Training in racing flats.

shels4ever

Hi all,

Just been readin a book called Strong Running by Kevin Beck , One point he made was that you should wear racing flats while doing some session like tempo runs and intervals. As this will build up the muscles in the lower legs.

What is the general view of this , what do you wear during your tempo runs?

Well off to bed now, have a double day tomorrow.. so 6:30 run...

ss43

makes sense to me. Provided you're comfortable in your flats you'll run faster because thery're lighter. Also, your legs will adapt to having less cushioning under them so when you go to race in them it won't wreck you as much.

I think lighter shoes in general are better than big bricks like Asics Gel Kayanos. With less cushioning your feet do more work and will thus be stronger and better able to function in a pair of spikes or flats when you go to race.

daymobrew

ss43 wrote: »

With less cushioning your feet do more work and will thus be stronger and better able to function in a pair of spikes or flats when you go to race.

This is the logic of the Nike Free runners - they are to mimic the barefoot running of African athletes.

thirtyfoot

There is an article in Runners World magazine this week (I think its Runners World but can't find link) about a hill tribe in Mexico who run huge distances in the mountains barefoot. In the article some expert claims that with all the use of cushioned and supportive shoes these days our foot muscles have become very weak.

When younger we always ran in our barefeet even in cross-country and only in summer at competitions on the track would spikes be worn. I've also read about coaches who with younger athletes especially get them to do barefoot running on suitable surfaces like grass or sand. You'd want to be carefull though and do it gradually I'd reckon.

For speed and better quality it might make sense to use your racing flats for intervals. Although training for shorter distances than you I use racing flats or even my standard runners for intervals throughout the winter and only use spikes for technical stuff and speedwork.

shels4ever

Thanks for all the information, Havent actually got a pair of flats but might invest in a pair in a few months. .

englishe

very important when picking your first racing flat to take into consideration the following;
1.weight
2.distance racing
3.support
Lightest racing shoe around is the nike mayfly,this is thrown out after 100k and used by alot of good club athletes in ireland when racing 5k and 10k on the track.
nike marathoner one of the most popular and hasn't changed in a good few years.
Brooks do a nice one called the st racer which has a posting and wide
forefoot.
Saucony fastwitch popular with tri-athletes.
Mizuno Idaten light and low profile.
My fav is the Nike Lunar Racer which is light but responsive.

shels4ever

Yes i was thinking the same, I will hold off until i drop a bit more weight,

geoff29

shels4ever wrote: »

Yes i was thinking the same, I will hold off until i drop a bit more weight,

out of interest -what kinda pace you running these days shels4ever?

shels4ever

Well not sure to be honest, haven't raced in a while

I'd say i'd take the bones of 1 min of my 2 mile time if i was to run one now.

Will do a time trial over 5 k on Friday so will know more then.

geoff29

shels4ever wrote: »

Well not sure to be honest, haven't raced in a while

I'd say i'd take the bones of 1 min of my 2 mile time if i was to run one now.

Will do a time trial over 5 k on Friday so will know more then.

good stuff!

shels4ever

I think there is a winter series that I'll run, Should give me a good indication of progress. But for now i'm not too worried just want to get my mileage up to mid 30's low 40's by the end of the winter, Should set me up nicely for the spring.

Running Bing

Good podcast on this here:

http://www.runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=14220

Im a newbie who overpronates so Im running in as much shoe as possible (Kayano) but I dont like it. The shoes feel so heavy, clunky and cumbersome to me and I definately feel they do me no favours in terms of long term ankle and foot strength.


I would love to go out and run in my Asics Onitsuka Tigers that I wear for everyday use but I know my legs would be in tatters after it.


I have run barefoot before and it felt absolutely great...wouldnt really fancy it is the Phoeno though as you wouldnt know what you could step on:eek:

shels4ever

Well i've gone through 2 pairs in the last 2 days.. need to do some cleaning as the amount of mud on my second pair today is mad.. but its my fault for running through the mud and not going around..

Running Bing

daymobrew wrote: »

This is the logic of the Nike Free runners - they are to mimic the barefoot running of African athletes.

Has anyone actually tried Nike Free? Looking on the net and it appears nobody has a bad word to say about them (apart from some durability issues which appear to have been addressed)

Seriously tempted to get a pair and gradually phase them in.