Minimalist or not for quantity training?

IMO (podiatrist to local running clubs here in SoCal) it's fine with those shoes. Just remember you may need to replace them sooner.

The problem with conventional shoes is that it wants to force the foot to be perfectly perpendicular to the ground, whereas nearly everyone interacts with the ground at an angle.

As long as you are light and efficient, you'll be fine. I'm currently training in the Kinvara 2s, Brooks Pure Flows, and Minimus Trails, and doing 70+ mpw. Look at what all the runners wore in the 70s; they would be considered flats or minimalist shoes by today's standards.

I'll back up what the podiatrist said about replacing them sooner. The Kinvaras are a great shoe but they break down very quickly because the cushioning is so soft.

If you start having any issues as you up your mileage you might add a second more substantial shoe, but assuming the Kinvara matches your stride you should NOT go to a stability shoe like the 2170. If you don't have issues, just keep going with the Kinvara.

Get some guidance from your quality local running specialty store. They should be able to look at your Kinvaras and point you in the right direction for another shoe to mix in.

Don't run in just one pair of shoes. Really, get as many as you can afford, and rotate them constantly. Get different brands, or different models of the same shoe, but don't just buy the same pair 3x over. Rotate them so that you don't wear the same pair more than 2 days consecutively. This way if one pair breaks down, your legs don't need to go with them.

You will be fine. I train in light weight trainers all the time because I like how it feels on my foot and I don't get injured. If you are currently healthy I would not try to get more supportive shoes unless you feel that your body can not handle lighter shoes.

Personally, I could never run higher mileage in regular bulky trainers. I'd get to a certain mileage threshold and something would 'give'. It wasn't until I got into racing flats (8+ years ago) that I could go higher and higher with the mileage. The way I see it, the heavier the 'weight' at the end of the pendulum (your leg) the more force/torque that's exerted on the whole body. The times I've tried to go back to a regular trainer has been very painful on the joints, but I can handle cushier shoes with flex like the Kinvaras.

Go with what feels most comfortable to you, and I agree with the guy who said to rotate a bunch of shoes to stress the legs differently. However, the more you wear a certain shoe, the more efficient you become in it. Wear your racers as much as possible. Although I haven't ventured beyond the marathon, I know my ultra runner friends prefer to be in the most comfortable, broken in pair of shoes they have for ultras. Another shoe comparable to the Kinvaras is the Brooks Flows.

mikeyxc wrote:

Recently I've been using minimalist shoes for my training. I used them last track season (Puma Faas 500) and have started out my summer training in Saucony Kinvara 2. While I have never run over 60 miles/week in these shoes, i will be stepping up my training during july to august and getting up to 90-100 miles a week. I've never gotten injured in these shoes, but I feel like I should buy a more supportive shoe when I start getting over 60-70 miles/week, such as the asics GT-2170.

Is this assumption correct or is it ok to train in minimalist shoes at high mileage or should I get a more supportive shoe for high mileage? I'm not talking about vibrams but shoes such as the ones mentioned above.

I'm not trying to be a jerk here but Faas 500s and Kinvaras are hardly minimalist shoes. You won't have to worry about a thing as long as you are already a mid/forefoot striker. If they aren't working for you just back off and find something that does. I've been running in Saucony Kilkenny XC flats for several years and have done 100 mile weeks in them with no injuries at all. As far as changing the shoes earlier because they're minimalist I'm gonna call bs on that one. I've put 1200 miles on my Kilkennys w/no problems at all. Seriously, just run. You have nothing to worry about.

how bout this bud wrote:

I've been running in Saucony Kilkenny XC flats for several years and have done 100 mile weeks in them with no injuries at all. As far as changing the shoes earlier because they're minimalist I'm gonna call bs on that one. I've put 1200 miles on my Kilkennys w/no problems at all. Seriously, just run. You have nothing to worry about.

Second this guy too. I can get way more mileage out of my flats than I ever did in trainers. There's less material to break down, it's usually denser, and because you develop the muscles in your feet/lower legs you're more efficient overall. You learn to land lighter. It wasn't this way at first, but over time I've had pairs with 1500-2000 miles. The Saucony Kilkenny's are excellent, btw. I've found over time though that I prefer a bit more cushioning/softness for marathons, but rotate in shoes comparable to the Kilkenny's.

Just curious but what other shoes are you using? It's funny but Kilkennys feel soft and cushiony to me now, I couldn't imagine using a different shoe. The most important thing for me from a flat is flexibility. If I cant ball the shoe up in mu hand w/little or no resistance, then I can't wear it because it'll give me pf. I hate to admit it but some of the newer model New Balance shoes actually look pretty nice.

I couldn't imagine wearing anything different either, as I wore XC flats for several years, but once I moved into more traditional road flats I could see the value of a cushier shoe. I have a closet full of shoes-- Brooks T series and Racer STs, New Balance Minimus Zeros (the 1400s are nice too), Saucony Kinvaras, loved Puma Road Racers, Adidas Rockets (original Adios were better than the 2s), Mizuno Mushas (which I'm wearing a lot right now), Newton MV2s (upper fits awkward/narrow), several Inov-8s, Skechers GoRuns. I thought the Green Silence was too stiff/hard, and the Nike Lunaracers are too mushy and narrow. Brooks Pure Flows are nice, little softer than the new Kinvaras. If you like flexibility and a little more stability and durability, Inov-8 195s, 230s are comparable to the Saucony Kilkenny's. The Brooks Mach Spikeless is comparable to the Saucony Kilkenny's. I've currently been rotating the Saucony Kinvaras, Mizuno Mushas, Adidas Rockets, and Skechers GoRuns.

It's been years since I wore Kilkenny flats-- would be interesting to try again.

Thanks. All of those shoes you mentioned are way too much for me. If a shoe has any arch support it gives me pf immediately.