Running shoes...barefoot or not

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Canute Mar 2016 6:24pm, 30 Mar 2016 1,741 posts	0 Canute Any expert who says there is one answer to the question of either foot-strike or shoe-type is probably not an expert. For what it is worth I will tell you my own experience. I too have congenitally deformed feet with hammer toes, downward protruding metatarsal heads and bunions. I was rejected by the Australian army at the time of the Vietnam war by an army medical officer who exclaimed ‘bloody terrible feet’. Nonetheless, at that time I was a marathon runner. In my youth we ran in sand-shoes but when I started to run marathons, specialist running shoes were starting to become available. I experimented with several types. Heavily padded shoes did not suit me. I ran all of my marathons in of Onitsuka Tigers; very light weight shoes that are no longer available. They were as light as even the lightest on the market today. I did have to tape my third and fourth toes side-by-side to stop the nail of the fourth toe eating through the overlying third toe. I also tolerated frequent lacerations (to both my feet and my shoes) when my sideways protruding bunion hit a pebble on the road. Fifty years later, I have fairly hefty callous on the bunions. In the past two years I have worn Newtons for much of my training because the lugs under the forefoot keep by bunions higher off the ground and less prone to laceration. However the pressure from the lugs on my down-ward protruding metatarsal heads is very uncomfortable. Despite some benefits, I will not buy Newtons again. On Monday I ran a 50 Km ultra (mainly off-road) in light weight racing flats (Asic hyperspeeds) using simple (cheap) gel inserts from Boots to spread the load across my forefoot. I am naturally a forefoot striker. I did debate cutting the heel off the gel inserts to save weight, but decided against this. By 30 Km my legs were quite tired. By that stage I was automatically landing far back on the mid-foot – almost heel-striking. This reduced the load on my Achilles and also took some of the weight off my fore-foot. After 50 Km. my feet were still in good condition, though my muscles were very tired. Sorry this is such a long story. The main point is that there is no single answer, but if you avoid the simplistic advice of gurus and salesmen, and try things in a sensible manner, it is likely that you can find a good answer
Hills of Death (HOD) Mar 2016 6:26pm, 30 Mar 2016 32,004 posts	0 Hills of Death (HOD) I would trust this man ^
SPR Mar 2016 6:27pm, 30 Mar 2016 21,487 posts	0 SPR Canute - Might not be the exact version you can an in but Onitsuka Tigers are sold in Schuh and the like as fashion shoes. I've considered them for running myself.
SPR Mar 2016 6:34pm, 30 Mar 2016 21,488 posts	0 SPR Regarding 'barefoot' shoes. Vivobarefoot are the most barefoot you can get along with Vibram Fivefingers in that they have no cushioning whatsoever. So you may want a shoe with a bit more cushioning like the New Balance Minimus Zero which unfortunately are no longer made. I walk around in Vivos but don't really run in them although I recently got a pair for runnin I'm guessing you alos
SPR Mar 2016 6:36pm, 30 Mar 2016 21,489 posts	0 SPR I'm guessing you benefit from the wider toe box of the Vivos, so a flat shoe without the toebox room may not suit you, just something to look out for.
SPR Mar 2016 6:42pm, 30 Mar 2016 21,490 posts	0 SPR The other thing to look out for is whether you're pushing yourself too hard. If you're running 5k in training at your 5k pace you will get aches and pains as you're at your limit. Running in the Vivos is likely to increase the time (and patience) you need to adapt to running so that's another thing to consider.
Tomsmum Mar 2016 7:25pm, 30 Mar 2016 1,886 posts	0 Tomsmum Thank you all so much, seems it's definitely horses for courses!! There is no speed in my running!! Yes for the wide toe box I have a pair of Saucony Trigon 5 that I have had for many a year but they are little used. Might try them for my next run for comparison
Too Much Water Jul 2017 8:02am, 20 Jul 2017 6,239 posts	0 Too Much Water Freakonomics podcast about this subject this week. Quite interesting