Platypus' Beginners Guide to Running

He's mentioned that because Nate's training log was filled with "interesting" views about nutrition. Rather than drag it up here I suggest you read the log :p
 
IndigoGorilla said:
They don't race in shoes just because that's who pays the bills. :rolleyes:

I understand the points you're making don't get me wrong but to go all out against shoes is just silly to be honest. And shoes do help, it's not just all marketing hype. But then it's about making sure it's the right type of shoe.

I get that barefoot/minimalist running is your "thing" but it's not an approach that suits everybody.

And anything said by someone who eats 30 bananas a day should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Click to expand...

Abebe Bikila won the Rome Olympic marathon barefoot. 4 years later he won the Tokyo marathon using shoes.

A few months ago I ran a 21:29 5K barefoot and a 21:28 5K two weeks later in Nike running shoes.

Ooh getting personal are we. Well Yohan Blake eats 16 ripe bananas everyday so he must be doing something right. Usian bolt says "A good diet is essential, for me it's fruit every time". Find the video of Usain Bolts Dad talking about "my son's secret weapon is bananas and yams!"

They know the importance of sugar intake and how it benefits hemoglobin production. Higher your hemo, the faster you will run, all things equal. Simple sugars help recovery. The antioxidants in fruit also speed it up. Keeps excess inflammation at bay so you weigh less than you would otherwise on equal cals and training.

GbKgwWl.jpg


xdcx said:
Nate:
Absolutely ridiculous statements being made.

The VAST majority of elites and sub elites get given shoes and training gear for free, they make NO money from their shoe sponsor, simply get given free gear. So they are not wearing their sponsors shoes to pay the bills, they need to win races to pay the bills, and if they were running around barefoot they would not be winning races. Mo Farah is an example of someone making money from sponsors, Paula Radcliffe was another, worldwide known superstars. Look at the 5 guys finishing behind Mo in races, they are not getting paid to wear Nike gear. Period. Appearance fee and race winnings is what pays the bills.

The truth of the matter is that yes, fast runners do train barefoot in the form of strides on the grass, a 20min exercise once or twice a week. They don't head out running about on concrete for a 5 mile run in their bare feet. Well, because that's stupid and they will get hurt. It is not possible to be a fast runner without posessing good efficient running form. All of these guys running fast around the track up on their toes and landing forefoot train in cushioned shoes for their easier runs and very minimal racing flats/spikes for their sessions and racing.

Go watch some videos of the massive training groups in Iten, Kenya. 100+ Kenyans, unheard of, never been out of Kenya capable of <29min 10K just training to try and make their big break in life and get a race and sponsor. NONE of them in bare feet.

I'll get Bekele on the phone just now and explain to him the only reason he is injured all the time is because he wears shoes. Seriously....


IG:
You are a gorilla by name dude, unsure if you are poking fun because 30 bananas a day is ineferior to your gorilla banana consumption? :P :P
Click to expand...

I'm not saying they get paid to wear gear, I'm saying they wear gear to get paid and winning pays the bills when it's your job to win. It's pointless to use barefoot in a race as it will not make you faster than wearing a lightweight flexible flat and when you are competing to win, you don't need to worry about stepping on road debris. I'd hate to travel all the way from Kenya for 9 hours to a running race and lose because I had to waste time scanning the floor for debris.

I would wear shoes too if I was training and competing on that level of intensity. It's hard to run fast barefoot on the road, your form has to be amazing not to get blisters. If your feet aren't moving at the same rate as the ground, say hello to friction and a month off running barefoot because of a blister. That's why I wear the Five Fingers, for when my soles are recovering, or speedwork where I want to go faster than I've learned.

Those African kids run barefoot from birth because they can't afford shoes. They aren't training for a race at that age, they just run to get around and barefoot is all you need for easy running at low mileage. They have the best base phase you could ever ask for, their soles sensory nerves have been their best running coach all those years. Who needs a shoe with a computer inside when you have nerve endings and a brain to develop proprioception.

I'm not exactly anti-shoe, not every run needs to be about learning but this guy just wants to do some light running around the park. He needn't worry about all the shoe choices, just grab any minimal kicks and go have fun. You can buy some running shoes and hope they will prevent knee injury or you can run barefoot/minimal and let your soles coach you with their built in feedback.

Either way you do it, shoes aren't going to help you. Unless you need to train high mileage and run as fast as you can on race day because it's your job to win.

It's not stupid to go for a 5 mile run on concrete - if you've been running barefoot for 6 months and that's how far you can run with good form. Now you're 100% right if a coach sends his runners out onto the streets with zero barefoot experience, that IS stupid. They would be cut up for sure. Running barefoot is completely different than running in shoes and takes months, years of practice. That's why coach just sends them out on the grass to practice their form so they don't get hurt.

The rougher the ground the better it is to learn how to run. I can run barefoot for 3 miles on rough asphalt and it's no problem now, it's an absolute joy, like running on clouds. My strides are completely silent. When I run in shoes it's very hard to run lightly, it's faster but a little boring compared to barefoot.

FrenchTart said:
He's mentioned that because Nate's training log was filled with "interesting" views about nutrition. Rather than drag it up here I suggest you read the log :p
Click to expand...

For the record that log is old. My diet is simple though, I eat whole, ripe, raw, fresh food. Nobody disagrees that whole foods are the healthiest options. Let's just say I get more than my "five a day". I eat 5000 calories a day, bananas are about 2000 calories only. No big deal. I smash all my macro/micro nutrients for the day. I eat zero (and I mean zero) man-made, canned, bottled, processed, refined foods but some think my diet is crap. Crazy world we live in.

I've seen videos of the Kenyans training in shoes and I would too, because I wouldn't be able to keep up with the training mileage everyday barefoot.

Like I say, I'd wear shoes to train in but I'm never going to be running at elite speeds so I don't need to. Neither does this dude running casual 45 minutes around the park. Don't worry about it!

As for Bekele, I never said he gets injured because of shoes. I meant he gets injured despite the fact he wears shoes. I actually wouldn't recommend wearing Five Fingers to a new runner because too many people get stress fractures doing too much too soon and not learning to run barefoot first. Get some racing flats cheap on ebay, they're always going 2nd hand hardly worn.

Money/resource saving tip - you can wear your shoes down way more than you think, this alone will save you thousands of pounds in your lifetime).

As long as the shoe is comfortable, don't worry about it! If you wanna wear shoes that's cool, just don't expect them to prevent any injuries. All those elite runners get injuries wearing shoes, some even need surgery, just Google Paula Radcliffe surgery, gruesome photos. Haile Gebrselassie injured his Achilles tendon and had surgery. This is all in spite of the shoes.

Don't beat your legs up training too hard unless it's your job. Again Haile Gebrselassie got that Achilles injury from his very fast and short training sessions. He had to forever swear off short intervals, a type of training he had relied on to develop his speed throughout his career. He also ran barefoot (his own words).

Don't waste money worrying about what shoe to get, waste time working on your form because time is the most expensive thing you own and is worth more than £50.

You can push your body and break it but it's not shoes that protect your body, it's you and you only.
 
Last edited:
I'll keep out of the discussion on barefoot running, cos I'm amazing at getting injured no matter what I do.

Physio has diagnosed me as having strained my medial collateral ligament. Pain in the calf is a reaction to this, its tightening in an attempt to stabilise my knee because the MCL hasn't been. The break from all running has allow my calves to sort themselves out, and so long as I don't push it I should be ok.

Candidates for causing the strain are the Leg Press machine (I really should make a move over to free weights) or climbing. I suspect leg press, as that was a new addition to my training this year.

So massage, ultrasound, and rest. Hopefully that'll be sorted and I can start planning for a 10k early in the summer.
 
I try to run on toes/front of foot as much as possible but my calves don't really feel any burn, they do feel it a bit afterwards but it's mainly my quads that feel it whilst running.
 
Gents, been coerced into doing my first triathlon, only sprint distance so nothing too serious, and it's not until August.

But, I've never been running before, so I'm in the market for some running shoes.

I'm a pretty big guy, a bit flat footed (or maybe just a low arch?) and I over pronate, so from what little research I've a stability or motion control shoe seems the best?

Anyone have any experience or recommendations of a shoe that fits the bill? Budget around £50 but willing to stretch if needs be!
 
Last edited:
gazareth said:
I finished Couch to 5K a month ago by doing my local Parkrun in 33:41. I just did my second Parkrun in 27:05. Pleased with the progress - not bad for a prop forward.
Click to expand...

semi-pro waster said:
At this rate of progress you'll be finished in about 15 minutes by your fourth run. :p :D

But more seriously well done, it's good to see the progress and long may it continue. I'm actually just back from my local Parkrun, it's only the second time I've volunteered but it was good fun apart from my hands starting to go a little bit numb. It's great that so many people get themselves up on a Saturday morning for a run and to meet friends.
Click to expand...


Am now up to 24:47. It's starting to hurt to run faster whereas I think before it was just a mental exercise to keep myself moving along to the finish. Curious to know where I will plateau! Am running a 10K in May, hope to go sub-52.
 
Reading half marathon yesterday inspired me to get out and do my first long run of the year. 10k in 50:10, which is a good place to start from I think (48 something was my PB last year).

Cycling to work this morning wasn't fun though :D
 
Dunks said:
Gents, been coerced into doing my first triathlon, only sprint distance so nothing too serious, and it's not until August.

But, I've never been running before, so I'm in the market for some running shoes.

I'm a pretty big guy, a bit flat footed (or maybe just a low arch?) and I over pronate, so from what little research I've a stability or motion control shoe seems the best?

Anyone have any experience or recommendations of a shoe that fits the bill? Budget around £50 but willing to stretch if needs be!
Click to expand...

What size shoe are you? Don't mind having a look for you. :)

Startfitness.co.uk and Sportsshoes.com usually have some decent shoes availible for a reasonable amount. Can be limited in certain sizes though.
 
Steedie said:
Going to start doing some running first thing as part of my show prep. 45 minute running around the local parks.

Can anyone recommend a decent running shoe? Budget is about £50, I had my running style checked at a shop and they said I have the very slightest pronation but not enough not to wear neutral running shoes.

I'm literally clueless when it comes to what to buy, all I need is something that will help protect my knees, other than that I'm all ears

Thanks guys
Click to expand...

If you can stretch the budget slightly then Nike Pegasus are usually available for around £60 or sometimes a little more. I over-pronate slightly but have had 5/6 pairs of Pegasus now and they've never caused a problem for me.

What size are you and I'll have a look around for you. :)
 
Dunks said:
Yup, I did notice that, but think I'll manage the difference :)

Although might have a look to see what £70 gets me elsewhere!
Click to expand...

sportsshoes.com - They have 15% off absolutely everything right now. I had the code in my emails, and deleted it completely by mistake but I am sure someone on this thread could get it for you! SS is already one of the cheapest, with 15% off you could get current line shoes at a very healthy price indeed.
 
Quite happy with myself. Got my 5k down to 21:01 this week and last week saw my 10k down to 45:02. I had aimed at 21 and 45 so what's a couple seconds between friends.

Took a new route tonight, mostly ok but had to move to some un-even ground and pulled a horrendous stitch in the process, thought I was done with those months ago when I watch my food/water intake before running.

Do need some shoe recommendations, also a size 12 like Dunks and my current addidas are pretty comftable and light but prone to blistering at around the 5+ mile range. Nothing serious that stops me running but something I want to limit.
 
Well done, always good to see progress. And as you say, what's a few seconds between friends. :)

Not sure on what shoes to recommend but could the blistering not be due to the shoes rubbing due to size as well more than the actual model of shoe?

And if anyone wants it here's the 15% off code for Sportsshoes.com

TF153 - Expires 15th April
 
Last edited:
IndigoGorilla said:
Well done, always good to see progress. And as you say, what's a few seconds between friends. :)

Not sure on what shoes to recommend but could the blistering not be due to the shoes rubbing due to size as well more than the actual model of shoe?

And if anyone wants it here's the 15% off code for Sportsshoes.com
Click to expand...

You make a good case and I suddenly feel really stupid. I just compared some shoes UA shoes I got in the US which I switched over to the Addidas in October. UA is an American 13 where as the Addidas are American 12/5.....that might make a difference. Both are listed as a UK 12, but I guess thats enough of a difference?

It's also been better since I switch socks that are slightly thicker. Off to sportshoes.com I thinK!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom