My racing flats are Nike Streak XC, size 15. I’m fairly light - 6’5", 165-170. Biggest run week was 35, long run of 12. I’m doing a flat half-marathon this weekend and am considering wearing the flats. Most long runs have been in my Saucony Mirages.
My form is decent, mid-foot with high turnover. I’m aiming to run 7:20-ish with my (faster) brother in law, so I’d like every advantage I can get.
The flats have only been used for races and intervals. 6 is the longest I’ve gone in them. They have less than 50 total on them.
Do I need to try something long-ish (7-8) with them tonight/ tomorrow or should I just HTFU and go for it?
Run in your Mirage’s. Mirage is a light shoe. You aren’t going to gain anything from a flat, and you would be risking a lot. If you haven’t run long in them yet, it is too late to try now.
During you 6 mile run how did you feet feel? If you had zero discomfort consider them for the half, if you had any discomfort, 7 more miles at race pace could really be a problem.
Agree that if you haven’t tried it already, I wouldn’t. For the future though, you’d be fine. I’m 6’6" 185, and I’ve been going back and forth between my Nike LunaRacers and Montrail Rogue Racers for several months in training because I wore out my trainers and haven’t gotten around to buying a new pair. I’ve been doing this since about April with no issues, which is surprising given that I had metatarsal stress fracture issues in high school…I suppose better run form has helped that a bit.
A 13 mile long run is not the same as a 13 mile race at 7:20 pace (which is what I run for a 13.1), I can assure you that. Even a hard 10K will give me blisters and pain for a few days, yet, I run that distance several times a week in training with no such issues. I’m a 30-35mi/week runner as well. Same weight too.
I can almost guarantee that comfort will win over performance when it comes to shoes in a race that long. A massive, nasty blister or hurting feet at mile 9-10 will slow you down a lot more using your training shoe instead of a flat. Try it if you want, but I find it hard to believe there will be much of a benefit.
I have those shoes, they are bloody light! I am 6 150 and with decent form and pretty quick (very close to breaking 17mins for 5k) but I only use those shoes for track workouts. A better shoe might be the Lunaracer. They are still very light but have more cushion.
If your longest run was 12 miles, and your longest paced run in them was 6, then definitely do not wear the flats. Your calves will rip off by mile 10 and the rest will suck.
The mirage is a pretty light shoe. I’m also 170, and for any races over 10 miles I usually wear a dstrainer or wave precision type shoe, which I think are similar weights ~9oz
My racing flats are Nike Streak XC, size 15. I’m fairly light - 6’5", 165-170. Biggest run week was 35, long run of 12. I’m doing a flat half-marathon this weekend and am considering wearing the flats. Most long runs have been in my Saucony Mirages.
My form is decent, mid-foot with high turnover. I’m aiming to run 7:20-ish with my (faster) brother in law, so I’d like every advantage I can get.
The flats have only been used for races and intervals. 6 is the longest I’ve gone in them. They have less than 50 total on them.
Do I need to try something long-ish (7-8) with them tonight/ tomorrow or should I just HTFU and go for it?
I wear flats for all my races and all my training. Right now I use the Saucony A4s.
You should already know the answer to your question. If the flats are giving you problems then don’t use them. Otherwise, go for it.
Edit: Ooops. Didn’t read all the posts. I should have just replied x2 to what Styrrell said.
How important is this race? If you want to step up to wearing flats in a half you’ll have to do it at some point. It’s a little bit of a leap of faith which is why it might not be the best idea to try it in an A race.
Have you raced a 10K in them yet? If that went well with no issues, I’d consider them.
In general, I think that racing flats are fine for a half-marathon. And racing flats make an ENORMOUS difference. You can potentially run much, much faster in flats than you will in trainers.
However, in this case, I don’t suggest it. First, your flats are Nike Streak XC. They are too minimal; they are designed for 10K max. You need something a bit more substantial for a half-marathon, like the Adidas Adios. Second, you need to do several workouts and shorter races in them before you race a longer distance in order to strengthen the muscles and connective tissues in your feet that will get less support with the flats. It doesn’t sound like you’ve done that.
During you 6 mile run how did you feet feel? If you had zero discomfort consider them for the half, if you had any discomfort, 7 more miles at race pace could really be a problem.
The 6-miler was 800 jog, 10x800 around 3:10 per (minute jog between), around 400 cool down. No problems with blisters and did it sockless. I would wear socks for this race.
Also had a 4-mile run leg on a tri (and 3 5k legs) with minimal discomfort afterwards. I still run 1-2 times a week in my old Newton trainers, so that might address some of the muscle/ tendon things.
Still on the fence…lots of good points on both sides!
I wouldnt wear racing flats unless i could hold under 5 30.
For some reason statements like this irritate me. Why the hell wouldnt you want the lightest shoe for any run speed?
How about “I’ll stop doing tris on my mountain bike as soon as I average 20mph”.
The answer is simple. The OP has trained primarily in shoes that are not representative of his proposed race flats. Furthermore, the OP has no experience in the race flats beyond 6 miles. A lighter shoe will only make you a faster runner if you train to run faster in them. None of my flats have come with any special raceday mojo that made me instantaneously faster.
With running shoes there is a difference. On average slower runners have poorer mechanic and form than faster runners and probably benefit from a bit more padding.
When I’m out of shape i wont wear my lightest shoes for longer runs because towards the end I tend to run crappy and the lack of padding can make it worse.
Of course that goes against the whole barefoot reasoning, but its a reason. It may not be right for everyone or even any one.
With running shoes there is a difference. On average slower runners have poorer mechanic and form than faster runners and probably benefit from a bit more padding.
When I’m out of shape i wont wear my lightest shoes for longer runs because towards the end I tend to run crappy and the lack of padding can make it worse.
Of course that goes against the whole barefoot reasoning, but its a reason. It may not be right for everyone or even any one.
You could use that same reasoning to advocate running in hiking boots.
About 2 sec per mile per oz dropped. so if i ran in the asics ds trainer ay about 10oz to a ds racer 7.8 oz id be about 6sec faster per mile. what this eq does not factor in is the benefit of improved biomechamics or the athletes reaction to greater impact forces on the feet. running barefoot on concrete is likely going to slow you down more than running in a minimal flat despite the weight savings.
I wouldnt wear racing flats unless i could hold under 5 30.
For some reason statements like this irritate me. Why the hell wouldnt you want the lightest shoe for any run speed?
How about “I’ll stop doing tris on my mountain bike as soon as I average 20mph”.
The answer is simple. The OP has trained primarily in shoes that are not representative of his proposed race flats. Furthermore, the OP has no experience in the race flats beyond 6 miles. A lighter shoe will only make you a faster runner if you train to run faster in them. None of my flats have come with any special raceday mojo that made me instantaneously faster.
Have any of your racing flats made you slower? Do they have special mojo that causes your knees to explode?
Why use running shoes at all? I spend most of my day in steel toe work boots. Should I do my next 10k in them?