One of the first things I tell new runners to do, is to have a gait analysis done. I’ve had several done before, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to have a specialized gait analysis done by Brooks at REI‘s SoHo store. (p.s. As your body and feet change, it’s not a bad idea to have a gait analysis done every time you’re ready to purchase a new pair of wheels. That way you know you’re ALWAYS getting the best shoe for you).
What is a gait analysis? This is the first step in getting properly fitted. A gait analysis determines how you run – whether you overpronate, underpronate, or are neutral. To see exactly how my feet land, the Brooks shoe expert had me remove my shoes and run barefoot. This allowed him to get the perfect view of my foot striking the treadmill. For an even better view, he video taped me running.
If you know anything about me, you know I’m a huge fan of Brooks. I’ve tried other brands and they just never seemed to stand up to my beloved Brooks Ghosts. Trying new shoes is scary. No one wants to drop $100 on shoes for them to ultimately fail the test. But when the folks at Mizuno insisted I try their new Wave Rider 15, I was up for the challenge. While Ashley consistently raved about the awesomeness of Mizuno, I was still apprehensive.
I haven’t been too interested in the minimalist running shoe trend because I LOVE my Asics and Mizunos. Plus, joining the minimalist or barefoot movement feels like such a big commitment to me because you really have to take the time to transition and give your body time to adjust to a new form. So I was a little hesitant when I received a pair of New Balance Minimus running shoes in the mail a few weeks ago. But I decided to go ahead and give them a try. For starters, the NB Minimus shoes score major points for their looks – you guys know I’m a sucker for attractive looking running shoes. Before I jump into my review, here are a few of Minimus’ key features:
Drop – Drop is the difference between heel height and toe height. All NB Minimus shoes have a 4mm drop which provides a more natural foot position than traditional shoes.
Width – The wider forefoot in NB Minimus allows your foot to expand naturally on impact.
Height – To minimize distance from foot to ground, NB Minimus has no insert, minimal midsoles & outsoles, and is engineered to encourage a midfoot strike.
Weight – Because NB Minimus contains only what is necessary, it’s almost 50% lighter than traditional lightweight shoes.
I’ve been running in the shoes for almost a months now. Here is my review:
1. Arch & Sole Support – I like Asics and Mizunos because they have a lot of support. So it was initially rather awkward to wear “flat” shoes. What I mean by flat is that the drop, or difference between the heel and toe height on these shoes is 4mm. To put this in perspective, the drop on most running shoes is 12mm. So, you can see there was a huge adjustment to make. According to NB the short drop “provides a more neutral foot position than traditional shoes.” After a few runs, I have come to appreciate the short drop. I’ve also adjusted to feeling the ground more and running more on my toes as opposed to flat footed. 2. Midfoot Strike – I like that the shoes make you alter your form and run with a midfoot strike. New Balance believes that midfoot striking helps to minimize injuries. According to their website, “Landing on the midfoot, rather than the ankle, not only reduces impact on the knee – a common source of pain and injury – but also works with the other principles to encourage forward momentum for the body.” I can vouch for the fact that these shoes help reduce injuries. I sometimes have nagging overuse pains in my knee, and I noticed that I have less knee pain and less tension in my achilles when I run with these shoes. To learn more about New Balance’s Good Form initiative, click here.
3. Snug Fit – NB says that the Minimus shoes are designed to be worn with or without socks. I’m not sure that I agree – they definitely fit like they are designed to be worn WITHOUT socks. And to be honest, if you try to wear them with socks it’s a very snug fit. I don’t like running without socks because my feet blister easily. So the fact that I can’t wear socks is the only real strike I have against the shoes.
Although I can’t compare the Minimus to other minimalist shoes, because these are my first pair. If I had to grade them, I would give them a B+. The shoes have made for a comfortable running experience, and they live up to the injury reducing hype that most minimalist shoes tout. I think these shoes have been a great introduction into the minimal running experience. I’m not sure if I will completely pack away my Asics and Mizunos, but for now I’m keeping these NBs in the rotation for my shorter runs.
Have you guys tried other minimalist running shoes? What are you thoughts? I would also like to hear from the bare foot runners and vibram wearers as well.
Before I started running, I would walk into any ol’ Lady Footlocker to purchase what I thought were good running shoes. The advice I typically got was from sales associates who were hired to sell all types of shoes and they typically didn’t know enough about running to make a solid recommendation. It wasn’t until I started running consistently (and had my first encounter with runner’s knee), that I found my way to a running boutique, Fleet Feet in Montclair, New Jersey. They were able to fit me properly, school me on the ins and outs of running and made me feel comfortable enough to ask questions. They definitely set the bar and my expectations of what a running store should offer are pretty cut and dry.
We’ve said it time and time again. Before you step foot onto the pavement, you should make sure that you have the perfect shoes. This doesn’t mean picking up the latest edition of Nike’s Air Max, but visiting a running boutique in your area to find out exactly what you need. But, there’s a few things you should look for in a running store. After all, all stores aren’t created equal. Some are more knowledgeable than others, some are more friendly than others and some have more inventory than others. Here’s a few things you should consider when you’re choosing your local running resource.
I started running in 2010 to complete an item on my bucket 30 list: Finish the Peachtree Road Race. Prior to this, I thought running was only something to do when being chased by a wild, rabid animal or the cops. But now running is an essential part of my sanity and health routine! A friend took note of my running activity and asked for advice as she began running. I didn’t think I had much to offer; however, I came up with 13 tips that every beginner runner should know and I’d thought I’d share it with all of you – in case this may influence you to get off the couch and on the streets! See below for my tips! And feel free to leave tips for me and others!
Thanks to the good folks at New Balance, I was able to test drive their new RevLite 890 shoe from the company’s spring line. As I mentioned before, I’ve only worn one other brand of shoe besides Brooks and they were from New Balance. As a Brooks junkie, I was amped to try something a little different, and quite frankly, something a little more stylish.
