http://doomedrunner.blogspot.com/
Gonna start posting these here too... you know, because I saw someone else do it.
I am not going to get into all of thetechnicalitiesof the shoe. I'll let the pros likehttp://barefootrunninguniversity.com/2011/12/09/new-balance-mt110-review/andhttp://www.irunfar.com/2011/09/new-balance-mt110-review.htmltake care of that. I will just write about why I, a barefoot, and sometimes minimalist runner chose to get such a hefty shoe and my first impressions. Later on I'll update on how I feel about it.
As a frame of reference, I used to run in Nike Triax 13+'s when I kept getting injured, switched to VFFs, then huaraches, then mostly barefoot with Trail Gloves as my primary trail shoe. I LOVE all of those options for their specific utility, but barefoot is still best.
Well, recently, as my previous post describes, I injured my foot and can barely walk barefoot, let alone run. I just hobble around. I did a 19.5 mile run in my Trail Gloves. I love them because I can feel the ground so well in them. But in this instance, it was terrible. It made me alter my strides and instead of my normal mid-foot strike, I was running completely on my toes. I was more sore from this run than I was from the marathon or any other 20 miler I've done recently. So I could have stopped running for the next few weeks, but with the Rocky Raccoon Ultra Marathon in 5 weeks, I really can't do that and expect to finish. So I read the descriptions and reviews of the New Balance MT110.
I immediately took them on a trail run, which I will include lots of pictures from to get my first impression. So here is how I feel so far about this shoe.
Sizing[/b]
I really wish minimalist shoe companies, or shoe companies in general would standardize sizing. In Nikes I'm a 9, some shoes an 8.5, my trail gloves are a tad big in the toe box at 9 (perfect for when my feet swell on long runs though), and I thought I'd ask for a 9 or 8.5. All they had was a 9.5 W. To my surprise, it was prefect as far as length and the width was decent feeling. I would not want it any shorter or tighter in those areas. But the heel was really loose. So I had to tighten them a lot to get a good fit and lace them all the way up. This leads me to my one complaint on the show, which is the tongue. I may just not be used to normal shoe tongues on the run anymore, but I am going to have to figure something out. I am thinking I may tighten them and tight them a knot outside the last hole on each side, then loosely tie the shoe over the tongue. Over all, thought, fit was good. Toebox was a tad smaller than I might like, but the Trail Gloves sometimes feel floppy, So all in all I really like the fit.
Initial Feel[/b]
They are a lot more cushion than I am used to, but that is what I'm looking for. The cushion it does have is really nice though. It is not a stiff cushion that does not allow you to feel anything, but just softens it. I still felt many of the rocks I hit along the way, but in a much more muted way than my other minimalist shoes.
I was able to feel the ground enough to not heel strike, especially with my heel injury, but if one did not have barefoot running in their training prior to this, I think they could easily maintain bad form and cause injury in these shoes. For that reason, if you are looking to convert to being a non-heel striker, I'd wait until you are pretty comfortable with your form for these shoes.
The cushioning was what I needed though. For right now they are great with my injury, but I also think these would be great shoes for really technical terrain for the minimalist runner.
Looks[/b]
I really like them. They come in 3 different colors, but I love the orange, of course. I love the idea of having Keep Up left in the dirt behind me, though in my first ultra, this will probably be a reminder to myself as I complete the final lap!
Overall[/b]
I think this is a great shoe for people like me with minor foot issues to allow them to train and for barefoot runners on really technical terrain that want a shoe option. I would never quit running barefoot all together, or even minimalist, but this is a great addition to my collection. If you are new to barefoot or minimalism, I strongly discourage you from using this shoe. I could also imagine the slight heel to toe drop could be a problem on runs, but much like the Trail Gloves, it is a trail shoe.
For now, here is how I pretty much will be using my shoes:
Until my foot is better: A mix, but a lot of the MT 110s.
Once it is better: As much as I can barefoot.
When I want to do some major speed training or mix it up: VFFs.
When I have a tender foot from a long run: Huaraches (Invisible Shoes).
When I run semi-technical or slightly technical trails that I don't feel good about running barefoot: Trail Gloves
When I run very technical trails: MT 110s.
I'll keep updating of course. Until then, cheers.
Gonna start posting these here too... you know, because I saw someone else do it.
I am not going to get into all of thetechnicalitiesof the shoe. I'll let the pros likehttp://barefootrunninguniversity.com/2011/12/09/new-balance-mt110-review/andhttp://www.irunfar.com/2011/09/new-balance-mt110-review.htmltake care of that. I will just write about why I, a barefoot, and sometimes minimalist runner chose to get such a hefty shoe and my first impressions. Later on I'll update on how I feel about it.
As a frame of reference, I used to run in Nike Triax 13+'s when I kept getting injured, switched to VFFs, then huaraches, then mostly barefoot with Trail Gloves as my primary trail shoe. I LOVE all of those options for their specific utility, but barefoot is still best.
Well, recently, as my previous post describes, I injured my foot and can barely walk barefoot, let alone run. I just hobble around. I did a 19.5 mile run in my Trail Gloves. I love them because I can feel the ground so well in them. But in this instance, it was terrible. It made me alter my strides and instead of my normal mid-foot strike, I was running completely on my toes. I was more sore from this run than I was from the marathon or any other 20 miler I've done recently. So I could have stopped running for the next few weeks, but with the Rocky Raccoon Ultra Marathon in 5 weeks, I really can't do that and expect to finish. So I read the descriptions and reviews of the New Balance MT110.
I immediately took them on a trail run, which I will include lots of pictures from to get my first impression. So here is how I feel so far about this shoe.
Sizing[/b]
I really wish minimalist shoe companies, or shoe companies in general would standardize sizing. In Nikes I'm a 9, some shoes an 8.5, my trail gloves are a tad big in the toe box at 9 (perfect for when my feet swell on long runs though), and I thought I'd ask for a 9 or 8.5. All they had was a 9.5 W. To my surprise, it was prefect as far as length and the width was decent feeling. I would not want it any shorter or tighter in those areas. But the heel was really loose. So I had to tighten them a lot to get a good fit and lace them all the way up. This leads me to my one complaint on the show, which is the tongue. I may just not be used to normal shoe tongues on the run anymore, but I am going to have to figure something out. I am thinking I may tighten them and tight them a knot outside the last hole on each side, then loosely tie the shoe over the tongue. Over all, thought, fit was good. Toebox was a tad smaller than I might like, but the Trail Gloves sometimes feel floppy, So all in all I really like the fit.
Initial Feel[/b]
They are a lot more cushion than I am used to, but that is what I'm looking for. The cushion it does have is really nice though. It is not a stiff cushion that does not allow you to feel anything, but just softens it. I still felt many of the rocks I hit along the way, but in a much more muted way than my other minimalist shoes.
I was able to feel the ground enough to not heel strike, especially with my heel injury, but if one did not have barefoot running in their training prior to this, I think they could easily maintain bad form and cause injury in these shoes. For that reason, if you are looking to convert to being a non-heel striker, I'd wait until you are pretty comfortable with your form for these shoes.
The cushioning was what I needed though. For right now they are great with my injury, but I also think these would be great shoes for really technical terrain for the minimalist runner.Looks[/b]
I really like them. They come in 3 different colors, but I love the orange, of course. I love the idea of having Keep Up left in the dirt behind me, though in my first ultra, this will probably be a reminder to myself as I complete the final lap!
Overall[/b]
I think this is a great shoe for people like me with minor foot issues to allow them to train and for barefoot runners on really technical terrain that want a shoe option. I would never quit running barefoot all together, or even minimalist, but this is a great addition to my collection. If you are new to barefoot or minimalism, I strongly discourage you from using this shoe. I could also imagine the slight heel to toe drop could be a problem on runs, but much like the Trail Gloves, it is a trail shoe.
For now, here is how I pretty much will be using my shoes:
Until my foot is better: A mix, but a lot of the MT 110s.
Once it is better: As much as I can barefoot.
When I want to do some major speed training or mix it up: VFFs.
When I have a tender foot from a long run: Huaraches (Invisible Shoes).
When I run semi-technical or slightly technical trails that I don't feel good about running barefoot: Trail Gloves
When I run very technical trails: MT 110s.
I'll keep updating of course. Until then, cheers.
