOTE]<br />
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Im gonna try it on the treadmill first, then get the shoes and try the road if all goes well -
Great to hear there is a bit of interest out there about this and I have not become some back water hippy.<br />
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I think voltron has it spot on. Try it on the beach in the park or at the gym first then if you think its for you make an investment. I would say that the key thing to concentrate when trying to run in that style is to keep the steps short and the cadence high, it will mean you learn fast foot strikes and thats what its all about. As for worrying about pronation and the like, well if you are mid footing properly its a non issue, as pronation can only occur when you heel strike with you foot in front of you and roll over your ankle, if you land on your midfoot with your leg under you then quickly touch your heal down the rotational force on the ankle wont exist. In born to run they talk more about this and how pronation has only existed since we first started running in the heel toe style before that it was unheard of.<br />
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The final piece of advice I would give is start short maybe a few reps of 400m with rests and stretching take a month or so to build it up before trying a 30 min session. Oh and ask your gym first if its okay to go barefoot, I was doing some treadmill work in a hotel gym and the receptionist almost had a heart attack.<br />
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Thanks for the link ACT Crusader will listen when home from work. -
mooshld - check this link out [URL]http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s2803692.htm[/URL]
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Interesting to read this thread being reactivated. I run mid-foot style mostly(but during a marathon I change from front, mid to heel striking to reduce fatigue) and no longer use my VFFs at all other than to the gym. When I strted races about 4-years back all my race photos showed heavy heel stike tendencies. Now I usually see good mid-foot technique unless I am making a chart to the line. <br />
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Nice goals Mooshld. I think to run sub 3 you need a faster 10km1/2m than40minutes and 1.26. I have run both those distances faster than that but still not reached the desired sub-3 yet. But travel to far flung races makes it difficult as I live in Hong Kong and the envoronment/climate is not conducive to the marathon. <br />
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I want 5-minutes off my marathon PR to get down to sub-3. Was going to have a crack at it Rotorua this week actually but some hip bursitis after a twisty 10km race has knocked this mths training so will now probably just run the half easy and give it a crack at the Gold Coast. -
Thanks for the advice red dog the other goals are not really part of the marathon training plan, just some things I want to do this year. I have no real training plan when it comes to the 3 hour marathon other then to get a lot of miles under my belt at a descent clip. Then on the big day give it a go. I am targeting the Brussels marathon again as this is where I have run my last two and I figure it makes it a fair comparison. The only other idea I had was to train till September then shed 5 kilos so that I race at a really light weight.<br />
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I have also had a setback this week when I seem to have torn another calf muscle. Not sure what went wrong, was probably just pushing too hard I guess, need to ease back a bit and build up again slowly.<br />
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Mooshld. -
Interesting thread guys, thanks for sharing your experiences. I was about to start a thread on this because I have been thinking about giving barefoot/minimalist running a go in the wake of me going from one injury to another over the last couple of years. You name it, I have had it. Achillies, calf, hip, knee, hamstring, arch. I love running ands it gets me down thinking I may have to give up if I can't beat the injuries.
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go hard hiking with teva sandals-plenty of movement if needed, grip, cushioning, and the hard hiking (up hundred s of stairs 2 by 2) is a solid leg and lung burning exercise. Sprint up them when fitter to train for running. I have no calf problems. YMMV, good luck