newtons/other shoes faster than vibrams?

Running Shoes/Running Gear Shoes

12 years ago 06/04/2011 11:12am EDT

I've been running for about a year and for the last 2 months or so I have been training to improve my 5k PB. I run exclusively in Vibram Five Fingers and have put about 700 miles in this year so far.

At a recent event a friend of mine also showed up in his Vibrams but told me I should get a pair of Newtons and that racing in them would give me free speed in a 5k race. He said it would be perhaps a minute improvement just by changing shoes.

Any thoughts or experience? Is it worth racing and training occasionally in Newtons or some kind of racing flat? My 5k is low 22:00, not very fast, if that matters. Aiming to go under 20:00 in the future.

12 years ago 06/04/2011 11:15am EDT

re: vibram 5k

Vibrams are slow shoes. You don't need to waste your money of Newtons. Any good racing flat will be better than what you are currently using to race.

12 years ago 06/04/2011 11:20am EDT

re: The Magic

Specific suggestions? The adizero and nike victory lines seem to pop up regularly

12 years ago 06/04/2011 11:25am EDT

re: vibram 5k

Nike streaks are pretty good for 5k. Try to gradually increase your mileage too, 700 miles for half a year isn't a whole lot. Upping the mileage would help your 5k more than switching shoes.

12 years ago 06/04/2011 11:32am EDT

re: laughingostrich

Yeah I ran a marathon in March and then took several weeks very easy. Now back up to 7 days a week and about 45 mpw. Hoping to work my way up to 60. I know I have tons of easy gains from just continuing to train but speed is speed haha :)

12 years ago 06/04/2011 11:47am EDT

re: vibram 5k

Vibrams were not meant for racing, they are great for learning the "barefoot" technique which is great for running and training for an ultra-marathon. For the 5K, IMO the "Taharamara"(sp) barefoot technique has its limits.

Virtually any racing flat will do. As above don't waste your money on $150 Newton shoes. A cross country flat like Brooks Mach12 or Nike Waffle Racers are good if you want something not as cushioning and more similar feel to the Vibrams. They're also a lot cheaper (less than $60).

As for training, the Vibrams are ok for your recovery days. For speed work on a track or hill repeats I recommend at least a racing flat. For speed work on a straight course Vibrams are ok. The problem with Vibrams is the stretchy neoprene upper and my foot tends to feel like it is sliding off the shoe when running a curve. Also definitely not enough protection for hill repeats (unless I want to zig zag it going downhill).

Interestingly enough the newer model Vibrams with laces and less neoprene are starting look suspiciously like the classic Waffle Racer with the exception of "the toes."

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newtons/other shoes faster than vibrams?

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