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Competitive Running

Jimmy J.
Jimmy J. Sendmail

How Many Wear Racing Flats?

posted about 2 years ago | Report

Do you have specific racing flats for your races, or do you wear your training shoes for both?

I usually train and race in my Asics DS Trainers. Light Weight, and great for any distance. I did get a pair of Nike Air Pegasus for Christmas, so I can use these for some of my training, and save my Asics for my long runs, and races if I choose to enter any in 2010.

I like the light weight shoes for the longer runs. They feel great on my feet. I've never tried the Nike Air Pegasus, but I plan to try them out on January 1, 2010 if nothing happens. Probably an easy 4-miler around town.

Which racing flats do you have?
God Bless All.+
Jimmy J. ( =

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19 posts

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  • Bill S.PRO
    Bill S. Sendmail

    I haven't worn racers since college... they tend to have a low heel lift and little or no arch support. Come to think of it, I just described the VFF...

    posted about 2 years ago

  • Chaz H.
    Chaz H. Sendmail

    Hey Jimmy-

    Yeh, I always race in comps... Right now I have a pair of Asics Gell HyperSpeed something-or-others... They weigh next to nothing and are good for anything from 5K up to and including a marathon... I ran my 2.49 in those last year.

    I only wear my comps for racing though... I know some folks like to train in comps occasionally... But I like to save then for race day... It's an emotional/psychological thing more than anything else.

    I had a pair of DS trainers last year... Nice shoe, very light, but I wouldn't consider that a racing shoe by any stretch. I also thought they didn't last very long... I thing I barely squeezed 350 outta mine...

    posted about 2 years ago

  • John P.
    John P. Sendmail

    I have a pair of AdiZero Mana. Those are marketed as long-distance racing flats, but they're really on the border between racing flats and very lightweight road trainers. They have a little more support and cushioning than other racing flats I've worn.

    Anyway, I wear them for races of up to about 8K to 10K. I'm so slow at anything longer than that, I doubt there's much advantage in wearing something other than the shoes in which I do most of my training.

    posted about 2 years ago

  • D Anthony C.
    D Anthony C. Sendmail

    I've moved into some training and always racing in the XC racers from Brooks called Mach X or whatever version. My "trainers" have been the Pegasus or Brooks ST Racers, but since moving to a more midfoot stride am more comfortable in comps. Tried a few different XC shoes: Nike, Sacony, and found the Mach X best for me. Gosh they're almost nothing though with near negative heel as commented and only a strip of kelvar to protect you. If you heel strike at all, I'd bet you need to stick to trainers.

    In all of course, I'm really slow, so that factors in. 40 min 10ks, 90 halfs, and 3:25 best full marathon in those ST Racers - the lightweight trainers. I'll race 4 marathons in 2010 in the Mach X's though if you want to keep talking.

    -Anthony

    posted about 2 years ago

  • Tim M.
    Tim M. Sendmail

    I train in Brooks Ravenna and Brooks Launch. For marathons, I use the Brooks Racer ST 4. It is a little heavier than some other racers, but they have enough stability/support to get me through.

    posted about 2 years ago

  • Sultan R.
    Sultan R. Sendmail

    I like to hit the trails, and just bought a pair of Inov8 talon 212's. They are pretty much flats, and work wonders.

    posted about 2 years ago

  • John C.
    John C. Sendmail

    I like the Nike Lunaracer. Great protection for a racing flat. Most other shoes as light can really beat up your feet.

    In the past I raced and trained in the same thing, and actually ran a 2:48 in freaking' Asics Kayanos WITH orthotics. Now though I have weaned myself off that insanity when I still got injured and now train in New Balance 904's with a midfoot strike.

    posted about 2 years ago

  • Michael R.
    Michael R. Sendmail

    I'm a big fan of flats. The feeling of putting them on gears me up for a race. That said, I've only raced one 5k in a year and wore my old New Balance RC1s. But, I did get a pair of Saucony A3s, which I've worn for a couple speedwork sessions, and the Nike Zoom Streak XCs. Can't wait to wear the Sauconys in a real race!

    posted about 2 years ago

  • Jonathan S.
    Jonathan S. Sendmail

    I run in Modified Nike Free - more flexible and flatter than most racing 'flats' http://fellrnr.info/Modified-Nike-Free

    The work well on road and most trails at ultra distances.

    posted about 2 years ago

  • Darrel W.
    Darrel W. Sendmail
    in reply to what Jonathan S. said:I run in Modified Nike Free - more flexible and flatter than most racing 'flats' http://fellrnr.info/Modified-Nike-Free The work well on road and most trails at ultra distances.

    I love your idea, and the Frees do seem to be an ideal shoe to modify. I've just started some indoor barefoot running, and I get my VFFs today, but I do feel that I need a "real" shoe. I've got some older Free 5.0 shoes that might be perfect to cut down.

    A comment about the final picture - your shoes seem pretty short. If you had a 1/2 size (or full size) would you have to cut out the toe box?

    posted about 2 years ago

  • Jonathan S.
    Jonathan S. Sendmail
    in reply to what Darrel W. said:I love your idea, and the Frees do seem to be an ideal shoe to modify. I've just started some indoor barefoot running, and I get my VFFs today, but I do feel that I need a "real" shoe. I've got some older Free 5.0 shoes that might be p... read more

    Yes, the frees are ideal for modification as they have no outersole, and the midsole is very tough.

    My feet may have spread slightly with running in the VFFs - going up a size makes the shoe very big on my feet overall.

    posted about 2 years ago

  • Bill K.
    Bill K. Sendmail

    Interesting. I just got some DS Trainers in late December. They're a whole lot lighter than my regular training shoe but, yeah, I get the feeling I won't be squeezing 500 miles out of those suckers. Seem like a good shoe for a marathon, except I always get a nagging pain on the outside of the left foot at the start of the run, I think from the Asics stripe digging into my foot. The weirdest thing is the pain goes away after a half mile and I'm fine.

    I'm thinking about trying something that's not quite an all-out flat, but not a training shoe either for 5K's and 10K's this year. The Mizuno Wave Ronin intrigues me.

    Edit: I thought this post would go directly after the post by a runner who mentioned he used DS Trainers.

    posted about 2 years ago | edited about 2 years ago

  • Jules C.
    Jules C. Sendmail

    It's funny that much of the "racing flats" out there are still building up the heels.
    I plan on purchasing the new asics hyperspeed 4 in February so we'll see how that works out.
    The asics piranha is flatter and more minimalist than the hyperspeed, but I would be paying more for less shoe. I'm confused on their pricing strategy here.

    edit: I bought the adizero rocket instead. So far, it's the flattest (running) shoe I've ever worn.

    posted about 2 years ago | edited almost 2 years ago

  • Jon C.
    Jon C. Sendmail

    Depends on the race for me. I have had the Nike Zoom Streak XC since college and still break them out for races that are under 5 miles. I love how light they are and I always seem to have a great race when I wear them. Many of my PRs were set while wearing them. However, due to their lack of cushioning I tend not to wear them for longer distances and stick with my trainers (Nike Air Max Moto). I just wore them last week for a half marathon and although my feet hurt a little after the race, I'm sure that was nothing compared to how they would have felt if I wore flats.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Eddie D.
    Eddie D. Sendmail

    Though I haven't graduated to Racing Flats yet, I am moving in that direction. Currently I run in Mizuno Wave Elixers. At first I couldn't run in these every day, or for long runs, and now I can't seem to run in anything else. Running with shoes that weigh more or have more heel/sole/cushioning just feels like extra work to me and I feel the difference in my running form between the pairs of shoes. I'm sure I'll wind up going lighter and much more minimalist.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Jimmy J.
    Jimmy J. Sendmail
    in reply to what Eddie D. said:Though I haven't graduated to Racing Flats yet, I am moving in that direction. Currently I run in Mizuno Wave Elixers. At first I couldn't run in these every day, or for long runs, and now I can't seem to run in anything else. Running with shoe... read more

    I wore my Nike Air Pegasus yesterday verses my lighter shoes the Asics DS Trainers, and I totally agree that it's extra work. I love the lighter shoes for sure, and though it took me awhile to get used to them in my long runs I will never look back. (You Said It), and I don't need any extra work. Thanks for the reply. God Bless.+ Jimmy. ( =

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Josh H.
    Josh H. Sendmail

    I wear Mizuno Universe 2 for just about every distance except training.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Quotidianlight
    Quotidianlight Sendmail

    I wear flats for everything. Mizuno Universe 3 for road and New Balance WT100 for trail.

    posted almost 2 years ago

  • Kansei U.
    Kansei U. Sendmail

    Hey Jimmy, really late response, but I'm fairly new to this forum. I only wear racing flats, Asics Pirahnna for all of my runs: training and racing. I have very flat feet, and I used to wear stability shoes like Brooks Beast, Asics Foundation, and Nike AirTriax. I've also worn custom orthotics. My knees were still bothering me. So, I've started to run midfoot striking, and my knees stopped hurting, but after awhile, my calves were always sore. i found out that my calves were sore from tightening since the extra heels on running shoes caused my calves to tighten when I striked with my midfoot. So, I started to wear just racing flats, midfoot striking, and my legs don't hurt anymore.

    posted over 1 year ago

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