Running a marathon in flats? Good idea?

go barefoot. shoes just weigh you down.

Haven't marathoned yet, so this probably means nothing.

But in Advanced Marathoning, Pfitzinger suggests around 2:40 as the time point when runners could consider racing in flats.

If it were me, I'd get a pair of flats and also a pretty lightweight trainer. Test both out in long-ish runs with some MP efforts in there. Go with the one that feels best/safest.

I've done it, but I do all my training in flats. I wouldn't do it unless you have at least tried some long training runs in flats (18-20 miles), that come close to the amount of time you will be on your feet for the marathon. Doing this should give you the answer you are looking for as to how your feet will feel late in the game.

You could try the adidas Boston. It’s light enough to not weigh you down, and it has sufficient cushioning to get you to the finish feeling good.

I’d get Nike 4%. Great cushioning, lightweight and feel springy. It’s no magic, but probably best running shoes out right now. Yea, it’s pricey but I think it’s worth it.

Hobby jogger here. (Not sub-3:00)

Asic DS Racer. Not a flat, but not real cushioned either. 6oz per shoe. I have no problems with sore feet at the marathon distance.

I ran Boston in the LunarRacer...worst decision I ever made.

I've run 3 marathons in the 2:30-2:35 range and worn flats all three times. I've run in the Adidas Adios, which are somewhat substantial for a racing flat, and have a 10mm drop, which is similar to most trainers, so it is a pretty good, even if light, shoe for this purpose.

I would second the lightweight trainer option as a really good alternative, and I would heartily endorse the Bostons, which are identical in most ways (same drop, almost identical weight, similar upper) to the Adios, but have a wider toe box and somehow just feel a bit more substantial.

Stopme99 wrote:

I ran Boston in the LunarRacer...worst decision I ever made.

Why? Please explain.....

I ran NYCM last fall in Lunaracer 3 and felt it was a good choice.

I was always a lightweight trainer guy with marathons as a plodding 180 pound, 3 hour marathoner type.

Of course you can, just make sure you are used to them. You run faster than I do, and flats work for me for 21, 42, and I’ve run Comrades in Nike Lunaracers :-)

DeathbyRunning wrote:

I am training for my second marathon...first one I ran 3 years ago in 2:47. I am hoping to be around 2:40 for this one. I ran my first in my normal training shoes. I want to PR, but am wondering about using flats. On one hand it seems they could help cut some time, but on the other, I don't want to get to mile 20 and have my feet hurt because of the lack of cushioning. Anyone use flats for a marathon? Recommendations?

Do you regularly do workouts in flats?

If no, then it's a horrible idea and you might start by trying to slowly and carefully get used to doing workouts in flats once or twice a week. Switching to flats can put strain on your calf and achilles and lead to injuries, so you want to be careful when changing your shoes so dramatically.

If yes, maybe do some longer marathon-paced training runs and see how your feet hold up. The issue isn't whether or not you can handle a bit of pain, but whether you'll develop horrible blisters or something over long distances.

I've done all my marathons in flats.

Lydiard would always tell people to race in the same shoes they train in and I have always found that to be good advice. If you're going to try to race a marathon in flats you should be doing a lot of your training in them.

That raises an interesting question. How many folks regularly do their workouts in flats?

I certainly would not wear flats, or even a new pair of the same model of flats that I had previously worn, for the first time in a race, but I rarely do my workouts in flats. For a marathon, I will typically wear them for some of my marathon paced long runs and my other shorter races during the training cycle, but otherwise I go trainers, even on workout days.

There are probably three main reasons why I do this. First, the tracks in my area are awful and I do my workouts on either a concrete track or on brick or paved roads, so doing workouts in trainers saves me from beating my feet up and potential injury. Second, I am a big believer in training heavy and racing light because I like the feeling of light shoes on race day when my body has become so used to running hard in heavy trainers That is somewhat related to the third reason, which is that there is something that happens when you pull out the flats, slip them on and lace them up when you don't do it regularly that just signals to your brain that something special and different is about to happen, and I like that feeling and think it helps me get into a racing mindset.

I will occasionally do a key workout in flats, and will break flats in via workouts before wearing them in a race, and sometimes I will pull out some lightweight trainers (in my case the Bostons which are almost identical to my Adios flats) for that purpose, but the flats are generally reserved for race day.

I try to do my long and easy runs in Zoom Streak 6 while I do my speed work and long run with tempo run mixed in with my LT3.

I came from wearing Kinvaras and after doing a lot of work in my LT3 even the super light Zoom Streak 6 seems like it weighs me down.

Ive got 2 pairs of streaks left after that I'm running in the LTs exclusively

There is going to be a lot of individual variation here.

I ran a few marathons in flats (Mariahs I think) and felt just as awful as after wearing very light trainers. Of course I weighed about 135 lbs at the time.

I think the heavier you are the more you are going to suffer.

Also, if you do not have good biomechanics I think it could be trouble.

How about running a 15-20 miler in a pair and deciding from there?

I do my Threshold and faster runs (unless its a part of a longer run) In my racing shoes. I race in the Hitogami 4 which is firm but not a true flat at 7.5 ounces with a 9mm drop. The wave plate gives it some inherent stability, which some like at the longer distances.

It is getting phased out but can be had right now at Running Warehouse for 45$. They will last a lot of miles as well..

For the purpose of this thread, would the Adios Boost 3 be considered flats? They weigh 8 ounces, or 8.2 oz depending where you look - closer to the weight of a lightweight trainer.

I think of them as flats and not lightweight trainers, but they are certainly a substantial shoe for that class. They were also the most commonly worn shoe of the top 100 finishers of the 2014 NYC marathon (I know because I ran it and a friend sent me a link to the article). Hats not dispositive, but it's an indicator that the elite to subelite crowd was racing in them, and they probably view them as racers and not trainers. Plus, I think Adidas considers them flats and has the Bostons as lightweight trainers. But to your point, those two shoes are about the same weight and have the same drop. So I guess I have no idea, but I like them and I race from 5k to the marathon in them!