:D Barefoot Running

[Inov-8 Insider]

Just got back from spain where I ran the Barcelona marathon (road) in 3:28 in a pair of 220s. It hurt because marathons hurt, but it didn't hurt because of the shoes. Very pleased.

Well done JS
It seems you wernt the only one wearing the 220's
below is a message I got on my Twitter from @John_Millen

@inov8uk finished in 2:58 at Barcelona Marathon wearing Inov8 F220s. Loved the natural feel.

[Nigel]

The more you go lighter (or should that be the less you go lighter?) the more you can't go back to heavy.

I've been pretty exclusively running in Vibrams and X-Talons since the last of the snow. Went for a quicky this morning in my 285's which most would class as "racers" - they felt like two huge clumps of lead strapped to my slabs of meat.

Now, this is not a complaint. I love the 285's. Got me round 46.6 miles of the Beacons last year with almost no complaints and after being completely immersed on a number of occasions, a surprisingly low blister count too.

I've just come to the point where they actually are noticeably heavy.

Can't wait for the new shoes II Should be soon now...?

Absolutely. I've got a pair of 'featherlight' 320's which feel like bricks, now. 220's and x-talons is the way. Could do with something this light with a mudclaw sole, though, Mr innov8.

The problem I'm finding with my vibrams is that if I go more than about 6 miles my calfs seize up as though I've been doing calf raises in the gym with heavy weights and gone too far. Does it ease off? Do you just run though it?

[Inov-8 Insider]

Absolutely. I've got a pair of 'featherlight' 320's which feel like bricks, now. 220's and x-talons is the way. Could do with something this light with a mudclaw sole, though, Mr innov8.

The problem I'm finding with my vibrams is that if I go more than about 6 miles my calfs seize up as though I've been doing calf raises in the gym with heavy weights and gone too far. Does it ease off? Do you just run though it?

Im not sure you actually need a Mudclaw soled version...try the X-Talon and see how well that performs

Your calves may well be stiff, you need to massage & stretch.
Its worth having a look HERE and talking to THIS man

[andy k]

In the interests of balance
always remeber there are other options out there, such as

Walsh PB racers
Adidas
New Balance
all good old fell racing shoes (some older and more minimalist than others)

and that is all that the X-Talon is - a fell racing shoe -
though being re-badged and sold to you as a minimalist / barefoot option.

[Inov-8 Insider]

the X-Talon is - a fell racing shoe -
though being re-badged and sold to you as a minimalist / barefoot option.

Thats because it is
If there are other lighter, lower profile, lower differential minimalist fell shoes then I will stand corrected.
The original start of this thread was Barefoot Running, contributors mentioned the X-Talon as a good minimalist Fell shoe.

[andy k]

Now you see thats where I can't quite square the facts,
Well, the facts according to Inov8.

If the X-Talon and the F-lites are genuine barefoot minimalist designs then why do they contain -
http://www.inov-8.com/Fascia-Band.asp?L=26
The ‘Fascia-band™’ patent pending.
The “fascia band” is a feature of the outsole of inov-8 footwear ... which replicates the anatomical position of the plantar fascia ligament and duplicates the function of the human foot’s .... the inov-8 fascia band resists elongation of the medial arch and carries the entire body weight of the runner converting the shoe into a rigid propulsive lever.

-

Which I interpret as a technical partof the shoe designed to replicate and replace the foot's natural platar fascia function.

Building in technical elements to replicate or replace the foot's function is the absolute oposite of Barefoot thinking.
Barefoot says, your foot is finely evolved for the task of running and that weakening the foot through the wearing of shoes, cushioning etc can lead to injuries. Plantar Fasciatis being a common complaint.

Meanwhile in Inov8 News
http://www.inov-8.com/News-Detail.asp?L=26&NID=342
Whether you are an elite athlete or a recreational user, the inov-8 footwear range allows your foot the freedom to move and function as nature intended, without interference from the structure of the shoe.

and also, ironically

you’d be correct to be cynical about the mainstream running brands’ opinions about the benefits of using their products. While some brands simply deny the validity of the research, other brands are jumping on the barefoot bandwagon with a flurry of press releases claiming to offer minimalist running shoes.


Now to be clear I have inov8 shoes in my cupboard, they are well used and I like them.
I'm trying to build my barefoot running programme (though hampered by a chronic issue with my left heel)

BUT
It is that last paragraph and the exploitation of this thread that I find irritating.

So think on people,
think on,
read between the lines and understand that there are some very sophisticated marketing people out there.

[Grouse]

Inov8 and injury advice are in cahoots I reckon: inov8 give you the injury and injury advice sorts it for you with his magic potion.

[Inov-8 Insider]

Andy K
What we offer is a range of shoes with different levels of underfoot protection( cushioning)
The arrow system currently goes from a 4 arrow ( our max) down to a 2 arrow as on the X-Talon 212 & F-lite 230.
We don't claim these 2 arrow shoes to be " barefoot" shoes but they are recognised by some runners(POSE/Minimalists) to be some of the best shoes available where flexibility, grip & lower differential allows a more natural running style.
Now that's all very well saying we have one of the best available but we want to go even closer to barefoot as possible.
So we will soon have available the X-Talon 190 & F-lite 195 both these shoes will have our new 1 arrow midsole. This will mean that these shoes will be even lower to the ground & more flexible.
We will then have a 0 arrow shoe ( I did a 10k in this at Xmas)
And finally a new product that can be classed as a minus. This will be a very thin micro material that moulds to your foot but offers some protection.

So you can hopefully see we are trying to offer a range of products.
4 arrow- lower than most of the shoe brands but offers our max underfoot protection. This maybe the first proper off- road shoe for someone who is use to wearing the big road shoe brands.
3 arrow- as on Roclite 295/315. Lower heel our medium underfoot protection.
2 arrow- as all our fell shoes( mudclaw/x-talon/mudroc) lower heel than both the above. Very flexible enables good propreception which enhances balance.
1 arrow- the 2 new shoes. Lower again, more flexible and lighter.
0 arrow- Think a very light upper & a sole. No cushioning
Minus- as I described this moulds to your foot.

It's all about offering choice, some may swear that 4 arrow is what's needed others may prefer the new 1 arrow.
We are not saying everyone should go down the barefooting route, even in our own company some prefer more underfoot protection than others.

The good news there are lots of brands on the Market all offering their take ( or not) on barefoot/ minimalist footwear. Some are jumping on the band wagon while others have opposing views( big brands who need to justify their " technologies" )

Since the birth of inov-8 in 2003 we have always promoted natural running, it's what we have always advocated.

[Derby Tup]

Flexibility is an interesting point. I'd never noticed until the other day but Walshes (certainly recent PBs) have a very stiff / rigid sole compared to the Inov8s I've worn (285/290/305/315/330-originals). I'm going to have a look at PB Racers for my next fell shoes and I'm curious to see (and feel) the soles of them

[Inov-8 Insider]

Flexibility is an interesting point.

Derby
Flexibility in a running shoe may not be a thing you have ever thought about,Let me explain our reasoning for having very flexible shoes.

Imagine that you have a stiff sole that doesn't " flex" laterally ( side to side)
Your running down a path which has got a steep camber to one side, your ankle is twisting un-naturally , your putting a hell of a strain on your ankle joints, muscles & tendons.
Now imagine while running down this path you then stand on a rock at the forefoot that throws your whole foot over. Because the shoe doesn't flex or is stiffer your ankle twists because your on this stiff sole.
Now imagine the same run in a very flexible shoe. If you hit the same rock the front of the shoe will get thrown to the side while the ankle/heel flexes to absorb the different movements.