Running as cycling training

['Dale]

Nice. Careful you don't get chafed by your loincloth while running.

Wicked!!

 

:lol:

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Shoes are overrated.

I'm going as flat and basic as can be. Currently running in a pair of home made sandals (aka huaraches) as running is a natural activity, so it stands to reason that we've evolved to do it 'out the box'. Our surfaces are not THAT natural anymore, so all that is needed is a bit of protection against glass and other man made 'hurdles'

 

 

Hmm, I guess it depends on where you run. At one stage I lived on a golf estate and it was great, I could run barefoot as it was grass and no camber.

 

Roads around me have a severe camber so your foot will surely slide around, and heel strike in those sandals is non existent, I dunno bud, are you not doing future damage.?

[Guest agteros]

The beauty of the sandals is that there is no chafing from the strap, your feet are not cold, nor too hot. Foot placing improve, which minimises impact from heel striking in conventional modern shoes.

The only thing is that your feet and lower legs take a bit of time to adjust from not running with 'mittens' on, as well as (initially) calf / Soleus muscles needing to work harder, and stretch further.

 

Comparing running in the huaraches to running in shoes can just not be done. Running 'barefoot' feels free compared to running in shoes. Doubt I'll go back to using conventional running shoes. Not sure what I'll do when doing intervals on artificial surfaces later in the year though....

 

the thing is that humans tend to try and compensate for problems by throwing technology at it (easy solutions), rather than identifying the real problem, and then resolve that.

 

Example: Choose orthotics, or biokenetics to resolve pronation / supponation, muscle imbalance problems. Me, I hate adding more gadgets to a problem to come up with a technological solution to a biological challenge!

[Guest agteros]

Hmm, I guess it depends on where you run. At one stage I lived on a golf estate and it was great, I could run barefoot as it was grass and no camber.

 

Roads around me have a severe camber so your foot will surely slide around, and heel strike in those sandals is non existent, I dunno bud, are you not doing future damage.?

 

Heel strike is the worst thing ever. You foot is designed to work as a leaf blade is not meant to heel strike. Heel strike started happening when we ran started with modern running shoes with heels. Research has shown that the impact forces from a heel strike in a running shoe is greater than running more flat footed in bare feet.

 

Camber: it will be there, irrespective of what you wear on your feet.... Those straps are a meter to each side. Plenty enough to tie the soles to your feet without it sliding around To combat camber you need to run alternating side of the road, or if it is not a busy road in the middle of the road.

 

Running surface: Friend of mine did all his preparation for Comrades (110km per week avg for the year, qualifying race, the Comrades itself) in an exact pair of home made sandals. It was the first time that he ran without injury (he used to wear orthotics just to be able to run)

[SwissVan]

The beauty of the sandals is that there is no chafing from the strap, your feet are not cold, nor too hot. Foot placing improve, which minimises impact from heel striking in conventional modern shoes.

The only thing is that your feet and lower legs take a bit of time to adjust from not running with 'mittens' on, as well as (initially) calf / Soleus muscles needing to work harder, and stretch further.

 

Comparing running in the huaraches to running in shoes can just not be done. Running 'barefoot' feels free compared to running in shoes. Doubt I'll go back to using conventional running shoes. Not sure what I'll do when doing intervals on artificial surfaces later in the year though....

 

the thing is that humans tend to try and compensate for problems by throwing technology at it (easy solutions), rather than identifying the real problem, and then resolve that.

 

Example: Choose orthotics, or biokenetics to resolve pronation / supponation, muscle imbalance problems. Me, I hate adding more gadgets to a problem to come up with a technological solution to a biological challenge!

 

Hear and kind of agree with what you say regarding how the foot was intended to work vs how man made it work.....

 

BUT I have wondered why we don’t see (m)any of the top runners especially those from Africa who almost likely grew up walking / running barefoot, running how they grew up. Surely not all of them converted to shoes because da shoe sales man said it’s better?

Have you tried some of the minimalistic shoes like Vibrams and other models that are now available?

 

Have a look at the Science of Sport Ross Tuckers / Jonathan Dougas blog for an in depth 5 part series on this issue

http://www.sportsscientists.com/2008/03/running-shoes-solution-or-problem.html

[Guest agteros]

Hear and kind of agree with what you say regarding how the foot was intended to work vs how man made it work.....

 

BUT I have wondered why we don’t see (m)any of the top runners especially those from Africa who almost likely grew up walking / running barefoot, running how they grew up. Surely not all of them converted to shoes because da shoe sales man said it’s better?

Have you tried some of the minimalistic shoes like Vibrams and other models that are now available?

 

Have a look at the Science of Sport Ross Tuckers / Jonathan Dougas blog for an in depth 5 part series on this issue

http://www.sportssci...or-problem.html

 

Read that a while ago, also read Born to run this year. Also have wide feet, so running shoes are not an automatic easy fit.

Elite runner shoes remind me of the 26" vs 29" vs hardtail vs softtail / sponsor questions...

 

Also, elite runners run in racing flats, and train in training flats....

 

My problem is that I cannot see the reason why I should pay a shoe company R1500 for a pair of shoes doing it damnest NOT to be shoes. Why not just cut to the chase, and stick to the basics? Pretty much like single speed bikes vs geared bikes then

[GrumpyOldGuy]

 

Camber: it will be there, irrespective of what you wear on your feet.... Those straps are a meter to each side. Plenty enough to tie the soles to your feet without it sliding around To combat camber you need to run alternating side of the road, or if it is not a busy road in the middle of the road.

 

Yeah I know, but on those sandals your foot will surely slide to the angle of the camber as there's nothing to support the foot in the pocket. To me its a recipe for a twisted ankle injury, but yeah, never used em so don't really know I guess.!

 

I am also sort of with Swiss in his post, many of the young Kenyans, Ethiopians etc probably start by running barefoot, but immediately they start to get professional training, they all start to wear shoes, that's without exception, and they of all people have a natural affinity to running barefoot.

 

Don't misunderstand me, I am interested, I am not knocking it. However for the immediate future I think I'll stick to my Asics.

[Guest agteros]

Yeah I know, but on those sandals your foot will surely slide to the angle of the camber as there's nothing to support the foot in the pocket. To me its a recipe for a twisted ankle injury, but yeah, never used em so don't really know I guess.!

 

I am also sort of with Swiss in his post, many of the young Kenyans, Ethiopians etc probably start by running barefoot, but immediately they start to get professional training, they all start to wear shoes, that's without exception, and they of all people have a natural affinity to running barefoot.

 

Don't misunderstand me, I am interested, I am not knocking it. However for the immediate future I think I'll stick to my Asics.

 

 

Artificial surfaces, peer pressure, status symbols, sponsor money.... Dunno, I'm not convinced.

 

With the Huaraches (my sandals) the idea is to have the soles as thin as possible. You WANT to be aware of the surface on which you run (Even the little stones etc, just not the glass and thorns), so with these flexible sole of less than 5mm there is no danger of twisting ankles when stepping off the shoe (which will not happen if you lace them properly)

 

 

Have a look at Invisibleshoes.com for more ideas

 

The side and bottom view of the sandals:

 

 

Side and top view of the lacing:

 

 

 

[T.XTERRA]

Trial running will make you strong!

 

However I would suggest you start with slow road running. Basically base training. As you get fitter you can go over to trial.

 

Running fitness is exponential. You will see progress a lot faster than with cycling.

 

The other advantage is that you need an hour for a good workout. With cycling you need double that.

[Wyatt Earp]

I have told you fellas repeatedly that Vibram is the way to go.

[Beer4Recovery]

what about these? haven't tried it - saw an advert the other day:

 

http://www.merrell.com/ZA/en/Barefoot-Pre-PreviewSASITE

[Wyatt Earp]

what about these? haven't tried it - saw an advert the other day:

 

http://www.merrell.com/ZA/en/Barefoot-Pre-PreviewSASITE

Have a look ate the New Balance Minimus

[Flippa]

Have a look ate the New Balance Minimus

 

I've just started running to improve my overall fitness and am currently using the New Balance MT101. What a fantastic shoe! I did a lot of research as I always used to have issues with shoes with a substantial heel. No matter whether I bought shoes randomly or went for a fitting at an expert, after a couple of running sessions I would give up because of impending injury. With the MT101, I am up to 6km, 3 times a week, no problems. They certainly seem to suit my feet and style of running.

[TNT1]

I have told you fellas repeatedly that Vibram is the way to go.

 

Yeah, when my kanadia's die, I'll join you on the 5fingers side...

[Guest agteros]

I have told you fellas repeatedly that Vibram is the way to go.

 

I've not tried the Vibrams yet, but I think I'll still prefer my home made Huarache sandals!

[Wyatt Earp]

I've not tried the Vibrams yet, but I think I'll still prefer my home made Huarache sandals!

Even old Barefoot Ted and Caballo have started steering away from those for personal use, especially on the trail.

Ted does however promote them heavily in his store.