Minimal Shoes

[Andrew A.]

Well, I was thinking mostly of my 'duh' comment above. 

I took no notes last night (there was little actual debate), though the entire event was being filmed for a documentary on barefoot running, so keep an eye out for that.  RT's Brian Metzler was in attendance, so I expect an article on it is in the offing.

[grasshopper]

Is this the face of minimalism? 

http://dailybreeze.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=29511367&event=1004867&CategoryID=0

[rehammes]

I just got a pair of Vibram's last week, stubbed my toe on the second run, tore the fabric, sent them back all within 4 days.  I like them a lot for a gettin' around shoe, however I am unclear as to whether they will ever have a serious presence in my running shoe rotation.

[Andrew A.]

Is this the face of minimalism? 

http://dailybreeze.mycapture.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?image=29511367&event=1004867&CategoryID=0

Wow, just wow.

[Ryan]

Rob, as short and disappointing your experience with Vibrams was, thanks for the update. It's good to hear all sides, good and bad.

As for that picture, I'll second Andrew.

[Andrew A.]

Jack Daniels's thoughts on barefoot and shod running.

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

[Andrew A.]

Some Q&A that came out of the panel discussion (submitted questions they did not have time to get to):
http://boulderperformancelab.com/Running-Panel-Questions-and-Answers.html

[Andrew A.]

More interesting perspective: http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/barefoot_and_passionate/

[Ryan]

Very interesting perspective. Also, a very important look at the people interpreting these results.

There are passionate advocates on both sides of the barefoot running debate. A runner who has successfully avoided injury for years, whether running barefoot or with shoes, would be unlikely to change based on the results of even an exceptionally well-executed study.

The explanation of this that followed was a great example of what I've seen repeatedly in and out of running and all over this debate. Even in the face of irrefutable evidence, people will hold on to their beliefs. We all do it at times, it's human nature and it's very hard to break.

To be perfectly honest, it took me a long time to break that myself. For years, I kept hearing how wearing less shoe might be beneficial for me but no amount of evidence could convince me to try less shoe. What I had worked with no obvious ill effects. No injuries and, with no comparison point, no evidence of my shoes not helping me. It took me about a decade of hearing that less shoe might work for me to finally give it a shot. Just to see what would happen. As I've stated before, I can't imagine myself becoming a barefoot runner and I very well may never make it to something like Vibrams. However, in overcoming my insistence that big trainers were necessary, I've found that they were not just not necessary but potentially limiting.

When you firmly hold a belief in something, you will always find the flaws in the opposing viewpoint and the high points of a viewpoint in agreement with you. It's difficult to "look in the mirror" and see the flaws in your own viewpoint or look at an opposing viewpoint and see the good points raised in it. If you do so, though, it's amazing what you can learn and how you can grow. It's also amazing, when you do this, how you might find a middle ground. For me, that middle ground has turned into racing flats for all of my training.

[Andrew A.]

I do agree and while I still have a long way to go in that direction, I do make a sincere effort to question all aspects of what I do.  I started running barefoot in the early '90s, just trying it out on warmups at the track in college.  I did not maintain that consistently in the years that followed, nor did I progress in footwear much though perhaps with a prod from a Kenyan teammate I did start that transition (Kayano>GT 2K>DS Trainer) that got me out of stiff, heavy, controlling shoes and trying softer, lighter, thinner shoes.  It was not some methodical thing, either, simply based on what I was curious to try. 

Today when I was registering for the Bolder Boulder and got to try on the new adidas adiZero Sonic, really nice shoes that I think you would like.  Light, comfortable fit, some nice low-profile yet grippy lugs on the outsole.  Dick's, the race sponsor, seems to be the only retail outlet for them at present.  Perhaps they will show up at the outlet stores later on.  Another shoe in that vein that you might also like is the Brooks Launch, though I have yet to run in them I really liked the feel of them when I tried them on.  Perhaps that simply means that they fit my foot well. 

[rehammes]

Andrew, I would add the new Saucony Kinvaras to that list. Extremely lightweight, flexible shoe that is very complimentary to the natural movement of the foot.

[Andrew A.]

Good call, I have checked those out at the local running store though have not tried them on or run in them. 

[rehammes]

I preordered them after seeing the informational video on the saucony website. I have run in them four times and am not disappointed.  I did a run on a very rocky trail this weekend and they held up very well.  My only knock so far is the outer material is not very breathable for a shoe as light as this.  The outsole is quite comfortable and flexes very well right out of the box.  The pricepoint (70-80) seems right, especially for a new issue.

[Brayantobbe]

One problem a consumer faces when trying to select a new pair of running shoes is the lack of standardization in categorizing shoe type. Running shoes are categorized by different and confusing terminology, for example structured cushioning or a performance shoe. It's nice you learn how and what is the best shoes that suit to you.

[Andrew A.]

http://wpblogs.runningtimes.com/blogs/talktest/?p=604