In this continuing series, next up are the big boys and girls of the running shoe world … full-weight kicks. When I first started running (and knew zippo about workout-specific shoes), I found the biggest, heaviest shoe I could find as I thought the bigger the shoe the more support, the less chance of injury. A reasonably popular book largely dispelled (or at least better publicized this myth). While I am not an advocate (or detractor) of Vibram Five Fingers or barefoot running, I do believe minimalist kicks are the way to go … more on this in a later post. However, there are situations when a heavier shoe adds value to your running program. When?
Marathon training! That is not to say inserting a full-weight shoe (FW) into your rotation at other times is inappropriate … it clearly is not. However, if you follow the hard day / easy day principal of marathon training, a FW shoe is advisable for your recovery runs. Right now I am using these:
NB 1064
Be warned … the 1064s are a lot of shoe. They are bulky, thick-soled and heavy at 12.1 oz (size 9 – heavier if you wear a larger size). If the goal of racing is to get from point A to point B as fast as possible, why would you put a tank around your feet? To force you to slow down on the days when you are supposed to slow down. I do speedwork on Tuesdays and hard tempos on Thursdays. You will find me wearing the 1064s on Wednesday and Friday without fail. FW shoes are medicine for legs and feet after a taxing workout.
With that as a backdrop, how do the 1064s perform? I’d give them a “B” as they are responsive and comfortable, yet run big in the toebox (historical problem with NB) and are almost too much shoe. Out of the box, they feel great. Unlike the Zooms, there is no break-in period. These kicks are ready to ride immediately. If you like cushioning, the 1064s are like a pillow with plenty of support and shock absorption, but they are big. While I harp on the size of the shoe, they do serve the intended purpose of instilling the discipline you need to properly execute a recovery run. You might ask, “Do I need to buy another pair of shoes to remind me to go slow on easy days?” The answer is no, provided that you are in fact disciplined. I like rotating shoes and find that my feet thank me for it.
The 1064s grip multiple surfaces very well. I tend to do easy runs on dirt where slippage or that “running in sand” feeling are the norm, but these kicks do a nice job of handling varied terrain.
For those bigger runners contemplating an everyday trainer, the 1064s can fit the bill. The shoe is also responsive enough to enable you to do some varied workouts. At the end of an easy run, I’ll toss in 5-7 strides (70-100m of near sprinting) to add some spice at the end of a boring recovery run. I found the shoe did not inhibit me in any way. In fact, if you can go fast in a heavy shoe, just think of what you can do when you slip on something lighter.
If you are interested in the 1064s, I’d recommend selecting a ½ size smaller than your normal trainers.