Barefoot and minimalist running has gotten huge in recent years.
My story briefly. Military makes you run a lot, and it kills my knees.
Took a friends advice and started running barefoot, and it works. No knee pain, less fatigue, better comfort, and running is almost…enjoyable.
However, barefoot running is not always practical or acceptable.
I’ve been wearing the Merrall Trail Glove “minimalist” running shoes and they are freaking awesome. My run times are better, legs are stronger and knees feel so much better.
Price was $114 at REI, so they are on the pricey side. I wear them with socks (cuts down on stink and moisture related stuff), and have about 100 miles in them.
Sole is very flexible and they are light. The toe box is very generous, unlike the Brooks and New Balance Minimus line. This was very important after barefoot running for awhile.
There is a touch of squish to the sole that fades over time, and the slight arch support was not a interference to my natural gait, and is appreciated over longer distances.
For people that like the Vibrams, but can’t wear them for whatever reason, the Merrall Trail Glove is a great minimal alternative.
Not my pic, but I have the same model. They work on pavement and really well on trails.
I have a pair of the New Balance Minimus and they essentially make me feel like I am barefoot. Running is actually fun again. Almost reminds me of being a kid in the summer. Very comparable to the Five Fingers but Big Army Approved :rolleyes:
The key to getting into minimalist running is conditioning the body gradually. A big part of that is the heel drop of the shoe. The smaller the heel drop the less the cushioning and more barefoot like.
I have the same shoes OP, and I fully support the minimalist/barefoot running movement. Born to Run is a great book as well.
What pisses me off is how it’s becoming a fashion trend of sorts. People buying minimalist shoes or walking around in five fingers (some of which because they read Born to Run) without actually knowing WHY the shoes are designed the way they are or HOW you are supposed to be running in them.
It is definintly the right way to run. I have bursitis in just about every joint in my legs and it has mostly gone away since I switched. I’m getting my ass kicked by the soreness in my calfs/ankles though. Defininly takes time to make the transition.
I think the reason you see people wearing them around town, and not just while running, is twofold.
One, I’ve been told by the person that sold me my pair as well, as people I talked to before I made my purchase, that it helps with making the transition from traditional runners.
The other reason is that for me anyway, they are just flat out comfortable. It’s like wearing a slipper, and for someone who wears boots most of the time, I love being able to wear something so light that I feel barefoot.
I had the merrell trail glove too, they were great, the only issue was some rubbing on the back that caused blisters for the first couple of weeks. Once I got them broken in they were awesome. I just switched to the new balance minimus just to see what the difference is between the two. So far they’re fine as well, the only difference seems to be the price.
Funny, Ive been “running” a pair of Merrel Trail Gloves as well
I just started to run this year, and started minimalist, so I dont really have much to compare to or a way to review them since its all I know. Except I did have a pair of NIKE FREE for the first 4 months or so and they literally fell apart under my feet.
I wear the trail gloves for all the running I do, for everyday casual I wear the new balance minimus wellness ones because I can slip them on, though I do wear the merrells as well just my current pair are super dirty because I’ve done a decent amount of trail running in them and they get stuck in a bag for hours after runs at work.
I have the same exact pair and love them. Ran a six mile trail the other day and, even with my bad knee and all, I felt great afterwards. Also wear them in the gym when I’m lifting. Always nice to have a pair of minimalist shoes that don’t make people look at you like a freak when they see them.
I got a pair of the NB Minimus MX20 cross trainers a few months ago and I love them - best cross trainers I’ve ever worn. I wear them mostly indoors in the gym w/ very minimal running (basically a warmup on the treadmill). I use them mostly for weights, calisthenics, etc. I find for lifting, especially say squats or deadlifts, I feel more “planted” on the ground. I also find for any lateral movement, there isn’t the need for lateral support as in most cross trainers as your feet don’t tend to “roll” to the side. They were my first foray into a minimalist shoe: http://www.amazon.com/New-Balance-Minimus-Training-Black/dp/B004XVGHF4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319056846&sr=8-1
I liked them so much I recently bought a pair of the Minimus Road for running. I’m a little more nervous about running in a minimal shoe vs. cross training because, unfortunately, most of my running is on pavement (just a function of where I live) and thus far I’ve been VERY lucky WRT injuries with traditional running shoes, so I’ve always had a bit of an if it ain’t broke don’t fix it mentality there. But, they are very comfortable and I enjoy running a bit more with them. So far I’ve just been cycling them in about every 3rd run or so (just got them a couple weeks ago). http://www.shopnewbalance.com/men/shoes/running/training/MR10BR
It’s all about letting your foot do what it naturally wants to do, if your running, walking, or lifting. I’m not the guy to go into the science of it all but a good book to read is Born to Run, great book that I picked up inadvertently that turned me on to the minimalist movement.
When I first started running bear foot, I started small, like ½ mile on the grass. At first my feet hurt, like they where being pulled apart. It was the muscles and ligaments getting reacquainted with doing what they do naturally. After a couple weeks it went a way and over the last few years my feet have actually got wider and my arch higher.
Think of bear foot and minimalist shoes in this way. When you build an arch out of brick, stone or whatever you don’t put a pillar in the middle to support it, if you do it actually destabilizes the arches natural strength. Yet we are told by medical “science” we need an arch under our feet. Ultimately it serves to weaken our naturally strong creation.
I will have to check these out. I’ve had some recent knee pain so I switched from running to the elliptical machine. My buddy has run a several half marathons and a couple fulls in 5 finger shoes, but they just seemed too extreme for me to switch. I knew minimalist shoes existed, but haven’t had time to research any.
There are some new ones out there Ive been testing and I’ll be running in for The Project. I’ll be doing a review soon.
I’ll also be posting my weekly workouts on my site for the next 9 months starting this Friday for those that are interested. I haven’t run an ultra in about 10 months, so it may be a good opprotunity for those that are on the fence to make a decision.
What exactly ‘The Project’ is will come to light soon…
The one thing I can say about minimalist shoes and barefoot jogging or running is your body knows naturally not to do something that is going to hurt you.
You will know naturally that heel striking sucks, and your foot muscles, ankles, tendons and calves will get stronger so you will roll your ankle less.
You’ll use shorter, more effecient strides and keep your momentum better, while transferring less stress to your knees.
Word to the wise. START SLOOOW. Like 5 minutes, half a mile or so, and build up gradually.
I can say enough good things about minimalist shoes.
Does anyone know if Salomon is going to get into the minimalist game? I’ve had NUMEROUS pairs of the XA Pro 3Ds and love them but after training and running in the Minimus I really don’t want to go back. After being in the Minimus and going to a fore/mid foot strike the XA Pro’s heel is way to thick for me.
I’m hoping we’ll see something along the lines of a Minimus type shoe but with the lacing system of the XA Pro.
Forget to mention that the minimalist shoes make great crossfit/lifting shoes as well.
I have a pair of VFF KSO’s. Switching to barefoot eliminated my knee pain. I was using the VFF’s before I knew about the other minimalist offerings, or I might have opted for a toe box version.
KSO’s are great (for me) for running. I run on trails and pavement, and I have no issue with road debris. A co-worker also has a pair of KSO’s, but he is limited to grass/track running as the slightest stone or gravel causes him great discomfort. I’ve run through gravel parking lots with no issue. YMMV.
As I have mentioned elsewhere, I paid a dear price for “over doing it”. I was so excited by the lack of knee pain and having the fun back in my running that I doubled my distance between two runs (3 mile trail > 6 mile trail) and suffered some major Achilles tendonitis for my troubles. I had started shoeless on a treadmill, 5 minutes at a time before graduating to increasing road work. It was still not enough. TAKE IT SLOW. I’m not running at all now until the spring in an effort to heal. It’s been months and my tendon is still sore to the touch. I’m using K tape and calf exercises now, before I run again.
