Racing flats...yes? no? (Read 1078 times)

How many here actually have specific shoes for racing as opposed to training? If so- would you run a marathon in them? What's the consensus? I'm certainly going to rock what I'm used to in my race this week, just because I've never run a marathon, and don't want to risk doing something different that screws stuff up. I've always wondered about peoples opinions on wearing racing flats and if there's a general limit on distance before people start wanting more support....I'm sure ability level factors in greatly here as well. your thoughts?

According to Pete Pfitzinger in Advanced Marathoning, good candidates for using racing flats in a marathon would be: Men: faster than 2:40, under 160 lbs. Women: faster than 2:55, under 140 lbs For the rest of us, Pete predicts that the weight trade-off isn't worth the loss of support and increased risk of injury. Of course, as Pete explains, these are general guidelines only, and each individual runner has to determine what works best for them. Also worth noting is the fact that many shoe companies these days have a "hybrid" racing shoe: something lighter than their normal trainers, but with more support than a true racing flat. Even among daily trainers, there are shoes at the lighter end of the spectrum. I think the average runner would better served looking at these kinds of alternatives rather than a true racing flat.

Also worth noting is the fact that many shoe companies these days have a "hybrid" racing shoe: something lighter than their normal trainers, but with more support than a true racing flat. Even among daily trainers, there are shoes at the lighter end of the spectrum. I think the average runner would better served looking at these kinds of alternatives rather than a true racing flat.

This is what I run the bulk of my miles in. I bought my first pair of lightweight stability shoes sort of on a whim with the intent to use them for shorter runs and races...then I found they suited me so well that I kept coming back to them. MikeyMike convinced me to wear them for a HM when I'd not run more than 6 miles at a pop in them...and they felt great. Wore the same model shoe for my first marathon. When I wear a more traditional midweight shoe I find that I tend to land harder on my heels--the wear patterns on my standard trainers vs. my lightweight ones shows this to be true (and shoes with bulkier heels tend to encourage over-striding for me). I also don't do well in shoes with relatively inflexible forefoots (forefeet?), which most midweight trainers have. I start feeling it in my peroneal tendon area on the outside of my feet...as if my foot needs to flex more and miles of "fighting the shoe" starts to give me problems. Because I'm landing more on the front of my heels, rather than the backs, my landings are softer. I've never felt that the lightweight trainers aren't cushioned enough--quite the opposite, really. Since switching to lighter-weight shoes I've tried to go back to standard trainers a couple of times, but I keep coming back to the lightweight ones. The only disadvantage I find is that they may not last as long for a lot of people. Of course, it's a YMMV sort of thing. But definitely give different sorts of shoes a try...gradually working the mileage up. Maybe you won't like lighter shoes, but maybe you will. You'll never know unless you try 'em.

If so- would you run a marathon in them? ?

I've done it. For me it was a really bad idea - first marathon, 220 pounds <50 mpw peak training. they were light weight trainers, not flats. i might give it another shot if i can get down around 165. mpw="" peak="" training.="" they="" were="" light="" weight="" trainers,="" not="" flats.="" i="" might="" give="" it="" another="" shot="" if="" i="" can="" get="" down="" around=""></50 mpw peak training. they were light weight trainers, not flats. i might give it another shot if i can get down around 165.>

skootr, I tend to run a bit faster (maybe 5-10 sec/mile) in lightweight trainers, maybe to justify wearing such bright colored shoes . Anyway if you train in normal 12-13 oz shoes, the performance trainers that typically weight 8-10 oz will give a slight boost on race day, maybe jsut psychological, but it's there for me. I haven't run logner than a half marathon, but I'd be cautious about wearing the lighter shoes for longer distances especially if that would be the first time I ever run the distance.

I like having special 'race shoes', not only does it probably help by a few seconds per mile but there is a psychological benefit to putting them on if you just use them for races and speed workouts. I used Asics Magic racers and then after they discontinued them, I switched to the Hyper Speed. Both are lightweight racing flats with fairly minimal support. Until recently I didn't do much training in them but kept them for race day. I have done five half marathons in the Magic Racers and three in the Hyper Speed. I'd assumed that I would wear them for a marathon too but comments in other threads on this board, plus experience in longer runs as my legs get tired is leading me to think I'd be better off getting some lightweight trainers (thinking of the Asics Speedstars). I've also started to train in the flats more to get used to them for distance. In fact I've been trying to get in my midweek medium long run in flats and if I get the Speedstars I'll probably switch to using them for that. Good luck with your fist marathon (you think people are going to let you forget that?) John