Treat your feet to a good pair of sneaks!

When the time came to get new running shoes, I have to honestly say that I was worried. I love shopping for new running shoes, but it is almost impossible to ever find a pair that works well with my feet. Sophomore year, I purchased a pair of Adidas shock absorbing running shoes that cost about $120.00, not including the additional in-soles that were pitched to me by the salesman.

I chose to purchase the shoes and at first was really loving them, but with all of my running shoes purchases, the excitement begins to wane more and more with each new run. At the time I was having running injuries and pain from over-pronating, and thought these specialty shoes would help solve that problem.

Little did I know I was wrong... apparently it is the other way around.

Over summer, my dad was reading a book titled, Born to Run (which I recommend), that intimately follows these infamous runners in central Mexico that run hundreds of miles a day. The book concentrates on barefoot running and the benefits of this up and coming phenomenon. Anyway, the book proceeded to mention Nike and their new shoe: Nike Free Run. The special thing about this shoe is the way it mimics barefoot running and the huge leads researchers have found concerning this running shoe.

Barefoot running like I said is an up and coming fad. Research shows that extra padding and shoe support has been shown to diminish one's running ability and causes more injuries than those who run without any shoes. Now I know you must be saying, "there is no way I can run on city streets shoeless", "but without padding, my feet will hurt". And yes.. complete barefoot running takes getting used to, you have to build your feet up to the texture of pavement, but padding is out and its all about being bare!

With Nike and the Free Run shoe, there is no need to worry, they seem to have runners covered. This shoe is designed in such a way that it can flex and twist multiple ways. The sole is small and cut in multiple places, allowing runners to feel the ground that they run on and have the mid sole of the foot land correctly when finishing their stride. The material helps ventilate the foots moisture and there is no tongue in order to help prevent irritation while running. The lace is on a slight asymmetrical line in order to match the foots natural movement when racing.

Check out the video for a more detailed explanation of these unique sneakers:



So, needless to say, I was in runners shock with these shoes. They seemed to be the next best thing to try and as it was, I was in need of a new pair of shoes, so I thought.... why not!

These shoes are the best shoes I have ever bought. Sometimes I just put them on because they are so comfortable. Ever since running in them, I have had no shin splints, knee pain, back aches, stiff muscles, etc. I used to be prone to shin splints and foot injuries and have had no problems with the Nike Free Run whatsoever. They come in several colors. Mine are the bright purple (as it is my favorite color) and I love that they stand out among other boring white/blue/black shoes.

Some pros and cons with the shoe.
PRO: They are intended to be worn without socks to get the best contact with the ground. They get a little stinky, but I figure it saves on laundry and washing socks.

CON: They do wear out fairly fast as they don't have much sole to them and some consumers have had to purchase a few pairs if you use them on a daily basis. Also, they are not the best shoes to wear in the rain, as the material is not waterproof.

PRO: They are supposed to increase muscle function and ability while wearing them. While using them, the Nike Free Run builds up the foots natural stamina and in turn strengthens leg and core performance, allowing you to run faster and better over time.

CON: The Nike Free Run shoe is not meant for cross training. Nike makes the Free Run shoe design in a cross training shoe specifically designed for things such as hiking, trail running and sports playing. A good rule of thumb to go by : don't engage in any activity with the Nike Free Run that you couldn't do barefoot. i.e. bike riding, basketball, or rock climbing. These shoes have been specifically designed for running and running only.

I try and suggest the Nike Free Run to anyone of my friends. I have seen tremendous results since I have used them and even completed a 10K just recently with them on my feet. The shoes are surprisingly low in price compared to some competitors such as Asics and Adidas. The Nike Free Run were $85 regular price and I believe they are now on sale for a little over $60. I don't know what I was doing before I found these shoes, because I hit the road running even more now. I am extremely tempted to go out and buy another pair, as I can't imagine my running life without them right underneath me.

When it comes to running, less is more... so go out and get some shoeless shoes.

run-sarah-run