Only running in road flats?

I've been doing it since 2007 and it has worked well for me.

Define road flats: does Asics SkySpeeds count?

I think it depends on your pace. If you're running 8-9 min miles, then lightweight shoes are just going to hurt your damn feet.

It's a general rule of thumb, the faster you're running you can go with less cushion, because you aren't spending a lot of time landing on your heel if you're running 5 minute pace. It would honestly be good to keep running in rotation of a pair of road flats for your up-tempo runs and a more cushioned pair for your slower jog/recovery runs.

I don't land on my heel at 8-9 minute pace.

That's about how fast I am these days and I'm in much less shoe than the Sky Speed. I could never tolerate that much cushion and I land on my heels.

What is the difference between say New Balance Minimus or the 730s and road flats?

How many elites run every day in flats? Hardly any. Hardly any.

optional wrote:

How many elites run every day in flats? Hardly any. Hardly any.

I thought it was a lot of them...

The masses wear whatever is trending at the moment which seems to be minimalist. It's hilarious to listen to no nothing runners espouse the benefits to no end. So far no Barefoot Teds have posted.

Serious runners regardless of talent level run in shoes that work for them. Finding what works is a difficult process for runners like myself that injury prone.

To answer your question, I run in extremely light and "flexible" flats. I then add silicone to certain areas which provides the cushioning I need in the heel and arch support. Tried doing this with trainers and my feet are a mess after runs. Guessing it is the stiffness of trainers.

An elite marathoner will run more miles per week in racing flats than most recreational runners who run in racing flats only. Think about it.

how bout this bud wrote:

I run in saucony kilkenny xc flats and have for four years w/no injuries and run 100 mile weeks in them

Spikes in or out? I like the Hoka one one......lol

Been running only in the Brooks Racer ST for the past year (65-70 mpw). No big problems; in fact, love it. Most running is on asphalt. At first, rocky surfaces and really steep downhills were challenging, but now I don't notice them.

Barry Manilow wrote:

Does anyone only run in road racing flats? Is it ok?

Millions of years of evolution says you can run in anything you want, and you won't get "injured" as long as you allow your body to get used to the new running technique.

Even if you do get injured, real injuries heal rather quickly - again, thanks to millions of years of evolution.

If a 100 year old man can complete a marathon, then someone less than half his age can not get injured after years and years of running. Their legs are already made of steel, basically.

Most running "injuries" are psychosomatic, as I found out after over a decade of dealing with them. I can run in anything now, my legs are steel. So are yours.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Divided-Mind-Epidemic-Disorders/dp/0061174300/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339900575&sr=8-3&keywords=mind+body+sarno

I'm going to echo HRE: Nike's XC Streaks are a great series of shoe, and Asics Pirahna are good too. I've found the Pirahna is kind of tough to run in after about 750 miles, but the Streak stays good until the upper is completely torn.

Racers are the best shoes to train in, IMHO -- why train in something that's really different from your racers?

Ace in the Troll wrote:

how bout this bud wrote:

I run in saucony kilkenny xc flats and have for four years w/no injuries and run 100 mile weeks in them

Spikes in or out? I like the Hoka one one......lol

Well, considering that I said I run in flats, there are no spikes

New Balance Minimus are a little bit more durable, but cost way more.

Disrespect wrote:

What is the difference between say New Balance Minimus or the 730s and road flats?