I have been trying to move slowly to a more minimalist shoe for a while now and it has been going pretty well.
It started off way before the build up to IM Austria this year and I even had a pair of Newtons when they first came out (look at me, what a trend setter ;o)), although it didn't really work out at the time as like a lot of us triathletes, just wanted to look good and not follow the reccomended build up period - ended up with very, very sore calves :o(
So, with this little bit of experience in mind I have built up slowly this time and well over a year ago I changed from the Asics 2100 series to their DS Trainers. When I initially got them on I thought I'd never be able to run a marathon in them but I took my time and my feet and lower extremities adjusted - I did experience sore calves but with regular massage and eccentric strengthening this abated.
With regards to minimal, the DS Trainers aren't really in that category but they are a stepping stone. I am not sure what their heel to toe drop is but I would hazard a guess that it is over 12mm? I completed IMA in them and it was time for the change...
After some post IMA rest, I was ready to make the step and go even further into minimal foray - not the whole hog as I still believe that we do need some protection on the feet, especially in todays age of running on pavements that are littered with rubbish, glass, dog poo poo (fake or real - Top Secret fans will know what I mean ;o)) or whatever.... I was going to go for the Newton Distance shoe (the neutral one) as I had tried them on at Ten-Point with help from Helen and Robin there but they didn't have my size and after a call and a no response email I decided against it. Even though the real reason I guess, was the price tag!!!
So, after a no-no on the Newtons I was looking for something else??? The hunt was now on....
I had been looking at many shoes and was just getting myself a bit confused, do I go the whole and go for something with a drop of less than 5mm or still keep adjusting and get something with around a 10mm drop - I just couldn't decide? So as luck would have it, I was up at the London triathlon watching a friend and also having a weekend away with the wife when I saw that PureTri were doing the Brooks T6 for a very price :o) I was amazed at how light these were - comparing them to my DS's, they seemed like carpet slippers - didn't even want to compare them to my old 2140's!!! I tried them on, had a quick run and bought them, there and then...
I have been happy with them but my legs have been getting pretty tired after running in them - any run of about 7-8 miles seems to really bring on the fatigue, whether this is the shoes or just my technique, who knows? And also, after a bit of research they still have quite a subsequent drop to them - not really in the minimal/barefoot mould at 13mm.... Even though they are as light as a feather :o)
So, I have been looking for another alternative and these were what I tried:
Saucony Kinavara - this was an OK shoe but had some fit issues and it felt as though there a few seams inside the shoe that would rub on me? This was a good shoe though I'll admit... Very well cushioned and with only a 4mm drop, it would have been an ideal shoe I think for the longer runs? Maybe a half size up would have been better?
K-Swiss Blade Run - I liked this shoe. It stood out, had some good design features but I just felt it was too heavy!!! I reckon that once you have run in something like the T6, then you are probably never going to go back to something a bit heavier??? The drop was 10mm, so not ideal but another good stepping stone. I could possibly re-visit this as a winter and or, a longer distance training shoe???
Nike Lunaracer - this was interesting.... For one, I needed a half size up when I went to try it on so I couldn't really get to good run in this one as it was just tooooooo tight!! I could though, see why people like this. It was very well cushioned, had a drop of 8mm (I think?) and was light but after an impossible search of trying to find a place that had the right size in stock, I gave up on this!!
Adidas Aidzero Ace - As with the lunaracer, the shop I tried these on didnt have the half size up that I needed!! This had a pretty firm sole to it and I am not sure that I could have got away with it for longer distance runs? Again, I think this has a pretty good drop to it???
The finally...
The Asics Hyperspeed 4's - These were lush (pardon the Vicky Pollard!!!).... Very comfy, low drop (5mm) and cheap, what more could I ask for!!! As you can guess, I got a pair.
My first run was in them today. It was an easy hours run (probably a little too far for a first one with a drop as low as 5mm?) with some drills and technique work thrown in... First impressions were very good but then I hit the first bend in the road and I felt as though my whole foot was starting to fall inwards!!! I was not expecting that!! This was occuring on every bend and I was having to watch myself that I didn't go over on it... On the flat, they felt very good, I had the odd twinge as the run went on and the calves were a little sore after but I was kinda expecting that but I have been a bit put off by lack of toe box at the front... That is the problem when you try a shoe on at a shop on just a treadmill - you only go in one direction and can never test it properly!!! I guess that was just my bad??? I am not giving up on these because they have some very good points to them but I will just have to be a bit carefill in them...
Still gonna keep on looking for others though - seems to be my favourite hobby at the moment ;o)
As my mate said the other day "You've got more trainers than Imelda Marcos has shoes"... And he's probably right :o)
Thursday 18 November 2010
Monday 15 November 2010
Move along slowly, nothing happening here...
As the title says, not much is happening really at the moment - well, there is a little ;o)
Training - going OK. In the 'get strong for the speed work phase' at the moment and it is going well, I'd just say OK. I am actually enjoying getting back into some sort of structure of strength training - the knees and other lower joints are not thanking me for it at the moment but I will persevere with it as it will pays dividends, I am sure :o) Have got a few little niggles that I am a little concerned with like a sore groin that comes on at about 15 minutes into any run but disappears a little later into it and also my right lateral calf is kinda feeling, well, wierd... It feels really tight and like it is going to pull but then sort of eases. I know it is not quite right and I just need to keep on top of it with regular massage and eccentric strengthing... But the strangest one is every morning when I get out of bed, I am getting a pretty bad shooting pain around the cuboid region of my right foot!!! It doesn't come on when I am walking around during the day or even to mention, when I am running but it is a bit worrying :-o
Doggy - my boxer George is getting old and over the last few weeks he had taken a turn for the worse. I took him to the vets fearing the worse and he confirmed that he has a dodgy ticker and possibly kidney failure and or, Cushings disease :o( So, I was faced with the choice of putting him to sleep there and then or taking him home for the night and see how he was in the morning? I thankfully decided the latter. He had a shot of a painkiller there and then and took him home. After another restless night and not too much improvement, I made the decision to see how he would be after another day? The next night, he kinda improved. He started eating a bit more and getting up without to much encouragement :o) As the days have progressed, he has really started to turn things around... He is not laying down for a rest after 10 yards of walking and he is seeming far more alert than he was and just those little things you notice about your pet when they are well, are coming back :o) I'll be the first to admit that he is far from out of the woods as he is an old boy, but his time to go sure ain't yet ;o)
Other stuff - sent of my forms and money off to join REPs and just waiting to hear back from them? Also, my BTF Fast track coaching form was sent off as well and once again, waiting to hear back from them... Still trying to think of a name that encompasses all that I want to cover for my 'little' business? Even though I am very much triathlon focussed, I don't want to corner myself just into one market and don't get me started on what my main focus is going to be!!! Am I a sports therapist who does a bit of PT and coaching on the side or am I a Personal Trainer who dabbles in massage and coaching or, I think you get the message ;o)
Also looking at booking a few more courses for next year, Biomechanics level 2 and possibly a Kinetic Chain Assessment Specialist one - both of these seem really interesting and are right up my street but finances are tight at the moment so I may have to either sell a few things or pimp myself out - again ;o)
Training - going OK. In the 'get strong for the speed work phase' at the moment and it is going well, I'd just say OK. I am actually enjoying getting back into some sort of structure of strength training - the knees and other lower joints are not thanking me for it at the moment but I will persevere with it as it will pays dividends, I am sure :o) Have got a few little niggles that I am a little concerned with like a sore groin that comes on at about 15 minutes into any run but disappears a little later into it and also my right lateral calf is kinda feeling, well, wierd... It feels really tight and like it is going to pull but then sort of eases. I know it is not quite right and I just need to keep on top of it with regular massage and eccentric strengthing... But the strangest one is every morning when I get out of bed, I am getting a pretty bad shooting pain around the cuboid region of my right foot!!! It doesn't come on when I am walking around during the day or even to mention, when I am running but it is a bit worrying :-o
Doggy - my boxer George is getting old and over the last few weeks he had taken a turn for the worse. I took him to the vets fearing the worse and he confirmed that he has a dodgy ticker and possibly kidney failure and or, Cushings disease :o( So, I was faced with the choice of putting him to sleep there and then or taking him home for the night and see how he was in the morning? I thankfully decided the latter. He had a shot of a painkiller there and then and took him home. After another restless night and not too much improvement, I made the decision to see how he would be after another day? The next night, he kinda improved. He started eating a bit more and getting up without to much encouragement :o) As the days have progressed, he has really started to turn things around... He is not laying down for a rest after 10 yards of walking and he is seeming far more alert than he was and just those little things you notice about your pet when they are well, are coming back :o) I'll be the first to admit that he is far from out of the woods as he is an old boy, but his time to go sure ain't yet ;o)
Other stuff - sent of my forms and money off to join REPs and just waiting to hear back from them? Also, my BTF Fast track coaching form was sent off as well and once again, waiting to hear back from them... Still trying to think of a name that encompasses all that I want to cover for my 'little' business? Even though I am very much triathlon focussed, I don't want to corner myself just into one market and don't get me started on what my main focus is going to be!!! Am I a sports therapist who does a bit of PT and coaching on the side or am I a Personal Trainer who dabbles in massage and coaching or, I think you get the message ;o)
Also looking at booking a few more courses for next year, Biomechanics level 2 and possibly a Kinetic Chain Assessment Specialist one - both of these seem really interesting and are right up my street but finances are tight at the moment so I may have to either sell a few things or pimp myself out - again ;o)
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