Racing Flats for Flat Feet (Read 2931 times)

I have flat feet. I race and do speedwork in Axiom 2s, but don't use them as my everyday shoe for the reasons stated above. For day to day runs, I wear shoes that have more stability. I very much like the Axiom 2s, but resist the temptation to do all my runs in them.

From what I hear, flats only make a measurable difference if you're racing at a really good/sub elite/elite level. For most folks, it won't matter too much one way or the other. Second, I guess it would depend on the distance. You'd probably come away sore but suffering no long term damage running a 5k or 5 mile in flats. Running a marathon in flats might end your running days. Orthotics might be an answer, but I'm not sure how well they work in flats. Never tried it nor known anyone that has. Maybe someone else can help out with that one.

You must be thinking about distance spikes, the traction only makes a difference at the elite level for distance events. Racing flats (when compared to xbox-sized trainers) are worth about 5-6 seconds a mile for a 20 minute 5ker. My podiatrist, who prescribed me orthotics, and was treating my current (at the time) case of plantar fasciitis in both feet, said that racing in racing flats would not signiricantly impede my recovery or cause additional injury, and he absolutely said that there was no point in putting orthotics in racing flats. He also wears racing flats for marathons.

I've heard good things about the Mizuno Wave Elixer 3's and the New Balance 903's, but have not tried either of them

I recently bought a pair of the Mazuno Wave Elixer 4's and raced a half marathon in them last weekend. They worked great and I plan to use them for Boston. They are more of a lightweight performance shoe (with some stability), but heavier than pure racing flats. I like lighter shoes for racing, but there is a trade-off as the distance gets longer. If I use a pure racing flat, my legs fatigue earlier which more than offsets the benefit of the lighter shoe. I have no problem, however, using a pure racing flat (one that has some stability) for 5k's and 10k's. Besides the slight benefit of a lighter shoe, I believe there is a psychological benefit. They help get your mind into racing. As for training, I use the lighter shoes more sparingly. It is all about cumulative mileage and stress on the legs, I like to train in a stability shoe like the Asics 2130 for most of my runs. They put less stress on my legs, and I find my legs recover quicker. If I were 20 (like PurpleHaze), instead of 60, I might look at it differently.

My vote - you would be nuts to run/race in racing flats. Your profile says that, "my dad had 5 bypasses done in 2006 at the age of 48 and the doctor said it's hereditary." You are running for the ***LONG**** term. Don't even think about doing something that could lead to injury. I have flat feet, I am approaching 60 and there is no way I would run/race in flats.

This is my vote also. No one has feet any flatter than mine. My physycal therapist used me as an example of the worst he's seen at a seminar he was leading. I have been fighting runners knee since August. It started because I used a stability shoe instead of my Books Beast motion control shoe for 18 miles. I have not gotten rid of the runners knee yet. I'm not syaing this would happen you, but I would not take the chance.

Don't even think about doing something that could lead to injury.

Like, say, training and racing at a high level? Look, nobody has put forth any evidence that doing *some* training or racing in flats will increase one's risk of injury at all. I don't have flat feet but my own conclusion is that doing some running in racing flats actually makes me less injury prone as it strengthens my feet and lower legs. The OP may have started running for the health benefits but he runs primarily to train to RACE, now not just for the health benefits. Otherwise he'd be jogging around at about half the weekly mileage he is now and not doing things like mile repeats on snowy roads. Racing flats do make you faster, maybe only 2-3 seconds per mile but makers may be at that point in his running where 2-3 seconds per mile matters. And I don't think they increase your risk of injury at all--they possibly decrease it.