Making the Switch to Nike Frees

A friend of mine switched to Frees after battling a series of lower leg injuries. Since the switch he's been injury free. He's over 40 and he's train for and run 3 marathons in the Frees with out incident.

I know several people who have switched and seen their injury rate drop significantly. Realize, however, that the reduced heel height will cause your Achilles and lower calf to stretch back to their natural length. This is a good thing, but can cause some discomfort during the adjustment period. This is especially true for older runners. Hopefully your eccentric drops will minimize the adjustment period.

Anyone else have experience with running in Frees and the Transition period?

I switched to the Free's a couple years ago. They recommend you slowly break into them, but I didn't. Ran 70 miles my first week in them. Your foot and lower leg might be a little sore that first week, but they'll get used to the Free fast.

Get the 3.0, not the 5.0. The 3.0 is a much better shoe in every way and you can use it for everything- trackwork, long runs, tempo's, whatever.

The period I wore my Free's was the longest period I've gone without getting injured- 3 years. A couple months ago I switched into a pair of Asics because my Free's were about to fall apart and I couldn't find another pair. Now I'm injured- pretty bad calf strain and I'm certain that the transition to a higher heeled shoe at least partly caused it.

Also, I could get a LOT of mileage into my Free's- usually around 1000.

I wouldn't begin to phase them in until you are feeling 100% pain free and healthy. Then begin a really slow rampup - start by walking in them, progress to running 5-10 mins, etc.

Especially if you've had a history of achilles problems you can't just jump into them.

Thanks

Run barefoot! I have been battling knee injuries the past 3 months and just this week I started running again but barefoot on the grass around my old hs track and I have not have a problem since.. I know it can get pretty boring but just try it, it actually goes by pretty fast espec if there's other people on the track. There's no doubt in my mind that iit has maybe helped my knees and my legs get their natural form back so I'm going to be doing this for another few weeks before I even put on a pair of shoes again...trust me this really works and you will be surprised how good you feel after a couple runs barefoot on the grass in regards to your injury. Hope this helps

If it works that well, why would you plan to go back to wearing shoes?

because i dont plan on running on the grass around my track forever...that would get kind of boring dont you think? i obviously want to get back on the road and i dont think i could do it barefoot like other people do its harder than you think and actually care about what my feet will look like when im older...im just giving my advice on what worked for me so the op can do what they wish but it has def worked for me and im sure im not the only one

wondering wrote:

If it works that well, why would you plan to go back to wearing shoes?

He probably doesn't want to spend the rest of his life running around the outside of a track.

Any overpronators tried the Frees? I want to try them out, but other neutral shoes have given me IT band issues in the past.

I only wear frees right now. I was the guy who the docs told me to get into orthodics. I was consistently injured through college. Oddly enough, the more support, the worse the injury. I don't think I ran a full year without some sort of injury. Then, after some frustration with an IT band issue, I switched, and the pain was gone immediately. I'm suffering from an IT band issue now, but that's from my own stupidity, not something with my shoes.

Would it bea good idea to run in a pair of Mizuno Ronins before I make the switch? They would be light and low profile but not as flexable as Frees?

i actually go back and forth between the two shoes without incident. I use the 3.0.

Anybody tried the Nike Free Everyday?

http://www.zappos.com/product/7525593/color/138975