It's no mystery that I've long been a lover of vibrams. I even recently read the book that spurred the minimalist trend in running shoes, "Born to Run". It's an excellent book and makes what seem to be valid points about more cushioned shoes leading to injuries. I've recently started wondering, though, if I would have this hip flexor pain if I ran my races in more cushioned shoes.
The pacer for my full marathon talked about vibrams with me for a while before the race started. He mentioned that he used to be a huge advocate of them until he broke his foot a few years in. The podiatrist he saw told him that minimalist shoes were causing quite a bit of injury in foot bones and the soft tissue in feet.
I purchased a pair of Hokas online yesterday after much hemming and hawing over them. Every great runner I've talked to raves about Hokas. I found them at Running Warehouse (www.runningwarehouse.com) for a steal at about $60 for Hoka conquest. I haven't received them but I do have high hopes that maybe changing my running form in a more cushioned shoe will fix the hip problems I've been having. I read many reviews on many, many websites before purchasing them. People seriously love these shoes.
In reality I don't know if I'll actually come out of vibrams. I'm hesitant to put all my stock in hokas fixing the problems I've been having. I've tried to come out of vibrams a few times and always come screaming back to them after I realize how different my running is in standard shoes. My only reasons for wanting to come out are the injuries I have now and the pain I feel in my feet after full marathons. I love vibrams for distances up to about 15-16 miles. After that, on pavement, my feet start to hurt. The ball of the foot will start to ache and the toes will go numb. My body doesn't love long distances in these shoes.
What do you guys wear for distance?
I'm hoping these hokas are the answer to my problems.
