Training in flats -- want to try something new

I'm in the same boat. However, I think the leg pain is just getting the legs back in shape for fast and long running. I would not blame the shoes. Its probably more a matter of making adjustments to your training, i.e. more mileage, less speed, fewer hills for example. I would make training adjustments before I switch into other shoes. I wear the Asics Piranhas and have run up to 3 hours in them. I dont know if I can race a marathon in them but I see others who run decent marathons barefoot so I suppose its possible but it would take some patience to get to the point where you could run that far with just about zero "support". Its a worthwhile goal.

I tried to go from the Piranhas to the Brooks Racer ST and immediately felt PF pain so I'm staying with the Piranhas. Big, clunky traditional trainers are out of the question for me.

There is a lot of variety in flats and lightweight trainers - go to a local running store and try them on. You'll probably find something that you like. There are definitely varying degrees of minimalism.

I agree with the second poster, particularly his/her idea that it's not just the shoes. You should try slowing down a bit--say 30-60s/mile on your easy runs. Hold off on workouts for a couple of months until the issues go away, then ease back into them. While the shoes might be contributing factors, the main factor is probably a training issue.

You might also do some core work--strengthening and flexibility in the hips. Tightness in this area may be limiting a more natural and efficient running motion.

What's your mileage like? I do 100 mile weeks in flats and the higher the milage the better my feet feel. What kind of paces are you running? I do lots of slow miles, some faster miles, and a few workouts a week.

What flats have you been running in? I'm trying out the adizero line right now and I'm liking it. A bit more than racing flats, but still some cushioning (bostons for now, maybe tempos later). I had the same problem with PF and if you really want to go to cushioned shoes, try the strassburg sock. I probably look like a salesman for this thing by now, but it basically cured my problem.

The other option you could try, as other posters said, try other ones at the running store. Maybe try the lunar series, these felt like a nice plush cushion to me, but not a lot of support.

I also had a similar problem. I was a pretty heavy guy (170lbs) when I started running in H streets and my feet would always be trashed after a run. Later on I lost some weight and my feet would feel much better. If weight is not a issue, I recommend buying some insoles but not the cheap ones dr.scholl insoles. A few sporting goods stores should carry some good insoles. I use them whenever my feet aren't feeling too good.

Senior in college right now. I had a pretty rough period from April '08 to May '09. This was after a really good period of training and racing up until then. I was hitting workouts, running PRs most races. Something happened and I suddenly felt really shitty -- I was sick 11 times during this period, did not train well, had a terrible XC season and one race during the track season. Obviously I'm not attributing all of this to my shoes because my shoes weren't causing me to get sick. I think there was something else at work but I don't know what.

After taking about a month off, I worked up to about 60 miles a week and I've held around that mileage from mid-July until now. I felt pretty tired all summer but that was mostly just an effect of building mileage as far as I can tell. I didn't do any workouts during the summer. XC season started 3 weeks ago and I've been doing 2 workouts a week since then. All of my workouts have gone pretty well but, invariably, I feel terrible on my easy days.

Some things that might be relevant:

- I gained about 15 pounds during that bad year

- I lost 10 of those pounds this summer

- I train in Adidas Adizero RCs. They're not in production any more so I have to switch to something new anyway.

- Even when I was running PRs and training well, my legs never felt fantastic.

- Holding off on workouts isn't an option right now.

- My easy runs range between 7:00 and 7:30 pace. Usually closer to 7:30.

I'm planning to go to a running store this week to try on some shoes. I was thinking of looking at the Nike Frees.

The Frees are bulky and aren't that great especially if you're used to flats. Try the saucony kilkenny xc flats. I really like them.

I have a pair of Kilkenny's and I've found them a little unforgiving on hard surfaces.