Elites who Run In Minimalists

Def. Irony: Below this post is an ad for minimalist trainers.

I know Morceli use to train in racing flats.

My mate who works from Nike loves the FREES and has done a 1/2 and full marathon in them (not sure if he is paid to love em')

$ talks, if you are NOT running in minimalist flats and are not injured don't change.

Prepare for MASSIVE RETALIATION from the minimalist camp within 30 seconds!!

The picture of El Gs shoes appear to all be light weights.

not too many outside of Japan. But wouldn't read too much into that. Just because you're pro does not mean your footwear is ideal. For example, I was running with a pro middle distance runner a few weeks back and he was overpronating terribly in his shoes. Obviosuly, no one has even given him a look in them.

But all of Japan is minimalist. As well as all of Lydiards boys, and just about everyone who ran before the 80s. And Lorraine Moller.

In the newest PRP newsletter, and I'm quoting from here, Nike said to Lanana: "We send your team all kinds of running shoes, so why are your guys running barefoot on the grass?" And then not to steal from PRP, it gives a huge, indepth reason to run either barefoot, or with as little cushioning from your shoe as possible. At then end, it gives a good description of the Free's (5.0) and it's benefits. It's all there. May/June 2005, Volume 14, Number 3.

trackhead wrote:

As well as all of Lydiards boys, and just about everyone who ran before the 80s...

I was just about to say that. Good call!

But what about elites who are prone to things like stress fractures... does ritz wear lightweights? I'd think someone prone to SF's would have to avoid them.

Authority Question wrote:

Def. Irony: Below this post is an ad for minimalist trainers.

It's called personalized ads. Let me try something:

Vaam.

BOOYAH

I'm not wantin' to be a smartass here (just precise), but minimalist (as regards running) isn't a shoe; it's a person who believes in wearing the least amount of shoe possible, even running "au naturel" when possible. So, we don't run in minimalists. Instead, we minimalists run in racing flats (or something akin to them) or run barefoot.

I'm a minimalist, of course, and the benefits to me have been great: stronger feet, calves, more spring, and fewer injuries than in the past. But for the life of me i can't cite a single elite runner who trains exclusively in racing flats, aquasocks or barefoot. And so far on this thread i haven't seen others spouting off the names of famous minimalists.

Intuitively, running with the least amount of shoe possible seems to make sense — our feet are biomechanically adapted to "meet the earth" better than anything we can engineer. But then again, asphalt and concrete can be very unforgiving when we up the mileage, and this is precisely why i look for every bit of dirt and grass i can when out running, and why i often drive miles to run on trails or on — and don't report me — golf courses.

gwi wrote:

But what about elites who are prone to things like stress fractures... does ritz wear lightweights? I'd think someone prone to SF's would have to avoid them.

I had 7 stress fractures wearing trainers/orthotics but have yet to have a stress fracture since switching to flats in Dec. 2003. I've been able to handle more miles, train more consistently, and run significant PRs from 5K up since switching to flats. The ability of "cushioning" to do a better job of absorbing and withstanding force as compared to a next-to-bare, flexible foot is questionable.

Must have missed this thread:

Thanks!

Brettman,

The acronym PRP went right over my head. What is it?

I really don't see Authority Question's question being answered--can anyone NAME a couple or a few of todays' top distance runners who do the MAJORITY of their mileage in minimalist footwear? Anyone who made our Olymoic team in the 1500, 5,000, or 10,000, or the marathon? Anyone who finished in the top ten at Athens in any event? Not from the 80's, not anecdotal teams who do barefoot strides--but current, national or world-class guys (apart from the "majority of Japanese" reply that was given) who do most of their mileage in H-Street type shoes, etc? Names, please?

Before the spelling police show up, as they do--I meant "Olympic" team in my post.

A question for JAGUAR, DNIXON, and TRACKHEAD:

Sadly, I live in one of the most unfriendly environments a runner can find for about 5 months of the year (winter in New England). My first question is, how do minimalists go about their training when the grass/dirt areas are covered with snow?

In the past I have shoveled off tracks and done hundreds of laps around plowed dirt parking lots. However, after vomiting from the effort of shoveling hundreds of pounds of snow, I am looking for other options.

Also, I have had a tremendous amount of injuries (4 fractures, 6-7 cases of tendonitis, and a bunch of others, and I'm in high school) and I am now coming back yet again from 11 weeks out, the longest ever.

I've been walking barefoot every day, doing the last mile of my 3 mile easy runs (just starting up again, so this is as far as I can go for now) barefoot, and some light running in flats.

I have been advised by good doctors who have biomechanically evaluated me and who are reputable in their field NOT to do this and to stay with the orthoses I have been wearing. I hate wearing the heavy shoes and orthoses and love running barefoot. I have started walking around in Puma H Streets as well.

So my question is, given the above, is this recommended? I have a slight frame and am not fully grown either.

Not sure if i have anything of value to offer you, but i do have some questions and comments.

Q U E S T I O N S

(1) What's your age?

(2) Were the fractures from running? (E.g., stress fractures?)

(3) Can you connect the tendonittis to sudden jumps in mileage or type of training?

(4) What are the "bunch of other" injuries? Are they running-related?

(5) When you feel pain or the possibility of an injury coming on, do you push through or cut back or rest? So many running injuries are worse than they need to be, resulting from a failure to heed very clear warning signals. We're an impatient lot, we humans.

C O M M E N T S

(1) If you're still growing, then your body is having to adapt to both the physical growth AND the training. Be patient. I was injured much more as a young runner (H.S. and early college when i was still growing) than as an adult runner).

(2) Walking barefoot is good; keep that up as you're able. When you have to wear shoes, go with something like you're already wearing (H-Street)

(3) Hundreds of laps parking lots is probably bad for the knees.

(4) Spend your energy running on top of the snow, not shoveling for hours to remove it. I don't live in New England, but sometimes we get fairly deep snow on the ground. I just slow down the pace considerably and prance a little more.

(5) I can't vouch for what the good, reputable doctors tell you. I'll assume they're not dummies. Nevertheless, they've been trained to deal with the symptoms in a particular way. They promote their system and usually discount those of others. (On the other hand, we miminalists tend to the same thing.) If you've tried what they offer and it hasn't worked, maybe you could "come over tot he dark side" and try for a while a more natural approach. Think of it as an experiment.

_______________

I think some minimalists who live in more norther climes should weigh in more on the snow / ice issue since it's not something i've had to deal with for months out of the year. Mukluks?