Australian Members



Michael Sy said:

Sydney isn't bad. Guys, I am getting barefoot running. Any suggestions on shoes? Does anyone know a good website that has excellent 5,000 metre 12-20 week training programs?

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Don't those two sentences contradict each other?! ;-)


Anyway, going on the assumption that you want a really light pair of running shoes, there are pleeeenty of options out there nowadays as most of the running brands - Nike, Brooks, New Balance, Asics etc have introduced very light shoes with minimal support.

My only experience is with the Nike Free Run range and I love them. I've got a pair of the Nike Free Run 3.0 (I think?) and it has a "sock" rather than a separate tongue, which I really like. (For those of a certain vintage amongst us, they feel similar - albeit lighter - than the famous Nike Huarache running shoes of the early 1990s.)

I've got two friends who run marathons and one of them swears by Brooks and the other loves Asics, so I suppose that the best thing to do is to go to a store that sells shoes for runners and try on quite a few different models.

With regard to the Nike free range, the lower the number, the less the support - so the Free Run 3.0 has a lighter sole and less padding/support than the 4.0, which has less padding/support than the 5.0.

Of course, there are also really lightweight "shoes" like the Vibram Five Fingers, but they are definitely an acquired taste!

I'm no expert, but if you're going from a more heavily-padded, traditional sort of jogging shoe to a light shoe, ease into it. Don't lace on a pair of Free Run 3.0s and go out and run 20km as your feet will not be used to it and you might hurt yourself. Lighter shoes also encourage you to land more on the ball of the foot and thus reduce heel strike, but it can take a little while (and a little bit of muscular discomfort) until you adjust your running/jogging style.

I can't recommend the Saucony Kinvara highly enough. It has a 4mm heel toe drop. It took me a couple of weeks to get fully used to the low drop. Basically, I had slightly tight calves for that period. But all my knee soreness went away and they are now easily the best running shoe I've ever owned.

its horses for courses mate.

I've done 22k in innov8s without an issue, then ive done 5k is asics and nike (and I love my nike!) and come out with crazy shinsplints. It depends on the shape of your foot and your running technique.

I ran 10m for the bus yesterday in my spectators. No issues so far.

very good advice, its all about patience and slow increments.

here is a good link for training schedules:
http://www.runningplanet.com/training/getting-started-barefoot-running-the-bare-basics.html
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/education/barefoot_running_schedule.htm

btw mike did you happen to read born to run by chris mcdougal?



g-banger said:

btw mike did you happen to read born to run by chris mcdougal?

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I'm not Mike, but I'll respond, anyway!

I don't run much, but I enjoy reading James Adams's blog, "Running and Stuff".

He's an Englishman (possibly mad) who has run the Spartathlon (a non-stop, 246km race between Athens and Sparta) multiple times, and who has also run across the US, from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

He also happens to be a very honest and amusing writer and his blog posts give interesting insights into the physical, emotional and intellectual state of a long-distance runner.

just get one of the running apps like 0-5k



Michael Sy said:

Sydney isn't bad. Guys, I am getting barefoot running. Any suggestions on shoes? Does anyone know a good website that has excellent 5,000 metre 12-20 week training programs?

Click to expand...

I've been wearing the 5-fingers for years now. I don't think there is anything else that is as close to actually being barefoot as those. Start slowly, preferably on grass and build up over a couple of weeks. Forget distance to start with. Over 2 or 3 weeks build up from a 10 minute jog to a 40 minute jog. Shins will kill to begin with due to the whole barefoot thing. Think about how your feet fall/land. You are kind of rolling the foot from back to front (heels to toes). But not striking the ground with your heel. That starts to hurt pretty fast.

Once that's out of the way start your program.

Just pulled the trigger on a pair of white Common Projects Achilles....sized down so hopefully they work out.

Trying to casual down my weekend/off duty look which is either training gear or shirt, jeans/chinos, chukka or loafers and sometimes a blazer (which is good, but I am 29 and feel, or am, a bit overdressed in some situations). Seeking the casual/smart off duty mythical middle ground... eg not flipflops and a singlet but not looking out of place, "dressed like an old man" or uncomfortable (have really struggled in the heat this summer).



Pink Socks said:

Just pulled the trigger on a pair of white Common Projects Achilles....sized down so hopefully they work out.

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Sounds good.

Have you thought about some boat/deck shoes, too? I find that they look good with both chinos and jeans (as well as shorts) and are a nice, casual, weekend look, particularly during summer.

Speaking of sneakers, Buttero is a brand that often seems to get overlooked nowadays, with the rise of Common Projects. Buttero have been around for quite a long time and their sneakers are made in the facility as Common Projects (and, of course, Buttero was having their sneakers made there before CP). They make a nice, simple, classic sandshoe in a variety of colours and both calf and suede.

Journeyman said:

Don't those two sentences contradict each other?! ;-)


Anyway, going on the assumption that you want a really light pair of running shoes, there are pleeeenty of options out there nowadays as most of the running brands - Nike, Brooks, New Balance, Asics etc have introduced very light shoes with minimal support.

My only experience is with the Nike Free Run range and I love them. I've got a pair of the Nike Free Run 3.0 (I think?) and it has a "sock" rather than a separate tongue, which I really like. (For those of a certain vintage amongst us, they feel similar - albeit lighter - than the famous Nike Huarache running shoes of the early 1990s.)

I've got two friends who run marathons and one of them swears by Brooks and the other loves Asics, so I suppose that the best thing to do is to go to a store that sells shoes for runners and try on quite a few different models.

With regard to the Nike free range, the lower the number, the less the support - so the Free Run 3.0 has a lighter sole and less padding/support than the 4.0, which has less padding/support than the 5.0.

Of course, there are also really lightweight "shoes" like the Vibram Five Fingers, but they are definitely an acquired taste!

I'm no expert, but if you're going from a more heavily-padded, traditional sort of jogging shoe to a light shoe, ease into it. Don't lace on a pair of Free Run 3.0s and go out and run 20km as your feet will not be used to it and you might hurt yourself. Lighter shoes also encourage you to land more on the ball of the foot and thus reduce heel strike, but it can take a little while (and a little bit of muscular discomfort) until you adjust your running/jogging style.

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Cheers JM. The only race I have to compare to is the City 2 Surf - 14km with hills in 61 minutes. So I am not a novice runner, but I am not competitive. I will definitely ease into the whole barefoot concept. I can really only see myself doing it down at the oval.

Manuhiri said:

I can't recommend the Saucony Kinvara highly enough. It has a 4mm heel toe drop. It took me a couple of weeks to get fully used to the low drop. Basically, I had slightly tight calves for that period. But all my knee soreness went away and they are now easily the best running shoe I've ever owned.

Click to expand...

So we've had Brooks, ASIC, Saucony, Vibrams and Innov8s mentioned. So it is really a preference thing - all of these brands offer good 'barefoot' shoes.

jaypee said:

its horses for courses mate.

I've done 22k in innov8s without an issue, then ive done 5k is asics and nike (and I love my nike!) and come out with crazy shinsplints. It depends on the shape of your foot and your running technique.

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Yeah but Jaypee, you are a X-fit muddaphucker! The innov8s are a pretty sexy shoe.

g-banger said:

very good advice, its all about patience and slow increments.

here is a good link for training schedules:
http://www.runningplanet.com/training/getting-started-barefoot-running-the-bare-basics.html
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/education/barefoot_running_schedule.htm

btw mike did you happen to read born to run by chris mcdougal?

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Cheers for those G-Banger. Have you tried either running planet or Vibram's programs? I was thinking about snagging one of Running Plants, and seeing how it works out.

A friend suggested I read born to run. They were so inspired that they eventually were running 20km in 70 - 80 minutes. Not bad for a girl!



Michael Sy said:

Cheers for those G-Banger. Have you tried either running planet or Vibram's programs? I was thinking about snagging one of Running Plants, and seeing how it works out.

A friend suggested I read born to run. They were so inspired that they eventually were running 20km in 70 - 80 minutes. Not bad for a girl!

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NP buddy - i actually dont run barefoot, but i have had some friends go down that path and all they say is slow slow slow. i have tinkered with the idea, but not yet convinced myself.

yeah its a great book, wow thats bloody awesome! my best is 105mins.



Journeyman said:

Sounds good.

Have you thought about some boat/deck shoes, too? I find that they look good with both chinos and jeans (as well as shorts) and are a nice, casual, weekend look, particularly during summer.

Speaking of sneakers, Buttero is a brand that often seems to get overlooked nowadays, with the rise of Common Projects. Buttero have been around for quite a long time and their sneakers are made in the facility as Common Projects (and, of course, Buttero was having their sneakers made there before CP). They make a nice, simple, classic sandshoe in a variety of colours and both calf and suede.

Click to expand...

Have Sperry deck shoes (and have a pair in one form or another since being 17) but sometimes find they are a little too "Dad on a Public Holiday" for me. I go in and out of liking them and being able to wear them. That said I travelled around the world (in places as varied a Mongolia and Tibet to Canada and even Australia) and they were my main shoe, they can take a beating, are reasonably comfort, clean up easy and are smart enough for most places.

Oh and Michael Sy, I do all of my indoor (and some outdoor) training in barefoot (can be painfully when skipping!), if not I have Vibrams (but will only put them on if I will be out long enough for the hassle of getting them on) and Nikes (in the new free style mentioned above). My wife has New Balance with Vibram thin sole and really likes them.

Footage in Burton Street, Darlo just got a new drop of some nice tanner goods belts and sun-glass cases if anyone cares

Pink Socks said:

Just pulled the trigger on a pair of white Common Projects Achilles....sized down so hopefully they work out.

Click to expand...

If you have wide feet at all, I do not recommend sizing down like many suggest.

I'm a true UK8/US9 and I wear a 41 in Suede, unlined CP's, but a 42 in the padded/lined Achilles.