I was active on this site a few years ago, but fell away. The short version of a long story is that after transitioning to full-on barefoot running, I decided it was not for me. I began to run exclusively in minimal shoes such as the New Balance Minimus and Merrell Vapor Glove. I did fairly well, up to running a half-marathon. Very recently I starting running again after a long break. Something I saw or read rekindled my interest in barefoot running. Since my mileage was low, I decided it would be a good time to again try the VFFs I wore while transitioning to barefoot and since I had been in minimal shoes so long, the transition wouldn’t take long. I started to build some (small) mileage in the VFFs, not thinking much about them other than remembering how much I liked them. They are very comfortable and apparently my form in them is good. I ran, what for me is, a crazy-fast mile-and-a-half in them this week.
Recently, I read or heard somewhere that one should rotate their running shoes. I know, I know, you real barefooters don’t understand this. Anyway, I decided to “rotate” to the Merrells after running in the VFFs. I was quite surprised as to how much they—the most “minimal” shoes I have ever owned—changed my foot strike. Within a few steps, I realized how heavily I was heel-striking and had to consciously and continuously change form to accommodate that. This isn’t an issue for the VFFs or I would have certainly felt it on my crazy-fast mile-and-a-half.
The moral of this long-winded post is to say that even “minimal” shoes significantly change running form.
Recently, I read or heard somewhere that one should rotate their running shoes. I know, I know, you real barefooters don’t understand this. Anyway, I decided to “rotate” to the Merrells after running in the VFFs. I was quite surprised as to how much they—the most “minimal” shoes I have ever owned—changed my foot strike. Within a few steps, I realized how heavily I was heel-striking and had to consciously and continuously change form to accommodate that. This isn’t an issue for the VFFs or I would have certainly felt it on my crazy-fast mile-and-a-half.
The moral of this long-winded post is to say that even “minimal” shoes significantly change running form.
