Zero Drop / Achillies
There are lots of threads in this forum talking about "zero drop" shoes (Minimus, VFF, etc.). I'm looking for some educated advice or thoughts on the effects of various "drop" on injuries, and if anyone has any *experience* with a moderate drop (4mm - 6mm).
I've done a ton of reading already, and bookmarked several articles. This was one of the top hits and pretty informative:
http://running.competitor.com/2012/0...eet-spot_55444
I've been running through high school. I have a thin frame and my years in the Marine Corps did a number on my joints. I continued to run Marathons(and halfs) long after I got out, with my last one being the Marine Corps Marathon in '05. That was the end of my "normal running". I was left with really bad knees and hips from too much road running with really bad form (learned over years).
I was introduced to the barefoot craze and went "all in". Started running barefoot on a treadmill (5 mins at a time), let my calves heal, and up the mileage. I got into a set of KSO's (which I look back on as an uneducated and bad choice) and within 3 months or so I was doing 5 to 7 mile runs in my VFFs on trail/road mix. That lasted for awhile and then my achillies gave out. Now I either run in regular shoes and my body goes back to heel striking (even if I concentrate on midfoot) or I run minimalist and can do no more than a mile. Thing is...I really love barefoot running - zero knee and hip pain.
So revisiting my style and choice of shoes. I've been off running for almost a year, and I want to go to a minimalist shoe, but with a "drop" more conducive to taking some strain off the natural shock absorber (my achillies). I'm looking at a 4mm to 6mm drop. Tried on a pair of Minimus Trail (4mm drop) and a short jaunt around the store seemed to be okay.
Given the price of shoes, I'm looking for experienced advice on whether or not I'm on the right track here... Other suggestions or experiences?
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Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter. -- Ernest Hemingway
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