Minimalist shoes

[garneska]

Hi wishboard friends, i need some advice. I have been wearing Brooks running shoes for at least 8 years. I started in the Addictions and then the last 3 years have been in the Adrenalines. I have custom foot orthodics. I purchsed the Saucony Kinvara 2s. The reason I did this is because they are so light and easy to pack. I travel a lot for work so thought this might be a good option instead of taking my chunky Brooks. I am a tall girl so my running shoes are HUGE, I wear a size 12 in womens, and that takes up a lot of real estate.

I am hoping for the shorter distances up to 10 miles or so the new Kinvara's will be ok. But i will be training for Goofy and that will be a lot more pounding then i am doing now. Oh and am not running 10 in them now. I just got them so thinking about doing 1 mile of my runs this week in them and then switching shoes and increasing a mile each week.

Anyways my question. If i do get used to the Kinvara's and can take them on my trips and run is it ok to switch back and forth between the minimalist running shoe (kinvara) and the traditional (Brooks)? I am worried I may cause injury. I am able to put my custom orthodics in my Kinvara's so I plan to use the Kinvara's with the foot orthodic.


Thanks for the advice. Next big race is DL Half, but i have a trip to Germany soon. Hoping if the next few weeks in the Kinvara's go ok I can take them for my runs.

 

[FFigawi]

Switching between the two shouldn't cause any problems. In fact, it might make your form in the Brooks better because you'll be used to landing on your forefoot instead of your heel. The bigger question is why would you want to switch. Why not just do all of your running in the Kinvaras? If you build up slowly and carefully, there's no reason you can't run any distance you want in them. A friend of mine just finished Boston in her Vibrams, so it's not like it can't be done.

 

[garneska]

thanks john. I might not switch kind of just depends how i feel running in them. Since DL is quite a ways off i might be doing them in the kinvaras. Right now i am just afraid i cant build enough by my Germany trip to leave the Brooks at home. I have 3 weeks and if things go well i might be able to run 3 miles in them. Thanks again.

 

[crewmatt]

I have a set of mizuno elixirs - my shoe of choice for the last 4 years or so - (not quite minimal, but close I suppose) and kinvara's. I find that I dont like to go more then about 6-7 miles in the kinvara's. Brooks pure connects are quite nice though, they seem to last for a bit more distance.

 

[crewmatt]

Although, slow and careful arent 2 words I'd associate with my runs in the kinvaras, a week or so after MCM I packed them on a business trip and did some runs. The ones around 6 miles were fine,b ut when I went up to like 8-9 things didnt feel right afterwards

 

[FireDancer]

I switch back and forth between Mizuno Wave Riders and Brooks T6's. I do all of my training in the Wave Riders and wear them for races longer than 10K but wear the T6's for 10K and shorter races. I have had no problems.

 

[dragitoff]

I've been running minimalist shoes for a little over a year now and have done half marathons and distances up to 16+ miles in them without any problem. I'm a heavier runner (205lbs) and have not had problems that many would expect from less cushioning. It's helped my form be much better and efficient. I'm currently alternating between Brooks Pure Connect and Newton Gravity (although the Gravity isn't really a minimalist shoe).

 

[SAHDad]

I found that the more running I did in my minimalist shoes (Vibrams), the harder it got for me to run in normal shoes. Not sure why, but I eventually just decided that it was easier to make the transition to my toe shoes completely. I finished a marathon in them last week, and while it was rough and slow, a lot of that had to do with my lack of training, not my lack of cushioned soles.

 

[twoWDWfools]

I have only recently switched to minimalist shoes but I can tell you this, I will be training to do the full in them in Jan. Possibly Goofy. I would then have two pairs of the same shoes so I can switch.

I had been having so many problems in both Sauconys and PIs - both of which I had worn for years but they changed something and it was causing pain. Switched to the Fila Skeletoes and no pain! For me there will be no going back.

 

[MikeofRose&Mike]

Anyone do Galloway (run walk) in Newtons? I tried them in the store and the ridges under the ball of the foot felt very strange when walking.

Mike

 

[dragitoff]

Anyone do Galloway (run walk) in Newtons? I tried them in the store and the ridges under the ball of the foot felt very strange when walking.

Mike

While I'm not using Galloway's program, I do run/walk for half and full marathons and I always wear my Newton Gravity when doing them. After 2 or 3 times running/walking in them, I honestly don't notice the lugs on them anymore. They're my favorite running shoe I've owned to date!

 

[RunRookie]

I wear Brooks PureCadence shoes for walking and Newton DIstance shoes for running. I also have a pair of Altra Running Instincts. I don't have any difficulties switching between the shoes.

What I notice now is that running/walking in shoes with 0-4mm heel drops have made wearing my "regular" working shoes feel strange. I think I am going to need to find all black, low heel drop casual work shoes now....