Can we talk about running?

[Rob3rt]

Yes Vibram have a high heel tab, but its there to hook over your heel to hold them on. They also dig in around the toes if tightened up, basically they didnt fit me anatomically (could only be found out by using them, trying them on was fine), even though they were the right size.

 

[pubrunner]

barefoot shoes (Vibram, . . . ..

I tried the Vibrams and wasn't particularly impressed - especially considering the cost of them. I genuinely find it is easier to run in 'aqua' or beach shoes. They probably don't last quite as long, but at £10 a pair,I don't mind.

I must say that when I run in barefoot shoes, my calves are noticeably tighter afterwards. They seem to give more of a 'workout' to the lower leg and feet, than do normal shoes.

 

[pubrunner]

Yes Vibram have a high heel tab,

I don't remember the ones that I tried as having a high heel tab - mind you, I'd probably only have noticed if they were rubbing.

but its there to hook over your heel to hold them on.

Shoe design seems to be going aroud in circles; there was a fashion for high tabs; and then they were removed entirely. The best running shoes that I ever owned (back in the 80s) were a pair of Ron Hill 2.07s - so called after the Marathon World Record. They had virtually no padding, were flat soled and had no heel tab.

 

[pubrunner]

I also forgot to mention another aspect of gait analysis; IMO, gait depends on the type of shoes being worn. If I trained for a week in heavy, highly-padded cushioned shoes and then went for a run in lightweight racing shoes, my gait would change noiceably. I'd also have greater speed, faster cadence and a different stride length.

I certainly notice when I go from my 'heavy' trainers, and use my 'barefoot' shoes.

I'm not entirely against cushioned shoes; they are especially useful at this time of the year, since they are warmer & more weather-proof.

 

[ColinJ]

I was reading about the Tarahumara people a while back. I'd like to read more.

I found this interesting article describing how to make sandals from old tyres, a bit like the sandals that the Tarahumara wear for running. I mustn't run any more (I have dodgy hips), but I'd like to make a pair of those sandals to use on warm weather walks.

 

[Rob3rt]

I also forgot to mention another aspect of gait analysis; IMO, gait depends on the type of shoes being worn. If I trained for a week in heavy, highly-padded cushioned shoes and then went for a run in lightweight racing shoes, my gait would change noiceably. I'd also have greater speed, faster cadence and a different stride length.

I certainly notice when I go from my 'heavy' trainers, and use my 'barefoot' shoes.

I'm not entirely against cushioned shoes; they are especially useful at this time of the year, since they are warmer & more weather-proof.

Thats probably why its a good idea to be honest with the person doing the gait analysis about the type of training/racing you will be using the particular shoes (and get the analysis for each pair you are going to use) for and also setting the treadmill up to simulate as close as possible the conditions you will use them in (in my experience, I've always been given free reign of the treadmill for the duration of the analysis). Having said this, its never going to be spot on.

 

[Rob3rt]

I was reading about the Tarahumara people a while back. I'd like to read more.

I found this interesting article describing how to make sandals from old tyres, a bit like the sandals that the Tarahumara wear for running. I mustn't run any more (I have dodgy hips), but I'd like to make a pair of those sandals to use on warm weather walks.

Read the book Born to Run maybe. Loads of people love it, although I thought it was dross on the most part.

 

[Crankarm]

Everyone is different. Lol! What works for one might not work for others.

Basics DO NOT stretch cold muscles. Massage them, lots. Stretch after running ie when muscles are warm hot and go easy!

Run on grass ie parks or round edges of football pitches as already stated is good advice. Although you might not get access to Manchester United's ground.

Gait analysis IME is bollox. Shop assistants claiming they know all about physiology and sports science. One week stacking shelves or selling mobile phones the next working in a sports shop. Waste of time and money. If you do seek advice go to a properly qualified person ie a doctor with a specialism in sports science. Like everything you will have to pay and like every one else you will baulk at paying and go to the local sports shop where spotty Wayne is working and take advice from him. LoL!

Work out a rough training plan and distance with rest days. Some days run half your distance but do interval training ie run 75, 80, 100% of max for 30 seconds or 1 minute. Practice running backwards, it feels counter intuitive at first but is bloody good at strenghtening opposite muscles to those you use running forwards.

Don't run on roads or pavements, run on grass, oh I said that already.

And massage massage massage. It works. Massage before you start running. Take 10-15 mintues to this properly - your calves, shins and Achilles areas and quads if need be. Massage from outward point to toward the heart so you are pushing blood out of a muscle toward the heart so fresh can flow in. Use clenched fist, knuckles, thumbs. Once you do it a few times and get over the intial tenderness you will look forward to it. Even when on a run of you get a twinge stop and massage it DO NOT run through it as it may develop into a tear and injury meaning you cannot run. Look after your body. Do not over do the stretching and only stretch when your body IS WARM!!!! Otherwise you WILL pull a muscle and get injuries.

 

[ACW]

try yoga, cured mine and they have never come back

 

[Trevrev]

Don't run on roads or pavements, run on grass, oh I said that already.

I Like to work out routes on google maps, work out the distance and go and pound the streets. Makes interesting and varied running.
The trouble with running on a softer surface generally means running around the local dog sh1t strewn park, going around and around and around and around and around and around ! Which is very dull.
Or getting in the car to drive to the forest and run the gravel tracks.......Which is fine, but when time is limited, and it always seems to be for me lately can be difficult.
Weekend running for me, means getting up early, before the wife and kids, go do 45-mins or so, get back to be ready for them to spend the day with me.
In the evenings......Get home from work, chuck my bike in the shed, quick change into running gear, and off i go.........Then spend the evening with the family. As bad as it is to run the pavements it's convenient. I'd love to do more running in perfect conditions.

 

[Rob3rt]

I Like to work out routes on google maps, work out the distance and go and pound the streets. Makes interesting and varied running.
The trouble with running on a softer surface generally means running around the local dog sh1t strewn park, going around and around and around and around and around and around ! Which is very dull.
Or getting in the car to drive to the forest and run the gravel tracks.......Which is fine, but when time is limited, and it always seems to be for me lately can be difficult.
Weekend running for me, means getting up early, before the wife and kids, go do 45-mins or so, get back to be ready for them to spend the day with me.
In the evenings......Get home from work, chuck my bike in the shed, quick change into running gear, and off i go.........Then spend the evening with the family. As bad as it is to run the pavements it's convenient. I'd love to do more running in perfect conditions.

Same philosophy here pretty much, I do run along the canal tow-paths a fair bit, but generally I go out and just run, making decisions as I go and seeing where I end up.

Running round a field or park is beyond boring. I did used to run around the lake in a local park when doing intervals, but that was pretty much soul destroying.

Also, I think that you should do a good portion (say 30-50%) of your training on surfaces akin to those your will compete on.

 

[Arsen Gere]

For those of you doing triathlons in the northeast, the Darlington one has a 200m run from the pool to the road across a field to the bike start. If you put your cycling shoes on first it's a long run to fill you cleats with mud.
The Cleveland sprint course (Stokesley, a nice event too) has a 100m run down a clean tarmac path from the pool to transition which I found made my feet ache a bit the next day. It wore off after a couple of days. You can leave shoes outside the pool if you wanted to.
So when you do triathlons you get a bit of bare foot running whether you like it or not.

 

[Arsen Gere]

Also in this thread http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/endurance-training-maffetone.91477/ I mentioned Dr Phil Maffetone who is also a proponent of bare foot or bare as you can foot running as part of his holistic approach to endurance sports.

 

[Crankarm]

Same philosophy here pretty much, I do run along the canal tow-paths a fair bit, but generally I go out and just run, making decisions as I go and seeing where I end up.

Running round a field or park is beyond boring. I did used to run around the lake in a local park when doing intervals, but that was pretty much soul destroying.

Also, I think that you should do a good portion (say 30-50%) of your training on surfaces akin to those your will compete on.

LoL! Not so and running around a track isn't? I used to pound the pavements when I lived in London and get stuff thrown at me from scum in passing cars. F*ck that for a laugh. I don't miss running in built up areas one bit.

I now run around a huge playing field about 8 full size football pitches on the edge of town. Very well kept grass so not constantly looking out for dodgy pavements, abandoned wheelie bins, scrotes on bmxs, dogshit, or people coming back from pub pissed abusing you itching for a fight. I was beat up about one month ago running in a residential street between playing field and home by a group of thugs. So running in a nice well kept safe rural playing field is preferrable for me. Also you can easily concentrate on your running technique and stop for circuit training exercises if you want at various points without being hassled, attracting attention or causing a disturbance. The only spectators are wabbits and the occasional fox. The moon is your light bulb as opposed to dingy orange street lights. On a full moon lit night like last night, no-one around, it is bliss.

 

[Rob3rt]

LoL! Not so and running around a track isn't? I used to pound the pavements when I lived in London and get stuff thrown at me from scum in passing cars. F*ck that for a laugh. I don't miss running in built up areas one bit.


I now run around a huge playing field about 8 full size football pitches on the edge of town. Very well kept grass so not constantly looking out for dodgy pavements, abandoned wheelie bins, scrotes on bmxs, dogshit, or people coming back from pub pissed abusing you itching for a fight. I was beat up about one month ago running in a residential street between playing field and home by a group of thugs. So running in a nice well kept safe rural playing field is preferrable for me. Also you can easily concentrate on your running technique and stop for circuit training exercises if you want at various points without being hassled, attracting attention or causing a disturbance. The only spectators are wabbits and the occasional fox. The moon is your light bulb as opposed to dingy orange street lights. On a full moon lit night like last night, no-one around, it is bliss.

Running around a track is also boring FOR ME!