Question for Minimalists

Training Advice/Discussion General

16 years ago 06/04/2008 6:51pm EDT

During my track season I did a lot of runs in Streak XCs and my legs/shins always felt better. But I soon went back to my Nike Zoom Miler Trainers.

After some shin problems, about two weeks ago I switched into Nike Katana Rac3r IIIs, and I have felt great since. I've really made an effort into landing up on my feet more and the only thing is my calves are extremely sore every day.

I just bought the Vibram Five Finger Sprint Shoes and I was looking for some input as to when I should start using these to train, how to start in them, and how long my calves are going to be so sore.

Thanks.

16 years ago 06/04/2008 8:39pm EDT

re: sore calvessss

your calves are sore? well they should be and that's great

when you land on your feet your calves take the force and keep you up instead of your tibia and knee...thus they are sore

and as a bonus of this, they also push off more causing you to run faster.....becuase you're changing your form to this and are not used to it, your calves will be sore till they get stronger...this could be up to a couple of weeks....but its good

the best thing you can do is stretch A LOT and ice and heat

16 years ago 06/04/2008 8:51pm EDT

re: uh_no

When I switched to running in Puma H Streets my calves were sore for a solid 2 months. I previously trained in Frees and other flats and was a mid foot runner, but they were still were a pain in the ass to transistion into.

16 years ago 06/04/2008 9:02pm EDT

re: nublet

Hey OP,

I got some FF Classics about a year ago (also good for running).

I started just doing XC cool downs in them (20 min 3x a week), then WU and CD (2x20min 3x a week). Then I was using them for morning runs as well(5x30min +2x20min 3x a week).

Indoors I just used em for WU & CD.

All this outdoors it's been 5x30min +2x20min 3x a week.

Nothing I've done in them is very fast though a guy I train with does track workouts in em (5k pace stuff) and has done 2hr runs in them.

Five Fingers are the best running related item I've ever purchased.

My advice is integrate them slowly. When I started doing morning runs in them my feet would start to get a bit sore so I'd go back to shoes for a few days then go back to FF. Now I never have trouble with them.

Use common sense, work up your miles in them and if you start to get sore then ease off a bit. It'll all come soon enough.

16 years ago 06/04/2008 9:03pm EDT

re: nublet

Hey OP,

I got some FF Classics about a year ago (also good for running).

I started just doing XC cool downs in them (20 min 3x a week), then WU and CD (2x20min 3x a week). Then I was using them for morning runs as well(5x30min +2x20min 3x a week).

Indoors I just used em for WU & CD.

All this outdoors it's been 5x30min +2x20min 3x a week.

Nothing I've done in them is very fast though a guy I train with does track workouts in em (5k pace stuff) and has done 2hr runs in them.

Five Fingers are the best running related item I've ever purchased.

Use common sense, work up your miles in them and if you start to get sore then ease off a bit. It'll all come soon enough.

Oh yah, don't worry about the calves, they'll get used to the extra strain, at least they did for me.

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