I have a pair of Brooks racing flat and a pair of Saucony shadows for training shoes (both new this season). I am a little over prone, but my when a run in my racing flats my form is 10x better than in my trainers. I am not a lightweight runner (170lb). I have less pain and better form with my racing flat. Is there any reason for me not to train in the racing flats? I know they have less support and motion control, but how important is that if your form changes for the better? Thanks for the help.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with training in racing flats. In fact, the Pose website (www.posetech.com) recommends it! I train in my flats frequently and, like you, I feel that my form is much better than in a clunkier, built-up shoe.
If it feels good, keep doing it!
go get yourself some lightweight training shoes, they provide more support than flats and are still pretty light. flats will wear out after somewhere between 50-100 miles and your legs/feet will start to take a beating. you can minimize that by running on off-road trails, wooden boardwalks, etc. stay off the pavement.
It is important to train some in the racing shoes.
As you have pointed out the biomechanics, both yours and the shoes are slightly different.
However, at 170 lbs I would be careful with doing too much in full blown racing flats. Better bet would be some of the light weight trainers that offer a bit more padding and support.
I just bought a pair of Brooks T3 last week. I did a little running in them and then raced with them sunday. The comfort is great, I just don’t think they would last very long as training shoes.
As others have mentioned, it is the cost factor since they wear out much faster. I am 168 lbs (down from 189 on Feb 1 yahoooo!) and use mine regularly when I go to the track for speedwork but use a lightweight trainer for all other runs.
If the Shadows are causing you pain or form faults, then they are the wrong shoe for you. If you do fine in racing flats, the I’d say you need to find a training shoe closer to that style of shoe; I.E. the lightweight trainers that some are suggesting. Apparently you don’t require that much support or control. Listen to your body, not the shoemaker’s hype. If a shoe type doesn’t work, then don’t use it. You aren’t that heavy so you don’t need one of those “big boy” types of shoes. Get a lightweight, flexible trainer without any control measures.