tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953543540060556067.post334583224003019583..comments2023-05-04T03:16:12.790-07:00Comments on Andy Henshaw's Ultra-blog: Ideas on Minimalist ShoesAndy Henshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00123196561070122032noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953543540060556067.post-6689878071486497422012-01-31T17:44:59.094-08:002012-01-31T17:44:59.094-08:00That more research is needed is clear. But it is b...That more research is needed is clear. But it is being done, which is a good thing. I think we're moving in the right direction. I've comfortably run fast(ish) half marathons in trail gloves and hattori on pavement - but I'm aware that most won't want to do that, and that more shoe is helpful for truly long races. <br /><br />I think the main problem, as you said, is generic prescription. It's not that running shoes don't work, per se; rather, they don't work the same for everyone. And many people are running in something that's doing more harm than good, I think. A good shoe fitting would go a long way. Unfortunately, that goes well beyond looking at static arch height. <br /><br />And on Wyco, perhaps I'll see you then. (But only until you pull away, probably a mile in.) Thanks for the reasoned discussion.Alex Beecherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903373025698480314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953543540060556067.post-77187947227347013152012-01-30T23:32:25.933-08:002012-01-30T23:32:25.933-08:00"Unfortunately all that I have seen have been..."Unfortunately all that I have seen have been rather short term. Maybe a year or two down the road their economics would have improved?"<br /><br />Excellent question! My opinion is you should run how you run without a conscious manipulation of your gait. Doing so will cause you to be less efficient. This is definitely a "short" term effect though. The body is highly adaptable and will eventually change and adapt to run in this new manner. But the idea that you need a shoe to change your gait is ridiculous. You can run on your forefoot with or without shoes. Furthermore, I have read a study (and seen quite extensively with my own eyes) that people who have worn shoes and switch to barefoot running still strike their heel... some of them very heavily.<br /><br />Most of what I see in the running store where I work is a lot of over-striding and overtraining. The two together are bound to cause problems. I usually just tell people to slow down, run on a softer surface and "land more softly"... telling them generically to land softly allows them to find their own best way to land with less impact. So, they can still maintain their own personal "natural" stride, just at a slower pace.Andy Henshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00123196561070122032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953543540060556067.post-48920427857532641852012-01-30T20:14:47.397-08:002012-01-30T20:14:47.397-08:00"First and foremost, I am a firm believer tha..."First and foremost, I am a firm believer that whatever works for you, works for you"<br /><br />Agreed.<br /><br />"A lot of research on the topic of gait analysis has shown that any change in your gait will cause you to be less efficient."<br /><br />Unfortunately all that I have seen have been rather short term. Maybe a year or two down the road their economics would have improved?<br /><br />"People who forefoot strike and try to change their gait to a heel strike will become less efficient and vice versa."<br /><br />Agreed. People simply become most economic at what they habitually do. Some are just more efficient at running inefficiently. <br /><br />I feel the Merrell shoe you have pictured above is a good example of what you are referring to with narrow shoes. I returned mine do to this very reason.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12611329798986755095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953543540060556067.post-11802954542353379412012-01-29T11:01:53.054-08:002012-01-29T11:01:53.054-08:00Alex,
These were some interesting articles. I th...Alex,<br /><br />These were some interesting articles. I think that they require a bit more study, but for the most part there was solid research done. I guess my main argument to most of them would be the use of categorization (stability, neutral cushioning, and motion control). I'm a big believer in the customization of footwear to the buyer. Simply throwing a generic shoe at someone to use during these tests is lacking in scientific depth as well as knowledge of footwear itself. Then again, customizing footwear to each individual in these tests would be expensive and expansive.<br /><br />I agree that its a good thing when shoe companies find ways to provide the same stability in shoes while finding lighter weight options. However, I still think that the way minimalist shoes are marketed and distributed is a bit misleading and dangerous to the average consumer.<br /><br />As for the wyco race, I would love to be a part of it this year. I really do think sub-4 hours is doable. However, I will have to postpone until 2013 due to scheduling conflicts. Best of luck to you though! Make sure you wear something with a lot of tread :)Andy Henshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00123196561070122032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953543540060556067.post-11717550832447802752012-01-24T14:00:02.697-08:002012-01-24T14:00:02.697-08:00Sure.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1842448...Sure. <br /><br />http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18424485<br />http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20584759<br />http://www.scienceofrunning.com/2010/01/why-running-shoes-do-not-work-looking.html<br />http://www.runblogger.com/2011/10/on-human-variability-running-shoes-and.html<br />http://www.runblogger.com/2011/12/application-of-wet-test-and-static-arch.html<br /><br />All of this is not to say, again, that I think running shoes are bad, or that they cannot serve a purpose. Rather, I think it's good that we're evaluating what that purpose is, and how to best achieve it. <br /><br />Unrelated, but have you seen this: http://www.psychowyco.com/id104.html<br />I know you've said that sub-4 is doable; this could certainly provide some incentive. It is a tougher course than expected though, and difficult to put a really fast time on. I'll be thrilled if I break 4:30.Alex Beecherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903373025698480314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953543540060556067.post-42875617247114892522012-01-24T09:46:39.841-08:002012-01-24T09:46:39.841-08:00Alex, if you'd like to post a few articles on ...Alex, if you'd like to post a few articles on how running shoe features don't work, I'd be willing to give them a read. Thanks for your comment!Andy Henshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00123196561070122032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953543540060556067.post-11185864418103525222012-01-23T22:27:17.938-08:002012-01-23T22:27:17.938-08:00This is an endlessly complex issue, and one I don&...This is an endlessly complex issue, and one I don't think we're anywhere close to sorted out. As cliche as it is to say, people are different, and works for you may not work for me. That said, I think that the "minimalist" thing has shown us, somewhat clearly, that the current shoe fitting paradigm isn't working for a lot of people. And while I agree that most people can't do a ton of mileage in barefoot simulators, I believe there is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates - rather clearly - that many current running shoe features do nothing helpful. I have never seen evidence that a medial post does anything, for instance, or a significantly elevated heel. This could go on forever. The main benefit, I think, is that there are more options all across the spectrum now, so people are more apt to find a shoe that lets them achieve their goals. Ultimately, happy, healthy training is what matters.Alex Beecherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15903373025698480314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7953543540060556067.post-39351962486151734442012-01-20T18:56:52.572-08:002012-01-20T18:56:52.572-08:00Great post! I've had a lot of issues finding t...Great post! I've had a lot of issues finding the a shoe that works for me especially when running pavement...so I just stick to trails now :) After trying a few different ones I think I found what works for me and that is definitely the key!Indihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07176199187790116047noreply@blogger.com