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[QUOTE=Inov-8 Insider;301966]HelloQuote:
Originally Posted by Terry the Tortoise
Are these shoes available ? I can't see them on the web site .
I'm tending to use my mudclaw 270s for everything these days . I'm trying to change my style of running (no more heel stricking) and low and behold the niggles I used to get with achillies seem to have gone away .
Want some want some want some!Quote:
Originally Posted by Inov-8 Insider
Our take on
THE BAREFOOT/MINIMALIST RUNNING DEBATE
It's probably been posted already but this is a good video I found
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrnj-7YKZE
Not seen that one before - good find!Quote:
Originally Posted by nightingale
CheersQuote:
Originally Posted by sjedwardz
Finished "Born To Run" a few days ago and have been looking around for stuff . Found that :)
nightingale,Quote:
Originally Posted by nightingale
We're severall guys here who also post on Minimalist Runner - Barefoot, Huaraches, FiveFingers... Google Group http://groups.google.com/group/huaraches
This forum will be moved on borntorun.org in a near future http://borntorun.org/ I think you'll find interesting stuff posted there.
Luc :)
I dont know if this has been posted but very good Blog
http://chrismcdougall.com/blog/
Thanks Luc . Looks interesting , I will monitor :)Quote:
Originally Posted by bfluc
Cool ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Inov-8 Insider
You might find out there that I think guys runners here are pretty cool. :cool:Quote:
Originally Posted by nightingale
So....how's everyone finding the barefoot/minimalistic experience? :D
Over a year in now, had a few niggles adjusting but I went from 3 months off running with an ankle problem to completing my first Ultra of 45 miles within 10 months. I put this down to many things. Apart from learning a more natural and lighter way of running, I also gained inspiration from reading Born to Run and found a new enjoyment in running.Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry the Tortoise
I've stopped punishing myself with speed sessions now, I did make gains in the summer league, pushing my placing from mid pack to top twenty, but I started to find running a chore. Distance has been my saviour. Slow long runs off road, up mountains getting away from it all, travelling light over terrain I used to slog heavy packs over.
Minimalist running has not only been useful in re-building my weak muscles, my barefoot sessions put me in touch with the earth in a way (excuse me whilst I get a bit hippy on you all now) that I found spiritual, fulfilling and meaningful.
I plan to add more barefoot miles this year when it warms up a bit, for now I'm doing my recovery miles in VFF and the bulk of my training in X-talons and inov8 285's, I will be giving the new inov 8's with the zeroed sole a go this summer and I'm hoping to start to work my way up to a race in either VFF or (gasp) barefoot.
Nice one Twister . I'm a way behind you . Started doing some running in the summer bare foot , but , now it's just too cold . At least it gave me chance to work out how I should be running . I too have changed my style and am finding the achillies problems are going away . I do most of my running in mudclaw 270s which I think are pretty minimal and very grippy . My mate has just given me a pair of 5 finger sprints (too small for him)that I will start to do a bit of flat stuff in . Also looking forward to Inov8s zeros .
My pal is running the Valleys race tomorrow in a pair of Treks . I've done some training runs with him and he seems to be getting enough traction but I think tomorrow will be the big tester . He ran the Half Peris with me in September in the sprints and he was slipping all over the place . A bit dangerous .
Hey Twister, you're journey sounds pretty much like mine!Quote:
Originally Posted by Twister
Running bf (or VFF through winter) really does put you in touch with nature and your own body. I still go back to the trusty X-Talons for racing and really technical terrain but hope to go "naked" in the future.
The main thing other people have noticed is that I've always got a big smile on my face when I'm running now :D
TerryQuote:
Originally Posted by Terry the Tortoise
maybe the reason you have a big smile on your face is because the wind is gently blowing n caressing your naked parts:D
:eek: LOL :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Inov-8 Insider
Interesting article in this week's Observer Sport Monthly magazine on barefooting ;)
I've not run in anything but 285s or Walsh PBs since last autumn and am looking forward to feeling some Dales grass under my feet soon :cool:
[QUOTE=Derby Tup;304306]Interesting article in this week's Observer Sport Monthly magazine on barefooting ;)
Nice little article, here's the link:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010...refoot-running
:D
If anyone wants to "learn" how to run barefoot could try going on this course:
The Natural running Course
A lot of money for a weekend (can you really learn in 2 days?) :eek:
Chris McDougall, Born to Run, how shoes are sold: Mafia selling give me yout money or you'll get hurt!
http://bit.ly/aNTj8d
I managed to learn in 3 minutes running round the boundary of the cricket club....Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry the Tortoise
and then very gradually building up.
£120 please
3.5 miles quite quickly in my £4.95 new running plimsolls from Huddersfield market on Tues evening and my calves are still tight today. Worth every bit of post run pain as I know it will hurt less the more I do.
I like your thinking:eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Clash City Rocker
Time is a greater healer:D
Vibram Fivefingers with laces: http://barefootrunningshoes.org/2009...performa-jane/
The 'Bikila's' look interesting!
Jeff Browning is a well known US ultra runner who has been making the move towards natural running.
His posts for 2 Jan, 9 Jan and 10 Jan (particularly the last) are well worth a read.
http://www.gobroncobilly.com/
Inov8 Insider, you will enjoy them particularly. :D
Another enlightened soul.Quote:
Originally Posted by BGSec
The tide is turning, i've had a number of " traditional" retailers wanting minimalist footwear as customers are asking for them.
Being relatively new to running i think I'm going to go with the minimalist technique from the start. I've been told that i already run with a mid/forefoot strike which has to be a good start. I also spend all my time at home barefoot and have done for as long as i can remember. And when I'm wearing shoes they are usually vans which are also pretty flat. Think i'm going to have to ditch the pegasus before i get used to running in a shoe with a built up heel and get some f-lites :)
I've been meaning to ask for yonks, how do you tell if you're a heel-striker or whatever? Is the wear on your shoes a clue? :confused:
No idea if shoe wear is an indicator. I guess the easiest way is just to ask someone to watch you run.Quote:
Originally Posted by Derby Tup
I posted this before . I think it helps to show the difference between heel/mid/fore foot strike ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrnj-7YKZE
I knew I was a heel striker, because runners world told me that was the correct way to run, so I went deliberately out of my way to over stride and land on my heels then feel the roll from heel to toe. I can't believe I was so stupid.
I ran like this for about 3 years diligently replacing my shoes every 6-7 months, and during this period of time I picked up two or three injuries, resulting in a trip to the physio and an off the peg orthotic.
It was only until I got so fed up after my last injury that I thought there must be a better way and for me it started by reading about chi-running and then switching to a forefoot strike. This led to reading more about barefoot running on Ken Bobs website and then inevitably to reading Born to Run.
To sum up, I consciously think about my running style all the time and constantly visualise the forefoot strike, I think that I have got to the point where it feels very natural now, landing on the outside edge of my forefoot, rolling in to the ball of the foot, making contact with the heel slightly, bending the knees more... Generally running very softly and not "pounding" as some people will describe running.
My drill at the moment is to try and run silently, kind of like a ninja, which is good fun when you startle an innocent walker :D
Yep this is definitely the way forward.
Did you find your calves get sore doing it this way intially? I still end a long road run after consciously running on the forefoot with very tight calves. I just consider it that I'm giving them more of a workout, but wondered if it got easier over time. Only been doing this for the last couple of months.
I'd never really thought about how I ran until I started reading this thread. I think I naturally run how Twister describes above ie short strides, supinating and relatively light-footed. I hear other people run and they seem much heavier on their feet than me. If my natural way of running is forefoot-striking it sure seems a good way to develop tight calves that's certain, and great too for tendonitis in the Achilles ;):(
I have a very similar experience as twister. Heel striker for a long time but didn't really get any injuries. I got into Chi Running and took a few 1:1's to make sure I was doing it properly.
Do some barefoot and also with F-lites and 295 with and without footbed. Like anything it does take a time to readjust and your calves do hurt for a while! I've found knee length compression socks help - wear them after not during as I think I look like a dick!
Chi Running taught me to think a lot more on how your run and what all of your body is doing. You can phase in and phase out during a run and after a while it becomes totally natural - Know what you mean about Ninja Running!!
Been doing one 'barefoot' (ie in aqua shoes which are now so worn they've got a hole in the sole - so I guess that's pretty close to barefoot!) run a week for a few months now, and all my other running is done with forefoot strike. I've found the transition from heel striking tough, and thought I was doing something wrong - even now I can't so more than 4 or 5 miles (on the roads) without risking a calf strain. However, I recently discovered I have osteoarthritis in my right ankle, giving it less flexibility. I guess my calf muscle has shortened over time.
When I'm on the fells I do find I still revert to heel striking on steep downhills - with anything more than a gentle decline I feel like I'm stretching out too much and puttuing the brakes on with each landing - I know I should be using shorter steps, but my legs don't move fast enough!
To be honest I didn't get too much of the sore calf syndrome, a bit of tightness initially but no problem there now. I did build my mileage back up very slowly and as a builder, I'm on my feet daily so I know this helps (a very quick aside: I've replaced kneeling with squatting at work and I really believe that in the developed world we would be far better off if we squatted more!)Quote:
Originally Posted by southernsoftie
On the subject of down hill running. I think that it is very hard not to land on your heels when you are running on a very steep incline. (so perhaps its natural?) I've always believed in planting the whole foot though, as this provides better grip with a sole full of studs. I suppose that the obvious way to descend is to try and run at the same angle that you would be running at, if you were on the flat. This would mean throwing yourself in to the fall line and requires guts and a very excessive forward lean from the ankles :D.
On the very few occasions that I have barefooted steep hills I think I land pretty much "all of my foot at once" my ankles are flexing down with my knees bent, I'm not brave enough to let go completely so I always end up scrubbing off speed by leaning back or from making turns (like skiing).
On tarmac hills, I've had more success in practising softer landings, depending on the steepness I can run with a comfortable forefoot landing, but my turnover is much much faster, I got it licked the other week I think when I ran softly and quietly down a steep road in my VFF. (again, like a ninja)
I guess its just a case of practise until it feels right, I'd be very interested to hear what others think about the perfect downhill form.
I believe that less is more :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Inov-8 Insider
More
- Fun
- Healthy
- Stable
Luc :cool: