Training in racing flats?

After a few years getting over an IT Band issue, I find this very interesting. I currently run in Mizuno WaveRider's which I believe would be considered a fairly light weight training shoe (correct me if I'm wrong)? I find them pretty comfortable but I'd really like to give the racing flat a try, if anything for my treadmill runs (i know ... boring).

Does Mizuno currently make a quality flat, or would you recommend a different brand? As I said, I will initially just use the flats on the treadmill and gradually build up to outdoor runs with them if things go well.

Thanks

The Precision is on the very light end for a trainer, so it might be a good choice.

Mizuno is good in general, because they get their support from the Wave, not from big arches. They also have low heel/forefoot drops compared to most trainers.

Idaten would be the next one down for you, and it's a good choice.

If you can find a Wave Aero, that's probably in between the Idaten and the Precision. The Aero is discontinued, but I think they're still around.

A few other flats to consider:

The Adizero line, if you like the Adidas fit (some don't)

Asics Hyperspeed II (no frills, super neutral, durable, light, decent cushioning)

Puma trainers (they feel more like flats)

I've never had flats before, but I was expecting them to look much more minimal than my current shoes (WaveRiders). Some of the flats you mentioned almost look identicle as far as heel thickness, etc? I guess I was expecting an almost "flat" sole?

Thanks for the tips ... I'll stop by our local running store and see what we have in stock locally.

Do all you guys that switched to running in flats still have all the positives?

I am having a heck of a time getting back into running and I am looking at anything and everything to try and fix my injuries.

Should I give flats a try?

I used to wear motion control shoes and orthotics.

Now I use my orthotics with a bit more heel lift btw (could be even worse for me) and train in brooks defyance and asics gel landreth 4

Is it wise of me to just try cold turkey at some flats?

What do you guys think of the Nike free line? Or do they have too much of a built up heel too?

No new comments or thoughts?

I got plantar fascitis from training in flats. Don't do it.

I got rid of my PF by running in flats and I'm running more miles than ever injury free. Just don't heel strike in them and run with good form.... mid-foot or forefoot for me and stay off the roads if possible.

I got rid of achilles problems by switching to flats and running on dirt surfaces the majority of the time (asphalt some days of course). I have also noticed a more efficient and powerful stride has resulted.

I do all my runs in flats. Have been for the past 8 months and haven't been injured yet.

I have been plagued with injuries on and off for years. It has made be a NON runner for most of the past 10 years.

I have been training in motion control shoes and orthotics. I am still getting hurt.

This time around I went to a neutral shoe and kept my orthotics. I wonder if I should still be in a more stable shoe or say F it and ditch both the orthotics and even neutral shoes for flats and sans ortho.

Well today I made a drastic change and ditched the orthotics and got a pair of Newtons. I went in for flats that I saw online that they had for sale but they didn't have them when I got into the store, so I looked at the newtons. They actually feel good and have a negative heel kind of feeling.

I will say that I have never had PF but lots of knee and IT band issues. I am still feeling those plus a huge strain on my calves, Achilles and a sensation that feels a bit PF like. I may have pushed it too much and that's what I am feeling but I am desperate to try and just feel good again so I can build up to some decent mileage.

I am going to see an ART person and an acupuncturist very soon.

I am now going on my 5th-6th year of training ONLY in flats. I didnt really try to get into running in flats, but did so by accident. when I was in high school my parents never helped me out with buying equipment or anything, and they also wouldnt let me have a job oustide of lawn mowing with my brother (which he paid me like shit).

So i didnt have a ton of money and stumbled on a pair of pegasus racers (the first version with the waffle bottom) for a cheap price. I loved them and trained in them for the rest of my senior year and even into college until we switched to adidas for sponsorship. My coach tried to make me run in Adistar cushions and I hated them, I wore them for like two days until I threw them out. Found a pair of Cubatos for cheap and went with them for the rest of college until I snagged two pairs of the nike streak vapor. I have been in the vapor since. In fact, my second pair has around 2000 miles on them, likely more.

I have never had a major problem or injury which has kept me out for long periods of time. I had achilles problems when I was in regular trainers and they also tore up my knees. Hasnt been a problem since in flats, and have been averaging 80-100 miles since.

DistanceDude: It's not going to happen overnight, it might take up to a year (but could be way shorter than that) to completely transition into flats. Stay off hard surfaces if you can. Your calves are going to be sore for a while and you might get what feels like tendinitis in your achilles/ankles/feet, etc. When that happens just back off for a while and ice the area. Your body needs time to adjust to this but you'll get stronger and stronger as you progress and eventually will be almost injury-free.

another runner here who only trains in flats

no injuries to report in at least 3 years, and I am big, heavy runner

Hey, what ever happened to the Nike Free? There was all this hype about them, people bought them, people wrote about them, people argued about them and then they just disappeared from stores.

If mostly non-runners buy running shoes, I would think the free would be doing well. They are super comfy and come on funky colors. For most runners that wore them, running at least some runs and all runs in some cases worked out well.

First, there was the 5.0 and 4.0, then was the 3.0 and 7.0. Now all I ever see in the stores are the 7.0. A store shoe guy told me they were dead and would no longer be sold. Truth, anyone?

I'm pretty sure the knee and IT band problems are from using a stability shoe. Stability shoes prevent your foot from rotating. The rotation of the foot is designed to absorb impact. When the foot is stabilized, the impact forces get transferred to other parts of the leg.

How has the switch to flats gone?

not do not do it wrote:

I got plantar fascitis from training in flats. Don't do it.

Just because you run in flats doesn't mean you can't get injured. But that doesn't mean that the flats are the problem. I recently injured my foot running in flats. Here's the story: After a 15 year break, I started running fall of 2007. As my running pace dropped below 7:00 minute miles, I started to have all kinds of problems running in stability shoes. Switching to flats fixed everything. My problem with flats is that I can't control my eagerness to run fast in them. Recently I did a 14 mile run in flats with no problem (which is close to my longest run ever) and then two days later I did 7 one mile repeats at a 5:30 pace. I had no pain during the run but immediately after walking off the track I had a sharp pain in the outside ball of my left foot. I think I have a stress fracture?? After a week off, it still is bothering me.

My point is that even though racing flats are great for fixing injuries, it doesn't mean you can't get injured in them. Anyone looking at my running history could tell you that I was a fool for running at the intensity that I ran when I got injured.

**For those of you just getting into running, don't think that you are invincible just because your running in flats**

I just started wearing adizero cs's on recommendation of a friend. My form got so much better and my stride got longer. I highly recommend it. Although it sucks running on roads with flats compared to neutral trainers.

I had to re-read this thread twice. What models of racing flats are you minimalists currently wearing? I can't find the Tiger-Paws anywhere.

Bump.

Just trying this as I'm coming back to running after 7 months off and slowly building mileage anyway (previous knee/PF issues).

Brooks Mach X

Asics Hyperspeed

and just ordered some Teva Protons off e-bay for $18.00

Run on treadmill, crete, dirt, grass, pavement, trails, etc.

6'4", 180lbs (on my way back to 165-170)

Will update with how it goes.