Nike Free 5.0 ?

[destrekor]

Opinions on the shoe and the whole concept of barefoot running, or more specifically, supported-barefoot.

Army PT, as far as running, means hard surfaces, all the time. Just no choice in the matter.
I also despise running, but this is not important. Just thought I'd throw that in there.

I basically swear by the Brook's Adrenaline GTS series. Absolutely love the shoe. On longer runs my stride takes a shit and I am still left with discomfort, or worse, pain... often just depends on how my lower legs feel like cooperating that day.

I think the main reason the running shoe store put me in the Brook's Adrenaline line was because of mild over-pronating.
One opinion piece I just read on the Nike Free 5.0 series was that for people who over-pronate, the 5.0 is recommend, and neutral runners can feel comfortable choosing the 3.0.

They also suggesting at most using it maybe once a week to ease the feet/lower legs into the whole concept, since apparently a lot of the forced support is gone. It has cushioning but from what I can get out of it, the shock of planting feet wrong with a bad gait/stride will not be taken away by the shoe. Thus, it sounds like the shoe will basically through the lessons of pain, force you to correct your running gait.

Does this at all sound like a good idea for me? I imagine strengthening my feet muscles and lower-leg muscles would be an awesome idea, and would help translate to 1) a better running stride, and 2) more comfort/less physical abuse to my lower body when running, in any type of shoe.

As somebody who swears by the idea that running for the better part of your entire life on very hard surfaces, will only translate to almost certainly (with a few exceptions, damn genetic freaks) destroying your lower body.
I like my body, and feel I have enough discomfort/pain as it is, and I'm not even a quarter century old!
I realize getting a running coach could be a good idea, but that = money.

Would this be a good regimen? Getting these shoes and once a week, choosing a day where we likely only run 2 or 3mi? Probably not a good idea to throw these on for the first few times when tackling a 5mi+ run.

On that note, I did start getting a feel of how to somewhat correct my stride as it starts going to shit, and when I did so it would help take away some of the complaints from my legs and feet. I really need to find a way to coach myself into a proper, more comfortable stride.

 

[olds]

tl;dr

 

[hans030390]

I love my 5.0s. They were a bit tight/stiff at first, but they're so comfortable once you're used to them.

I don't personally run, but I've heard they're best for that. I've also heard it's best to work your way into them, though once a week might not be enough.

Of course, I'd have gotten 3.0s if they were available at the time. You might also want to look into the Vibram fivefinger "shoes" if you want a real barefoot experience.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Wrong forum and like usual, tl.

 

[OUCaptain]

I'd love to try them but damn. $100+ for essentially less shoe. Some marketing person just got a bonus.

 

[Locut0s]

tl;dr

One way to get your post count up quickly I guess.

 

[OUCaptain]

One way to get your post count up quickly I guess.

Well you didn't really think he did by posting useful discussions pertaining to the OP did you?

Funny this was posted around the same time as your blister incident.

 

[destrekor]

Well you didn't really think he did by posting useful discussions pertaining to the OP did you?

Funny this was posted around the same time as your blister incident.

I got the idea from that thread.

But it's worthy of a different thread imho.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Having done the Free 5.0's (since returned) and current owner of VFF KSO's - ppl get caught up by the hype they read on the internet. I'm a RRCA running coach - it's a dis-service not to try and be as knowledgeable as I can possibly be. My advice to runners - don't try to change your natural gait. Run the way you want to run, comfortably, and without pain. If you're having pain now - sure, you can try to change it. If you're not, don't rock the boat - I did and have suffered two injuries I've never had before.

Then again, my injuries were just full on switch from heel-toe to forefoot. If you do decide you want to go this route - go slowly - don't expect to make a full on transition/switch instantly.

The Free's are a cool shoe - easily wearable anywhere without odd stares you get with VFF's - but IMO, the VFF's are much closer to true forefoot.

 

[olds]

One way to get your post count up quickly I guess.

Who gives a fuck about post count, people with little dicks?
I was trying to be condescending.

 

[destrekor]

Who gives a fuck about post count, people with little dicks?
I was trying to be condescending.

We're all so used to it now, can you ever truly be offensive?
:awe:

Having done the Free 5.0's (since returned) and current owner of VFF KSO's - ppl get caught up by the hype they read on the internet. I'm a RRCA running coach - it's a dis-service not to try and be as knowledgeable as I can possibly be. My advice to runners - don't try to change your natural gait. Run the way you want to run, comfortably, and without pain. If you're having pain now - sure, you can try to change it. If you're not, don't rock the boat - I did and have suffered two injuries I've never had before.

Then again, my injuries were just full on switch from heel-toe to forefoot. If you do decide you want to go this route - go slowly - don't expect to make a full on transition/switch instantly.

The Free's are a cool shoe - easily wearable anywhere without odd stares you get with VFF's - but IMO, the VFF's are much closer to true forefoot.

That's just the thing... I was always relatively comfortable with my gait. I've noticed it's different based on the run type, but I have a feeling that's natural. Sprints or short runs are a longer stride, true short sprints should be balls of the feet (forefoot), while most short runs, and even sprints, I'm heel-toe.
Long runs, I start heel-toe, and my body just tires of it and starts hitting flat. And then my body realizes that is terrible decision due to the discomfort (and pain sometimes), and I consciously try to fight to hit heel-toe again (and in my left foot I always start finding it hard to even lift the foot using my heel).

I realize to get more comfort in the longer runs, I need to do something.
I just have NO idea how to go about doing that something.

I realize in general completing switching to forefoot striking is going to bring discomfort when naturally I've been heel-toe my whole life, for all types of runs. It sounds great to change it, but outside of combat (in boots), I don't think I'll ever have the chance to actually run on anything but hard surfaces, of which the body wasn't meant to do no matter the the gait.

I guess I'm mostly just rambling, in hopes I'm somewhat coherent and that someone will have a good idea of what I should do. I have no choice in the matter but to accept, and truthfully I have no problem with that in my head... my legs, they greatly disagree.

 

[olds]

We're all so used to it now, can you ever truly be offensive?
:awe:



....

Yes, there's still n00bs here that don't know me.

 

[Mike Gayner]

I thought the whole barefoot running fad was supposed to simplify running and feed less money to the shoe manufacturers who have failed to prove the claimed efficacy of their products year after year. I guess not.

 

[destrekor]

I thought the whole barefoot running fad was supposed to simplify running and feed less money to the shoe manufacturers who have failed to prove the claimed efficacy of their products year after year. I guess not.

That's not at all the point of the "fad."

Physiologically, it's the absolute truth.
However, like most things in life, we have to make sacrifices.
You can't exactly run barefoot unless you're running on pure grasslands or, better yet, a beach. Grasslands you still run the risk of landing full-weight on a well-hidden rock, which will quickly end the run, at best temporarily if there was no damage. On the beach you'd at least be able to see any painful things lying in wait a few strides ahead.

Most running, other than recreational fun, just has to take place on hard surfaces. You absolutely require quality support, even in shoes that are designed as "barefoot" have to offer well-designed cushioning and support.

There will be cheaper shoes but I've never seen a well-crafted running shoe, even the minimal ones, close to anything considered cheap.
Those Nike's might oddly enough be amongst the cheapest if they are actually well-supporting. VFF's are supposed to be great but I'd imagine they're not intended for constantly striking pavement.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Physiologically, it's the absolute truth.

Evidence? I'm skeptical of anyone who claims to have "the absolute truth". From what I've read about barefoot running the jury is still out - there have been positive results on both sides of the isle.

 

[Capt Caveman]

You can't exactly run barefoot unless you're running on pure grasslands or, better yet, a beach. Grasslands you still run the risk of landing full-weight on a well-hidden rock, which will quickly end the run, at best temporarily if there was no damage. On the beach you'd at least be able to see any painful things lying in wait a few strides ahead.

Most running, other than recreational fun, just has to take place on hard surfaces. You absolutely require quality support, even in shoes that are designed as "barefoot" have to offer well-designed cushioning and support.

You'll find that there a number of folks that run barefoot on pavement, even running marathons.

After changing my running style to become a forefoot runner, the need for a support shoe has ceased and I now look for minimal shoes with some cushioning. These shoes are usually in the less expensive range in a brands selection. Note, I do a lot of trail running and try to always land on my forefoot.

I suggest you read-up over at the runnersworld.com forums, under the Shoes and Barefoot running subforums.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Evidence? I'm skeptical of anyone who claims to have "the absolute truth". From what I've read about barefoot running the jury is still out - there have been positive results on both sides of the isle.

From a physics standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. Is there an absolute truth? I wouldn't say that there is. Some people naturally run a certain way, some ppl run a different way. Run how you naturally tend to run if you're injury free.

 

[destrekor]

Evidence? I'm skeptical of anyone who claims to have "the absolute truth". From what I've read about barefoot running the jury is still out - there have been positive results on both sides of the isle.

Meh.

To me, striking forefoot feels far more comfortable to my legs when I'm doing anything that's not running on hard surfaces for more than a few strides, and that could change if I fought through mild discomfort on occasion to build up those underused muscles.
On soft surfaces? It feels far and away better to stride forefoot.
I am aware of conflicting evidence depending on the report one chooses to look at, however based on what I've experienced, I'm more inclined to side with the forefoot striking.

Running barefoot or not basically depends on surface, and even then on most irregular surfaces with regular shoes I, without thinking at all, hit forefoot. When I start to think my body gets confused as to what should be best, as I know continued forefoot only is only going to bring pain since I do it so rarely.

Sprinting? I'll almost guarantee every running coach will say sprints, for top speed, will be forefoot striking only (thus why the spikes are on the forefoot for track cleats).
Distance running on soft surfaces? Not really sure. I get more traction hitting forefoot on soft surfaces (barefoot), just feels like easier to accomplish, but I've also never ran for even a mile on a soft surface.

 

[destrekor]

You'll find that there a number of folks that run barefoot on pavement, even running marathons.

After changing my running style to become a forefoot runner, the need for a support shoe has ceased and I now look for minimal shoes with some cushioning. These shoes are usually in the less expensive range in a brands selection. Note, I do a lot of trail running and try to always land on my forefoot.

I suggest you read-up over at the runnersworld.com forums, under the Shoes and Barefoot running subforums.

To me that just sounds like a bad idea!


Regardless of form, I've never found comfort in trying to run at a fast pace on pavement barefoot. Forefoot striking, with decent support, maybe... but I'd have to build up the strength for that.

 

[silverpig]

That's not at all the point of the "fad."

Physiologically, it's the absolute truth.
However, like most things in life, we have to make sacrifices.
You can't exactly run barefoot unless you're running on pure grasslands or, better yet, a beach. Grasslands you still run the risk of landing full-weight on a well-hidden rock, which will quickly end the run, at best temporarily if there was no damage. On the beach you'd at least be able to see any painful things lying in wait a few strides ahead.

Most running, other than recreational fun, just has to take place on hard surfaces. You absolutely require quality support, even in shoes that are designed as "barefoot" have to offer well-designed cushioning and support.

There will be cheaper shoes but I've never seen a well-crafted running shoe, even the minimal ones, close to anything considered cheap.
Those Nike's might oddly enough be amongst the cheapest if they are actually well-supporting. VFF's are supposed to be great but I'd imagine they're not intended for constantly striking pavement.

Actually I find I'm most comfortable on hard flat surfaces in my VFFs. I run on the roads all the time and it's great. I did a little over 10 miles on the roads today in them and my feet felt fantastic afterwards.

 

[silverpig]

Evidence? I'm skeptical of anyone who claims to have "the absolute truth". From what I've read about barefoot running the jury is still out - there have been positive results on both sides of the isle.

Draw the free-body diagram for someone heel striking ahead of their center-of-mass. You'll find a backwards component to the force. That's bad if you're trying to run efficiently.

 

[datalink7]

Actually I find I'm most comfortable on hard flat surfaces in my VFFs. I run on the roads all the time and it's great. I did a little over 10 miles on the roads today in them and my feet felt fantastic afterwards.

Those shoes look interesting... I think I'll try them out. Though I'm not much of a runner. I do 2.5 miles Monday through Thursday and 6 on Friday.

 

[jalaram]

I love my Nike Free shoes. They definitely took some time to adapt to.

Is there any place that has reviews on the various versions of the shoes?

 

[destrekor]

Those shoes look interesting... I think I'll try them out. Though I'm not much of a runner. I do 2.5 miles Monday through Thursday and 6 on Friday.

That's about me, maybe even a little more (I need to run more... I prefer all other cardio to running ).

So you're not a marathon runner. You run far more than the majority of the population.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I hear a lot of people like these :