How To Transition To Lightweight Trail Running Shoes While Reducing Risk
Posted by David Hanenburg on 11 Sep 2009 at 1:17 pm | Tagged as: trail running or ultrarunning
The minimalist running shoe approach is sprinting forward with a full head of stream.
If you wish to go down that path, Travis at Run the Ultras put together a very cool video podcast that explains his progressive transition from the supportive, cushy shoes to more lightweight, minimalistic trail running shoes.
Most importantly, it’s working, at least for him, with no show-stopping injuries but the transition has not happened overnight and it is still occurring many months after initially beginning the journey.
I like Travis’s approach as pain-in-the-ass it seems.
The basic approach :
- Integrate new gradually lighter, more minimalistic shoe during a weekly shorter run.
- Allow for a period of adaptation.
- If adaptation seems successful, integrate the lighter shoe into longer runs.
- Allow for a period of adaptation.
- If desired, repeat step 1 with a more minimalistic shoe.
You can see the progressive loop created here until you reach your desired shoe. This all assumes your body is able to go where your mind desires.
Some will succeed transitioning to more lightweight/minimalistic trail running shoes. There will also be casualties.
Either way, there will probably be many new shoes hitting the market which may spur some innovation from the trail running shoes companies.
Do you have an interest in going more primal? If so, why?
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David – EnduranceBuzz.com
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