[freshhawk]

I thought the barefoot/minimal part was not the focus of what we are doing wrong (I only run in Vibrams, it's plainly much better but you have to start incredibly slow and work up to it).

His point about what we're doing wrong was treating it as a speed based sport or a chore to do to be healthy, with a bunch of gadgets to mediate the experience, when it should be a relaxing, fun meditative practice where you disconnect from everyday stresses. I find that to be a very good point and I'm surprised people didn't find it clear. It explains the treadmill hate as well.

[rosser]

I'll own having missed that as well, or at least overlooking it in my having read the "wrong" as being about the how, and not the why.

I think the gadgets and accessories can be helpful, but absolutely: they're not the point. They, and the speed-sport or health-chore nature he decries aren't relevant to why I run (ran), so I paid them less mind.

Thanks for the perspective!

[freshhawk]

I still mostly run with headphones playing an audiobook honestly. When I don't I really appreciate just how focused and serene the experience is. I guess it's just a habit I can't break, and that occasional bad run is much worse without a distraction.

Seems a lot of people missed it, so maybe I just caught it because it's so close to my opinion.

[nostromo95]

>I only run in Vibrams, it's plainly much better

Let me know the next time you see Asbel Kiprop, Eliud Kipchoge or Evan Jager wearing a pair of those.

[nextos]

Marathon shoes are much closer to Vibrams than to regular running shoes. They just have a bit of extra cushion to make a long asphalt running session manageable.

In fact, running on Vibrams on sand or grass is very similar to using cleats on the track. I say this as a ex-competitive runner.

[pg314]

> Marathon shoes are much closer to Vibrams than to regular running shoes.

No, they aren't. Track spikes maybe, marathon shoes definitely not.

Have a look at the Adidas Adizero Adios [1], a shoe that Kimetto ran in to set the world record. It has a heel of 26.7 mm, and a heel to toe drop of 9.3 mm, and is quite stiff. A Vibram has maybe 4 mm of rubber, no drop, and is very floppy.

Yes, they are less cushioned than the average running shoe, but they are very far removed from Vibrams. I say this as an amateur runner, but I regularly run 100+ mile weeks.

[1] http://www.runnersworld.com/shoe/adidas-adizero-adios-3-mens

[freshhawk]

Since an actual competitive runner responded I'll skip that part.

I'll just point out that I agree with Vybarr about what the reasons to run are and why one should do it. I really hated running until I tried those shoes (very minimal shoes in general, nothing special about Vibrams specifically unless you are out in nature on very uneven terrain and need separate toes to help balance), now it is a joyful experience that I look forward to. There is a reason that owners got so excited about those things that it started to annoy people. I'll stand by my statement, and if I ever feel the need to compete at long distance then I'll wear whatever shoes get that job done the best.

[exhilaration]

I Googled the first name you posted and he also appears to be wearing minimalistic shoes, looks like Nike Frees?

http://www.all-athletics.com/files/imagecache/photos_big/pho...

[nostromo95]

Those are running spikes. Runners use them in track/XC for races/intense workouts. No one wears them for all or even close to the majority of their running. They're also very stiff in the exact same way that feet aren't.