The All New MSE Running Club.

fufu_banterwaite

That could well be because you’ve been wearing cushioned running shoes and you’ve become used to heel striking, which is obviously not how we should run.

Have you ever tried any barefoot running shoes?

Indie_Kid

I've never run in them; but barefoot running shoes feel weird.

Lizling

Oh god, the barefoot debate. I'm going to regret getting involved here, especially when I didn't even mention the state of the cushioning or the support.

Yes, I've read Born to Run. It makes a case for natural running styles that intuitively makes sense. Making intuitive sense doesn't automatically make it right. I suspect you've only read one side of the argument.

Unfortunately, when you look at the actual statistics for forefoot versus midfoot versus heelstriking (and there's a freely available meta-analysis of it on a sports science site somewhere,) the picture that emerges is much cloudier.

It's bad statistics to imply that because there were fewer running injuries before the invention of the modern running shoe that the more cushioned style *caused* the increase in injuries. You could also look to the increase of, for example, marathon running, as a mass participation sport since then, or a decline in general fitness of the population, or to people increasingly taking up running as a means of loosing weight, or simply an increase in miles run, or a million other things. Correlation and causation are not the same.

Equally, do you think runners spending > $95 on shoes might be the ones with awkward gaits that they're trying to compensate for? Or perhaps runners doing higher mileage on harder surfaces? Or heavier runners with sore joints? Any difference in the populations of runners buying each kind of shoe renders the comparison invalid.

Similar arguments apply to what you wrote about Kenyan runners, but enough of the stats lesson.

Anyway, most of the Internet is blocked while I'm at work, but later on I'll try and post you a link to something more readable with a few links to some actual evidence.


Since I took up running, my foot control has improved from quite severely overpronating to generally neutral with slight overpronation if I'm very tired. Although there certainly is less cushioning, the main problem seems to be that the upper stretches and changes shape so that they no longer fit. I'd guess that it's the amount of time my trainers spend being used for boot camp exercises like squat thrusts, and repeatedly getting wet then drying that shortens the life of my trainers.

Indie_Kid

It was chucking it down this morning; so I decided to use the treadmill at the gym. I managed 10 minutes before getting bored.:o

Lizling

http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/bodywork/in-stride/Top-10-Running-Myths.html

Here's an excellent article on things people often mistakenly believe about running. Well worth a read, imo.

yessie1209

Can anyone recommend a brand of running shoe? Totally overwhelmed with all the fancy designs and gobbledigook descriptions!

donglemouse

i'd suggest you go to a specalist running shop for advice (and by specialist i mean that not the likes of jd sport or similar)

the brand isn't really as important as getting a shoe that fits in with your running style and the amount/type of running you will do

don't worry if you have no idea what your running style is, again a specialist running shop will sort all that out

if you have a budget tell the specialist running shop and get them to work within your budget

rainbowfairydust

donglemouse wrote: »

i'd suggest you go to a specalist running shop for advice (and by specialist i mean that not the likes of jd sport or similar)

the brand isn't really as important as getting a shoe that fits in with your running style and the amount/type of running you will do

don't worry if you have no idea what your running style is, again a specialist running shop will sort all that out

if you have a budget tell the specialist running shop and get them to work within your budget

second this suggestion - i bought a pair of asics from decathlon last weekend which seemed to fit but this changed when i started running, They gave me an enormous blister on my heel so ended up going to a specialist running shop where i was given a proper fitting running shoe (saucony is the brand i bought - i paid £50). I have ran 3 x times since then (with said huge blister) and have had no problems.

If i had gone to a running shop in the first place i could have saved myself £35 plus an enormous blister ! Lesson learnt !

Indie_Kid

I would ignore the brand. I've run in New Balance, Asics, Addidas, Nike and Brooks.

I am never doing a 24 hour team running event again. It was awful. Company was good though.

Lizling

Indie_Kid wrote: »

I am never doing a 24 hour team running event again. It was awful. Company was good though.

Why, what happened Indiekid?

I can't wait for this this year's Thunder Run. Running, cake, camping, good company, running, cake, running, cake... it's the running highlight of my year!