:D Barefoot Running

Hi,
A quick (and potentially silly) question from a newby fell runner but an experienced minimalist shoe/barefoot runner. I've had a quick look through the most recent posts on this thread to get a feel for the 'shoes' that people are currently using. The Bare-Grips, Merrell Trail Gloves, FiveFingers and the Luna sandals are all discussed.

I have yet to see them in person, but how does the more 'traditional' Walsh PB Elite Racer stack up in the scheme of things? Of course I understand these are not anywhere near as minimal as those listed above, but are they 'quite' minimal in that there is nothing fancy about them, e.g. no heavily built up heel with air cushioning etc., no pronation control getting in the way of natural foot mechanics. How thick are the soles and does anyone know what sort of heel differential they have?

I kind of think they may be like the 'pumps' we used to have to wear for school PE lessons back in the 80's. They were nothing more than thin strips of rubber with thin canvas on the top i.e. minimalist without knowing it and long before the recent (and welcome) upsurge in interest in natural running biomechanics.

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Originally Posted by jdo

Hi,
A quick (and potentially silly) question from a newby fell runner but an experienced minimalist shoe/barefoot runner. I've had a quick look through the most recent posts on this thread to get a feel for the 'shoes' that people are currently using. The Bare-Grips, Merrell Trail Gloves, FiveFingers and the Luna sandals are all discussed.

I have yet to see them in person, but how does the more 'traditional' Walsh PB Elite Racer stack up in the scheme of things? Of course I understand these are not anywhere near as minimal as those listed above, but are they 'quite' minimal in that there is nothing fancy about them, e.g. no heavily built up heel with air cushioning etc., no pronation control getting in the way of natural foot mechanics. How thick are the soles and does anyone know what sort of heel differential they have?

I kind of think they may be like the 'pumps' we used to have to wear for school PE lessons back in the 80's. They were nothing more than thin strips of rubber with thin canvas on the top i.e. minimalist without knowing it and long before the recent (and welcome) upsurge in interest in natural running biomechanics.

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jdo, Walsh PBs are actually pretty 'minimal' as you suspected. I've no idea what the differential is but it must be fairly low. The difference between Walshes and your old school pumps is that the soles, although thin, are not really flexible or particularly 'sensitive' i.e. you cant really feel the ground in them. The tops of Walshes are quite thick and padded too. I've not run in Bare-grips but the obvious things about them on handling them is how light they feel and the immense flexibility of their soles

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Originally Posted by jdo

Hi,
A quick (and potentially silly) question from a newby fell runner but an experienced minimalist shoe/barefoot runner. I've had a quick look through the most recent posts on this thread to get a feel for the 'shoes' that people are currently using. The Bare-Grips, Merrell Trail Gloves, FiveFingers and the Luna sandals are all discussed.

I have yet to see them in person, but how does the more 'traditional' Walsh PB Elite Racer stack up in the scheme of things? Of course I understand these are not anywhere near as minimal as those listed above, but are they 'quite' minimal in that there is nothing fancy about them, e.g. no heavily built up heel with air cushioning etc., no pronation control getting in the way of natural foot mechanics. How thick are the soles and does anyone know what sort of heel differential they have?

I kind of think they may be like the 'pumps' we used to have to wear for school PE lessons back in the 80's. They were nothing more than thin strips of rubber with thin canvas on the top i.e. minimalist without knowing it and long before the recent (and welcome) upsurge in interest in natural running biomechanics.

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I wear x-talon 212s, an old pair for training with no insole and a new pair for racing with two insoles for a tighter fit. They're both very minimal in feel; particularly the old pair with no insole.

I have worn PBs but like DT said you can't feel under you feet very well. The only problem with the x-talon is they don't last very long. But you can get them for about £65 from Go Outdoors I think...And they're very flexible...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jdo

Hi,
A quick (and potentially silly) question from a newby fell runner but an experienced minimalist shoe/barefoot runner. I've had a quick look through the most recent posts on this thread to get a feel for the 'shoes' that people are currently using. The Bare-Grips, Merrell Trail Gloves, FiveFingers and the Luna sandals are all discussed.

I have yet to see them in person, but how does the more 'traditional' Walsh PB Elite Racer stack up in the scheme of things? Of course I understand these are not anywhere near as minimal as those listed above, but are they 'quite' minimal in that there is nothing fancy about them, e.g. no heavily built up heel with air cushioning etc., no pronation control getting in the way of natural foot mechanics. How thick are the soles and does anyone know what sort of heel differential they have?

I kind of think they may be like the 'pumps' we used to have to wear for school PE lessons back in the 80's. They were nothing more than thin strips of rubber with thin canvas on the top i.e. minimalist without knowing it and long before the recent (and welcome) upsurge in interest in natural running biomechanics.

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Pumps are good and at £5 a pair very user friendly, Ive done a couple of fell races in them now (actually removed them and went bare foot in the most recent race) and often train in them. That said my X-talons have now officially died and I will be getting Bare-grips for my next pair as whilst I love running in my pumps they dont offer great grip in the wet.

Been using a pair of vibram speed for a a few weeks, just walking around a mile or two in them every day for anatomical adaptation, proprioception and learining...I'm just in the lee of a a IM race and not wanting to run in them prior to doing the Wasdale, but have been really impressed with sensory awareness/ mindfulness/awakening & philosophical change they have brought about to my walking experience and I guess will bring to my running too

Rather than just being about fitness and visual delight at the landscape, a new dimensions of intimacy and connectedness with both the terrain and my body has developed that I have been totally ignorant of previously and, to tell the truth, missing out on in all my other runs over the years, which really is quite amazing...I'm truely impressed having been a bit sceptical and dubious about the viability of barefoot running, especially on stony or rocky ground and interms of losing what little speed i could carry... to the extent that the added gain from being free and intouch really has produced and step change in what I now seek from traversing outside.

The problem now is that all my other shoes now look wrong

What I want to ask is, do/ have experienced practitioners retain and use their normal /old footwear or replace it ?

Thank you to all who replied to my post, you have been very helpful.

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Originally Posted by Clash City Rocker

Pumps are good and at £5 a pair very user friendly, Ive done a couple of fell races in them now (actually removed them and went bare foot in the most recent race)

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That was you mentioned in a thread recently then (the last race you did?), Kudos for barefooting a fell race mate. I doubt I would be confident/daft enough to do it myself. X-talons for me thanks :)

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Originally Posted by Rob Furness

That was you mentioned in a thread recently then (the last race you did?), Kudos for barefooting a fell race mate. I doubt I would be confident/daft enough to do it myself. X-talons for me thanks :)

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Cheers it was in the Tom Tittiman as part of CVFR Midsummer Madness and I wasnt entirely stupid as I did put them back on to run the last section which was stoney.

http://www.woodentops.org.uk/index.p...&backlink=none

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Originally Posted by trilathon

Been using a pair of vibram speed for a a few weeks, just walking around a mile or two in them every day for anatomical adaptation, proprioception and learining...I'm just in the lee of a a IM race and not wanting to run in them prior to doing the Wasdale, but have been really impressed with sensory awareness/ mindfulness/awakening & philosophical change they have brought about to my walking experience and I guess will bring to my running too

Rather than just being about fitness and visual delight at the landscape, a new dimensions of intimacy and connectedness with both the terrain and my body has developed that I have been totally ignorant of previously and, to tell the truth, missing out on in all my other runs over the years, which really is quite amazing...I'm truely impressed having been a bit sceptical and dubious about the viability of barefoot running, especially on stony or rocky ground and interms of losing what little speed i could carry... to the extent that the added gain from being free and intouch really has produced and step change in what I now seek from traversing outside.

The problem now is that all my other shoes now look wrong

What I want to ask is, do/ have experienced practitioners retain and use their normal /old footwear or replace it ?

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I find almost any other shoes now hideously uncomfortable!