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.[/QUOTE]
Yeah my training partner did the same thing, even after getting warmed into it for a few months he went WAY over board on the distance off road in his five fingers, suffered similar injuries as you describe.
Best thing I can suggest for IT band issues as well as any other tendon issues is a firm foam roller as linked bellow. These things will literly bring tears to your eyes but help me loosen up those strung out tendons that just wont release. Do like the girl is doing in the picture and after a couple of days you’ll be right as rain.
Ran 4 miles this morning in a pair of Merrell Trail Gloves on mixture of pavement, gravel, and grass.
Like many others have said, you have to start slowly in these shoes and gradually build up mileage over time. It took me probably 6-8 weeks before I could comfortably run 3 miles in these shoes. It feels weird at first until your body gets conditioned to running the proper way.
I got the whole minimalist shoe idea thanks to Kyle Defoor’s blog.
Looking forward to checking his new program out.
Thanks for the tip. I’ll look into the roller. Although, looking at that pic, I can’t see what she is doing benefiting my AT…but then I have not tried it yet.
Given the original object of this thread (reviews), I’m interested to hear from people that have used both VFFs and minimalist shoes. Is there a difference on the effects on foot/ankle “wear”? Difference in stride?
I’ve used the Vibram 5 Fingers (komodo and bikila ls) as well as the New Balance Minimus 10.
For working out I prefer the Bikilas, whether it’s running or lifting or body weight exercises. Light weight, very comfortable and the speed laces help keep it snug to minimize sliding or moving inside the shoe.
For everyday wear, walking, hiking I like the NB Minimus. I spent a few hours last night hiking a campground area wearing the NB’s and had no issues.
I took a long hard look at the Merrells this past weekend and almost pulled the trigger but this tenderfoot still has a few reservations about blunt force trauma to the foot. We’ll see what transpires over the winter. It might be a good shoe for overall training, and maybe even do some conditioning work on the treadmill until I get used to them.
Bad technique will compound the problem to be sure, but if the shoe is too minimalist, and one is running on a hard surface, especially for a protracted amount of time, even good technique can only take you so far. Here’s an example.
Been reading Born to Run for a couple days and I’m almost half way through. Ann just got beat and now they’re trying to set up the copper canyon race. Never really knew what an ultra was. I’d like to try some iskiate.
edit: don’t want to cause any buyers remorse, but the Navy Exchange online site, available to all services and dependents, has the NB mt10ob for $79.99, free shipping for athletic shoes (excludes vibram) with code FITFORLESS at checkout.
I bought a pair of vibram 5 finger KSO about a year ago. I tried running in them many times and I would get large blisters on the ball of my foot. I could never get my feet to toughen up while wearing them. Then I decided I would run barefoot. I was able to run longer barefoot than in vibram 5 fingers. Thinking my foot was sufficiently ‘toughened up’ I switched back to 5 fingers and I got blisters again. I ditched the 5 fingers and ran barefoot. I rarely ran more than a mile. I purchased a pair of New Balance minimus and I ran 2 miles in them the first time I put them on. They are the best shoe for me.
I think the best part of barefoot running is how it changes your stride. I have started to notice how people run in their shoes and a suprising number jog on the balls of their feet even with padded running shoes. It suprised me. I don’t know if I will ever be able to overcome over 30 years of heel strike running but I will try.
i just purchased a pair of minimus 10 and have only put about 4-5 miles in them and i have to say once i get used to the new running style this are going to kick ass. my feel feel great in them and i also wear them in the gym. they are great for my leg days. dead lifts, front and back squats then right to box jumps and jump rope these can handle it all.
I couldn’t read the full article without registering for Boston.com but I got the gist with 2 pages. Right off the bat, the author experienced what I anticipated would happen with the five fingers and that is an impact injury. The shoes have the same construction as my water shoes which is essentially nothing. The Merrells have a better construction but I’m still not convinced.
I worked my butt off changing my stride to a more ball of the foot strike and it has definitely helped improve my overall stride and speed. Heel strike was just jarring as hell.
For example, part of the reason I wear socks is it reduces friction and blisters for me.
Also, you have to learn to generate power from a shorter stride. Long strides and barefoot/minimalist running are something of a bad combo because you’ll wreck your heels and knees.
For most people though, when you make them run barefoot, they naturally know not to run in a way that is going to destroy their body.
If a true minimalist shoe concerns you a bit, try a transitional shoe. Brooks PureProject line might be a good starting point
I did a two mile trail in the mountains over semi rocky terrain with my Merrells yesterday. Great experience.
I changed to the VFF’s about 6 months ago after being plagued by a shitty left knee that didn’t seem to get better with physical therapy. Every time I ran, the toes of my left foot would try and fly to the outside when I brought my foot forward to take another stride and I’d have persistent aching and fluid build up for weeks that ice/NSAIDs wouldn’t do anything for. After 3 months of using the VFF’s my stride got back to feeling like I was running on rails. The pain still persisted though not as bad, so another MRI suggested that I had an ACL tear so the good doctor scoped my knee. Diagnosis was no ligament/meniscus damage but some significant cartilage wear. He said he cleaned it out and told me to stay off running for 6 weeks. I bought some NB Minimus while I was gimping around and then got back at it after 6 weeks. The physical therapist said I showed minimal to no atrophy in the leg muscle, mostly due to what she reckons was using the minimalist type shoes before the op for light running and squats and what not.
I gave myself two weeks to get ready for a PT test (I hate being a shit bag profile ranger) and at eight weeks post op I ran a 14.20 for my two miler with no pain afterwards (except for the cramping in my side) which is around what I normally do. Also saw a significant increase in my hip flexor strength for some reason.
Bottom line for me is that regular cushioned running shoes probably contributed to fucking my knee up. Minimalist footwear, PT and a little surgery sorted it out. Minimalist footwear seems to be keeping it totally at bay. I actually find that wearing Nikes make my ankles and feet hurts now instead.
I wear VFF and minimus around town casually but I absolutely do not run in them.
I run on average 30-40 miles a week when I am not training for a race and double or triple that if I have a race coming up. I have tried running in VFF and had nothing but foot problems, same with merrell barefoot. The MT10 had slightly better results, im sure because of the 4mm drop.
minimal is not for everyone. you are not going to throw on a pair of vff and turn into a sub 3 hour marathoner. neither will be a miracle healer for years of poor running form, obesity, lack of mobility, etc…
i don’t think it is right to chastise those that do not exercise in minimal shoes, but instead choose to wear them around. They are gaining the same intended benefit of wearing them around for 8 hours a day than you all are running a 5K in them, probably even more! I wear them casually for those reasons, not because I think it’s cool.
i would rather spend $100 on a lesson on how to run correctly than on 5.7oz of fabric and rubber because as I’m sure you all know from reading born to run, you could put your dads lawn mowing shoes on the wrong feet and go out and run just fine!
I know someone who should heed this advice. Her stride is bad, and she’s had 3 stress fractures in two years. Now she wants to go minimal because she thinks it is going to be a cure all. :lol:
