Flats vs. performance trainers for 5 km race?

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18 years ago 06/17/2005 11:59am EDT

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to road racing, and have been battling achilles tendinitis for over a year. I'm running a 5 km race tonight, and am wondering if it is worth possibly inflaming my tendinitis by wearing flats, specifically Saucony Fasttwitch. I can put my orthotic in them, but they don't have much heel lift and support.

I also have performance trainers, NB 900. So the question is: How much of an advantage would lighter shoes like the Sauconys give me in a 5 km race? I'm hoping for sub-6 minute pace, and I'm a female with a medium/slender build.

I've raced in flats before, so I'm not a newbie to them, but not since my achilles issues. But I'd really like as fast a time as possible at this race! It is on paved roads the whole way.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

18 years ago 06/17/2005 12:26pm EDT

re: twitch

It would be surprising if the Fastwitch bothered your achilles any more than the 900s, as the heel height is no lower. However, if your legs aren't prepared to run in different shoes, then you probably won't gain any advantage. Wear the shoes that your legs feel that make your legs feel the best.

18 years ago 06/17/2005 12:39pm EDT

re: twitch

skip the race

stop running

let the achilles heal

resume running

like most people, you will be probably not be wise enough to do this so wear the trainers with the orthotics. put an extra heel lift if you need to. you'll lose a couple of seconds but it will be worth it in what is saves your achilles.

18 years ago 06/17/2005 12:55pm EDT

re: what you don't want to hear

what you don't want to hear wrote:skip the race
stop running
let the achilles heal
resume running

If the achille is still bothering you, I agree with this poster. That is, unless this race is going to qualify you for something and you really can't afford to skip it, in which case plan to spend a longer time recovering afterward.

If you don't want this problem to become chronic, let it heal before you race on it.

18 years ago 06/17/2005 1:16pm EDT

re: twitch

Thanks so much for the advice. My instinct is to go with the shoes I've been training in, which are the performance trainers. I would really like a fast time since our neck of the woods has very few competitive 5 km races, but I think it is too late now to switch shoes.

I saw my sports med doctor today, and he cleared me to run the race. My achilles condition is very chronic, and I'm actually just starting a series of injections for it, so racing probably won't hurt it more than the speedwork I've been doing.

Just out of curiousity and for future reference, though, does anyone know of a rough estimate of what you gain per mile from wearing flats? I remember an old coach of mine saying 5 seconds per mile or something like that, but I have no idea how he came up with that number.

Thanks again!

18 years ago 06/17/2005 2:31pm EDT

re: twitch

stick with the 900s -- you're better off training and racing in the same shoe and you would have more lift in the sauconys

18 years ago 06/17/2005 3:26pm EDT

re: twitch

Well, I would just stick with trainers if I was you. If you are able to run this 5K under 6:00 per mile in trainers, be sure to let us know on this message board. You will achieve god-like status.

18 years ago 06/17/2005 3:58pm EDT

re: twitch

Goddess-like, you mean? I'm guessing there's some sort of pro-flat bias going on (I'm not that familiar with this message board)? I'm all for gaining an edge, but it's about the combination of runner and shoe, and that is different for each of us. At the recreational level, at least, you just need to believe the shoes will make you fast in order for them to work their magic!

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