A Passion for Running

Comment by Adeel

Tuesday August 02, 2005 @

Frig, most of that is bullshit. No one really runs 160 miles a week to begin with when they’re running 36-minute 10ks, and none of them do it in the same damn pair of five-ounce spikes.

There’s merit to running in flats, but any runner worth his salt (say, under 6-minute pace for a 10k) already runs a couple of days a week in flats anyway.

Its significance is vastly overblown, as is that of “support” in a running shoe. Most injuries aren’t caused by shoes anyway, and the ones that are tend to be the result of old shoes.

I have less injuries than any of my customers, and I don’t even buy real running shoes, just generic ones from Sportchek or Athlete’s World.

Comment by Mark

Tuesday August 02, 2005 @

Adeel,

All I can say is I found it interesting. I am not a 100 MPW runner. Never have been – although I’d like to work my mileage up to between 50 or even 70 by doing some runs to and from work.

AND I’m not a fast runner (you know that!) by most measures.

So, in many ways I can’t relate to what’s being said in that forum BUT it just struck me that many of the posters there embrace alternatives to the crap the big shoe companies feed us. Namely, that we don’t need a lot of structure to run a lot of miles without injury.

Which brings me to the point where I totally agree with you. I don’t think running well has a DAMN bit to do with the shoes you wear. Hmmm…let me rephrase that to say you should avoid shoes that screw you up!

I just like promoting something other than what we hear constantly from the major shoe companies and the peddlars of those $200 things some people pay to have inserted into their shoes.

And we’ll see how I do since right from the beginning I’ve calle this foray into Pose and BF running an “experiment” even though it is an experiment I’m betting (hoping?) pays off.

And for what it’s worth Adeel. I respect you because you seem to go against the grain and think a bit outside the box. (was that the sound of someone kissing your ass?!)

Comment by Adeel

Tuesday August 02, 2005 @

You know, if you get into running outside the viewpoint of the specialty store, a lot of crap like stability shoes, dri-fit shirts, socks and whathaveyou will be foreign to you.

No one that I run with actually buys into any of that crap. Racing shoes are something that ninety percent of people on Lets Run are familiar with anyway, many have had spikes longer than they’ve had proper trainers. Coming from that background, being told that you need a piece of plastic to prevent injuries is a bit perplexing since you haven’t really been injured that often…except for when you acted like a dumbass.

Also, a lot of those guys are college students like me and have a financial stake in not paying $140 for a pair of shoes that will last three months (if that).

Comment by Mark

Tuesday August 02, 2005 @

You know, before I posted this I wondered if you were in that thread with a handle of Running Store? I don’t want to out you and will delete this if I’m right. Just wondering!

Comment by Adeel

Wednesday August 03, 2005 @

Wow. I thought I was, but I’m not. Besides, my collection of peeves (assuming that’s the thread you meant) can be found on my blog on an almost-daily basis.