Best racing flat to TRAIN in.

The Frees are softer than most flats, so I'd say no.

Here's what I've tried, in order from minimalist to normal training shoe:

Barefoot (best you can do, on the right surfaces)

Vibram Fivefingers (like em so far)

Nike Mayflies (light, solid sole, very minimalistic)

Asics Bandito (flats, like em fine)

Nike Air Streak (older model, work well)

Nike Lunar Racer (very light, but very soft/mushy sole, so not extremely minimalistic)

New Balance 900 series (more trainers than flats)

Nike Elites (lighter trainers)

I like the mayflies, the bandito, and the air streaks great for flats that I can run in.

I train in the DS trainer, Asics Bandito, and am going to give the Saucony Fastwitch a shot.

I also have the five fingers, which I'll use every now and then. Good Luck.

Asics Hyperspeeds are good, but rocks tend to get stuck in the crevices on the bottom, so if you run trails a lot, it gets annoying. A lot of the AdiZero products are great too, currently training in the AdiZero Pros.

One tip before you switch though- do it gradually. If you've been training in normal trainers, switch to a lightweight trainer before you go to true flats. (Asics Speedstars or DS Trainers, Nike Elites, New Balance 900 series like the poster above me mentioned are good). Don't start training in them full-time either, start by doing only your shorter runs in them, then once your calves aren't as sore, move up to longer runs, and eventually all runs including long runs. Your calves WILL be sore, especially if you used to be a heel-striker like me, but the benefits are very worth it if you're careful.

I have decide to give this a shot as well. At least I want to, I just don't know if it will really work. Is this just extreme rebellious minimalist who believe in the power of barefoot running, or are the shoe companies really out to get us.

Listen to "otheroptions" and transition gradually, in terms of which shoes and how often you train in them.

I'm in Adizero PR and Asics Piranhas these days, and like 'em a lot, especially the Adizero, but went through several iterations of lightweight trainers relatively beefier (9 oz, 7 oz, ...) flats before getting to these at 4 oz and nearly no heel.

Many complaints about injuries from flats comes from those who do the opposite: rather than acclimate to them on short, easy runs, they save them only for races (and maybe some workouts). Not a good idea to jump into unfamiliar, radically different shoes for only your hardest running!

Also, wear low or no-heeled shoes/sandals or go barefoot as often as possible when you're not running. That'll help stretch the calves.

nsmb, minimalist wrote:

Also, wear low or no-heeled shoes/sandals or go barefoot as often as possible when you're not running. That'll help stretch the calves.

OK, I was just thinking about this today as I was walking to school in my flip-flops. (I know flip flops are bad, but I experience the following even walking in Tevas or sneakers. I also realize there'll probably be mostly men on this thread with no helpful advice for me, but I can always hope.) While the flat soles do stretch the calves, I also notice discomfort in other injury-prone areas, like IT band and shins, and I started thinking that wearing 1-2 inch heels might actually be better casual, walking shoes to wear. The pains I experience when running are usually minimized when I consciously run on the balls of my feet, so why wouldn't wearing shoes that keep you on the balls of your feet be healthy? I'm not talking the ridiculously high heels you see, but a moderate heel. I can take time to stretch my calves throughout the day, but if it's worse to run as a heel striker, why would leading with your heel (which I think most people in flat shoes do) while walking be OK?

I wear 2 inch heels all day at work and have no problems related to the shoes when I run. I walk around quite a bit, so it's not like I'm sitting around for 8 hours. Sometimes the balls of my feet get a little sore or the day after a hard workout my calves get tight. When my calves are really knotted up, I don't wear the heels.

I\'m not really a minimalist, but I do mostly run in lightweight trainers, such as the Speedstar. Recently, I\'ve been doing some runs in the Brooks T6. They aren\'t as minimalist as something like the Pirhana, but they are the most comfortable (for me) flats that I\'ve owned. I have tried the Hyperspeeds, but my feet are too narrow.

Mrs. M: I know flip flops are bad

Go wash your mouth out with soap, young lady! You will not besmirch the reputation or wardrobe of a true LRC hero:

The pains I experience when running are usually minimized when I consciously run on the balls of my feet, so why wouldn't wearing shoes that keep you on the balls of your feet be healthy? I'm not talking the ridiculously high heels you see, but a moderate heel. I can take time to stretch my calves throughout the day, but if it's worse to run as a heel striker, why would leading with your heel (which I think most people in flat shoes do) while walking be OK?

I'm an empiricist - whatever works. Flat heels are nearly mandatory for me, and some others have shared similar experience; if two inch heels work for you, by all means wear 'em.

I think the important flat vs. heeled distinction for me is not about footstrike but whether calves are stretched or compressed when walking. I'm also dubious whether more heel means a more forward footstrike - the reverse is generally the case when running. But again, whatever works (and shows off your legs and ass to best advantage.)

Rawlings, thanks for your input. nsmb, that was a great article - hope Larry's still going strong. He's my new hero, what with the flip flops, mileage, pace, ADD, suspicious of doctors, and above all, sugar, cheese and chocolate diet. Too bad he says he's never been happy. He must be a true runner then.

Onitsuka Tiger Tai Chi.

Best shoes ever.

I train in a pair of Nike Streak XCs with about 1,000 miles on them. Not all the time, but for track workouts (normal shoe is Mizuno Rider). They are amazing, my favorite shoes ever and fit like a glove.

I just ran four miles with shin splints in old XC waffles without spikes and cutout the heel support and to my utmost amazement my shins didn't hurt a single bit. I am getting the vibams but these work great cause they have almost no cushioning at all.

I know this forum is dead, but I have to put it out here:

New Balance 900 series: Best EVER!