Running Times Podcast on Minimalism

I think that you missed the big picture here and are obsessing on "minimalism" and their ilk.Minimalism is not a means to an ends. It is a way for some to get to a healthier and faster way to run. As you clearly stated though, it is not for everyone. I would add that everyone should try it though, especially those who grew up in “1st World Countries”.I also agree that only in “some certain cases” being a minimalist will make you stronger and less injury prone. But the real point here is that in all cases, creating a more natural gait through a stronger more powerful foot will make you faster. So credit that to whatever you want; reconnecting to our innate humanness or to minimalist.If you continue to shorten your Achilles tendon and cram your toes into a narrow toe box all the training in the world will only make you a really fast shuffler. To be fast you need a naturally powerful gait that culminates into a push off from your liberated big toe and that, my myopic friend is what will make you faster…

exactly wrote:

This subject has been beaten to death on the board.

Minimalism will not make you faster, but in some certain cases it will make you stronger and less injury prone, thus allowing a person to increase the quantity and quality of training and produce better results.

The improved times are not a direct result of the shoes, they're a result of the training allowed by the shoes.

It's not for everyone. I'm still not sure why people try to push it. I liken some of them to the televangelists types.

But that seems to contradict what every minimalist on this thread has written. By and large, they respond that they are able to train more consistently and that their feet are stronger, but that they don't notice any faster race performances.

Minimalism is like the raw food movement. The supporters are diehard and are trying to "get in touch with nature" and want to "live like the Third World" (because obviously the Third World knows what's best). However, if you go to the Rift Valley and offer the first runner you see a Big Mac and a pair of Nikes, he will snatch them from you with great speed.

the beauty of all wheel drive wrote:

but that they don't notice any faster race performances.

I really don't know how you came to your generalization above (?). I've had a dramatic drop in times, going from being a 19 min. 5K hobby jogger (prior), to running 16:55 for 5K and 1:12+ 20K a week ago.

Agreed somewhat on the assertion that minimalists are a bit too religious about their newfound faith. Also getting into minimalism later in life will not produce the same results as it would if they lived their entire life building the foundation for fast running. As your other point, I would counter that some Third World countries may not know how to create Collateralized Debt Obligations or mass produce marshmallows but they certainly know best about running fast. How they do it (excluding the possibility of drugs) is through hard work, high level of motivation, eating unprocessed foods and spending a lot of time barefoot.You state that they would eagerly grab a Big Mac and Nikes the first chance they got. That maybe true but they would certainly become slower runners just like we did.

the beauty of all wheel drive wrote:

But that seems to contradict what every minimalist on this thread has written. By and large, they respond that they are able to train more consistently and that their feet are stronger, but that they don't notice any faster race performances.

Minimalism is like the raw food movement. The supporters are diehard and are trying to "get in touch with nature" and want to "live like the Third World" (because obviously the Third World knows what's best). However, if you go to the Rift Valley and offer the first runner you see a Big Mac and a pair of Nikes, he will snatch them from you with great speed.

This subject has been beaten to death on the board.

Minimalism will not make you faster, but in some certain cases it will make you stronger and less injury prone, thus allowing a person to increase the quantity and quality of training and produce better results.

The improved times are not a direct result of the shoes, they're a result of the training allowed by the shoes.

It's not for everyone. I'm still not sure why people try to push it. I liken some of them to the televangelists types.[/quote]

Best post on minimalism ever!

I don't push it. I mention it because it's been helpful to me. In fact I don't think I could run much at all if I didn't use minimal shoes. and it's been helpful to enough others that it's worth mentioning now and again. But if you've got a shoe that you like I'd be the last person to tell you not to use it.

What I can't understand is why this gets people worked up.