Questions & Answers

Hey guys, a friend and I are starting a new minimal running blog/website. It’s just in it’s infancy now but give it a look and please stick with it. We hope to add our unique perspectives to something we both have a deep passion for. http://www.runningpoint.org/

The Saucony Hattori is a shoe I am super pumped for, the wait si almost to much! What do you all think about the hattori?

Hello! I'm a newly converted barefoot/chi runner who's very happy to have found this group. I also coach track and cross country at the University of Hartford in Hartford, CT. Using myself and my husband as guinea pigs, I am often trying new training techniques, nutrition, etc. We're currently using Phil Maffetone's MAF heart rate training as well as following the "Two Week Test" nutritionally. The MAF has worked great for me, and I am running faster at a lower heart rate. I'm not convinced on the low carbohydrate nutrition though! I already eat really healthy, and have found this to be a little extreme. 3 more days and then I will give a full report! :-) For those not familiar with Maffetone's work, he has great information on his website as well as in his books. http://www.philmaffetone.com/home.cfm

I look forward to learning from others, and hopefully contributing as well.

Hi All,

Been running somewhat seriously for almost two years now, and all of that has been in minimal footwear with a decent amount of barefoot as well. My goals for this year are to get some fast times for some short races and as close to 3 hrs as possible in a marathon. I'll be shooting for my first 100km race next year to celebrate the big 40. Let me know if you live in Tokyo!

I am Ralph and just started running about 8 weeks ago. I started with the Vibram KSO's and then shortly after got the Bikala's. A couple of weeks ago bought the Saucony Kinvara to rotate with the Bikala'a. Ran in my first 10-K today in the Bikala's. Saw about 4 others in them out of the 1200 or so in the race. I am 55 and having just started running my goal was to finish in under an hour. Did in it 56:56 so I hit my goal. Legs feel great...

Hello Everyone,

Just started running in September, 2010. Actually, I tried a few years ago, but we won't dwell on that - my flat feet were prescribed stability shoes, and it wasn't good...

This time around, I started out in Nike Free Run+, and now mostly run in New Balance MT101s, but have been using Nike Free 3 v2, for my treadmill runs (to avoid confusion, I'm female - I just prefer men's shoes).

I like the 101s and Free 3 a lot, but have found that I don't do well with them on longer runs - say above 6.5 miles. So, I'm looking for an alternative for longer distances. First up for trial is the Kinvara. I'd welcome other suggestions, if anyone is inclined...

Very glad to have come across this site!

Hello all,

I am a recent barefoot/minimalist convert (< 1year) after reading Born to Run. I immediately stepped out of my Asics and bought a pair of racing flats (adizeros). I've also done a few short barefoot runs (under 1km).

I work in the construction industry so I am looking for a work shoe with minimal padding a zero or near zero rise heel.

-Andrew

Hi,

I'm not a barefooter but I do run as minimalist as I currently can. Now that it's cold, when I can run outside I run in Nike Free 3.0's. When I'm forced inside I'm running in my new Vibram Bikila's which have been great. I have run outside in them, 4 or 4 miles at a clip but my toes freeze . . . the whole glove versus mitten thing I guess, because the Free's are hardly cold weather shoes.

I have a friend who does most of his running in his Teva's (the low-end low-heel version) so I've tried that and it is pretty good. He just got a pair of Invisible Shoes Huaraches and those look pretty interesting.

I've only been running for about 6 months (I used to run occasionally way back when . . )

I'm rambling on.

Regards,

dh (Dave)

I've been running barefoot or Vibrams for a year and half now and constantly improving. I've been working on Pose running since the fall and it's slowly but surely helping my form alot.

I'm 6'1", around 200 lbs. and really flatfooted. Ran for 15 years in big marshmallow Asics until my knee operation. After that I started running in Nike Free 3.0's, and all my aches & pains went away. Knee feels great! Now I'm running in my socks. It's 10x more enjoyable.

Just curious how many of you run with VFF's over longer distances (at least 6 mile runs) and use them with Injinji socks or sockless?

I got the Bikila's this past summer and thought they were perfect after having built up 2-3 thick calluses to protect my feed from rubbing spots on my Sprints, but after going past 17-18 miles, even the Bikila's cause issues.

Enter a pair of Injinji socks and a new pair of KSO Remixes. I think I can run for hours and hours with no blistering issues, and the stank problem has just about been 100% eliminated. The socks reek, but those go in the wash and come out just fine.

If you do use them sockless, which model(s) and how far to you typically run?

My name is Kelly and I currently live in Lexington, KY. I have not yet made the switch to minimalist footwear because I am training for the Boston marathon and I'm reluctant to make any big changes until after the race. I also have concerns regarding a previous/lingering/summertime stress fracture in my left foot and whether minimalist shoes will exacerbate this condition. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to making the switch (or at least trying) and finding what products suit me best. Cheers!

Hi all - got back into running last fall after long hiatus, interested in happy pain free feet and legs. More into minimalist footwear than barefoot due to location.

Hi,

I am new to minimal running. I have a question regarding what a suitable game plan for minimal running. I have an occasional flare up of plantar fasciitis in my left foot and am a bit concerned about making it worse with running shoes having minimal support. I am doing some arch strengthening exercises, but am wondering if there are any suggestions dealing with minimal running making the plantar fasciitis worse.

Thanks in advance.

-Nick

Hello! I'm 56, English and have lived in New York City for 21 years. I became aware of minimalist running in June 2009 and used a pair of KSOs from then till that November but put them away till last February when I decided to run only barefoot, or minimalist, as it was the only way I had no discomfort in my knees or hips. I get to run to and from work, as well as purely fun runs on weekends, so the miles piled up last year! At the moment I'm indulging my first love and skiing XC as much as I can (after yesterday's 60km today became a rest day!) More snow is forecast but I know I'll soon be back to running more in the fairly near future.

Hi I'm Danny Peters. I grew up in Lima, OH. I began running in eight grade when I joined cross country. My initial reasons for joining XC was to get in shape for wrestling season, which was also to get in shape for baseball, my main sport. I then went to high school and switched to swimming instead of wrestling, and started to get our of baseball. Then my junior year my XC team went to state and I got more involved in running. However I was plagued by injuries in my knee and shins. I then went on to the United States Naval Academy, where I currently am located. I got back into running a couple of years ago during my sophomore year here. But was again hindered by shin splints. It wasn't until my junior year that I learned about barefoot and minimal running. Since then I have been pain free except for some blisters early on. Now I'm trying to get more involved and do some races as well.

Hi Everyone,

I began running just a few months ago (at age 57). I began with Nike Free 7.0's. I've since gotten Nike Free 3.0's, Vibram KSO's and Feelmax Osmas. I've noticed that my form does get better as my shoes get more minimal.

I plan to try barefoot when the weather gets warmer. I'm just not hard core enough to try it in the ice and snow!

David

So, I watched Saint Ralph on Netflix last night. The protagonist tries to win the Boston Marathon. One of the things a book was telling him to do was run backwards. Is this a real practice? It said it develops the calves the best. I know running minimal or barefoot gives me a great calf workout. Is running backwards a good idea despite the obvious dangers of not being able to see where you're going?

Hi everyone! I just picked up my first pair of Vibram FiveFingers (specifically the KSO's). I have longer, wider toes than most people it seems, and I just tried out my new pair on the treadmill for a 3.5 mile run (about 30 minutes or so).

About at the 25 minute mark, I started feeling some rubbing on the side of my right foot as well as my small toe on the same foot.

I finished the run, and took off the VFF's to notice two bad blisters on those two areas.

I've never worn Minimalist shoes before, and I don't bearfoot (yet!). So I'm curious to know if the reason these blisters came about is because of the structure of my feet from 21 years of shoes? or if it's the pair of VFF's itself? perhaps a size issue?

Could anyone lend me a hand? :)

Anyone have any experience with this? I took a half-day workshop over the weekend here in Chicago and it was interesting. Definitely need to change my form to combat my ITBS. Working on that and transitioning to zero drop (or close to it) shoes. I know Dr. Mark has some experience with this since I saw it on his website, but any other opinions are more than welcome. Thanks!