I saw this add for Altra shoes and really thought it captured why I run.With regard to my running, over the last few weeks I have tried to wear my more traditional shoes thinking that I would need the extra support and cushion at Murphy and my achilles has really gotten sore, I noticed that it never seemed to bother me when I was wearing my minimalist shoes. I thought it might be my increasing mileage but last weekend I was in pain 4 miles in, this week I wore my minimalist shoes and didn't have any noteworthy pain. This weekend I decided to reassess my thinking on this.
You see deep down, I wasn't 100% committed to minimalist shoes. Sure I had been wearing them almost exclusively since April but I hadn't mentally said I would never go back to traditional shoes. I started wearing them to strengthen my ankle and that has worked but to commit that I was ready to give up on support and cushioning, well I wasn't sure. The last few weekends though have changed that, I tried to run in my older conventional shoes (9 to 12 mil drop, support and cushioning) and it hasn't worked all of my long runs were basically a disaster.
On Saturday, I ran 3 miles in my New Balance MT10's on an asphalt bike path and then 3 more miles in Lebanon Hills. For the 3 miles on asphalt, I had no issue whatsoever and again confirmed that is easier to run in minimalist shoes on pavement versus trails. Smooth and hard surfaces give instant feedback. On Sunday I decided to get a long run in Lebanon Hills. I wanted to get in 18 to 19 miles and I got in just short of 18 so I was pleased, I ran out of time not energy. For my run on Sunday, I tried to hit every single hiking trail in the center section of the park, I missed two small sections and really enjoyed running on the trails with no purpose but to hit every trail. The weather was cool but very good for running, I had some achilles pain but it was manageable. Before the run, I decided to re-commit to my minimalist shoes so I wore my New Balance MT110's. They aren't a pure minimalist shoe but are in that class of shoe more than anything else, they are a 4 mil drop, lightweight shoe (7.7 oz) and fit similar to the MT10's but they have a thin rock plate in the forefoot which gives a little more margin, here is a review of the shoes that I pretty much agree with from Jason of Barefoot Running.So with a couple of more weekends between now and Murphy, I will maintain my commitment to my minimalist shoes and see how it goes.
3 comments:
glad you got a good one in! at some point I decided my achilles doesn't seem to like bopping back and forth between different drop levels too much - shoot, I used to run a few miles in the VFFs and then switch to shoes for some more miles... I don't do that any more.
elly and i have done 3 50 k's and 4 marathons in the vibrams but after the rocks under the leaves at surf last year and a long run in them at afton last weekend at afton we will probably be wearing normal trail shoes at surf my Achilles has been bothering me but not being able to anticipate the rocks under the leaves make running in them difficult for me still not 100% and may bring both but it probably cost us a hour last year i do believe in minimalist shoes but maybe not in all applications steve l
Wayne & Steve,
Thanks for the comments.
Steve - I am hoping my 110's give me enough protection. I know my vff's don't at least for Murphy.
Mike
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