Let's eat Grandpa!

When I was working up to a 5k last November, I wore my trusty old Asics. I’ve been wearing Asics for years and my last two pairs have been especially great. But then I started reading more about the minimalist running shoe movement, so I thought I’d give it a shot, just to see what all the fuss was about. I like the idea of building up my muscles more (big muscles yes, but more importantly, stabilizer muscles), and not relying on my shoes to “protect” me from injury.

After a lot of research and even more trying-on-everything-in-the-mall, I finally went with the Merrell Barefoot Run Pace Glove. They seemed to fit my flat-ish feet the best — others rose up higher in the arch than I would have expected from a “barefoot” running shoe. So here’s a review, just in case you’re thinking about giving minimalist running a shot.

The Pros:

There is a lot to like about the Merrells. One of the things I didn’t expect but really love is how breathable they are. My feet tend to sweat a lot (so hot, raar), and the Merrells keep my feet much cooler than my Asics. I like how they hug my feet but still let in a lot of air — not having so much fabric and “structure” between me and the air is definitely something I unexpectedly love. I do wear very thin socks with them — I think they are meant to be worn barefoot, but I get blisters easily and I didn’t want to risk it until I had broken them in better.

The Merrells force you to run on your midfoot and/or forefoot. This wasn’t really something I needed, since I run that way anyway, but it’s good to know if you’re a heel-striker. Striking on your heel in these shoes downright hurts (there is no cushion at all), and could definitely do some damage if you aren’t careful. But the Merrells really are built to guide your feet into running on the front part of your foot — which most runners would say is the best way to run, since the impact of your foot hitting the ground goes up through your muscles when you strike on the front of your foot, and your bones and joints if you strike with your heel. Muscle stress = good. Joint stress = bad.

I also like feeling the ground underneath my feet. I feel the bumps and cracks in the sidewalk, and I like how I can actually feel those stabilizer muscles working to keep me in good form. I want the muscles in my feet and legs to continue to get stronger — I think this is a good thing not only for running, but for cycling, karate, and Tough Mudder as well.

Finally, I love how light they are. Because there’s so little shoe there, there’s not as much to have to pick up and put in front of me.

The…Prons:

I can’t decide yet if this is a pro or a con: my calves have been horribly sore. I’ve been running in the Merrells for a bit, and I think it’s getting better, but good Lord…I feel like I’ve done about a thousand calf-raises. My calves feel like they look like Popeye’s arms. I thought this was a little weird, since I was a midfoot runner before — I would have though I’d built up some muscle there! Plus I’m barefoot in karate all the time! So it was a shock to find that I’ve been so sore — I think I was a little smug thinking I wouldn’t have such a problem (I’ve read that many people also have a lot of calf soreness). Maybe it was too much too soon — I’m now alternating the Merrells with my Asics, and that seems to be helping.

The Cons:

The weirdest thing about these shoes is that they are more comfortable when I am running than when I am walking. Because the footbed is slightly U-shaped in the heel, I don’t feel 100% sturdy walking around. Like I might roll an ankle if I’m not careful. This isn’t a problem when I’m running, though, since I’m striking on my midfoot. But just wearing them around is taking a little getting used to. Perhaps I just need to build up more stabilizer muscles.

I also feel like maybe I should have gone up a half size, but it’s hard to tell. My feet are two different sizes, so I’m never quite satisfied no matter what pair of shoes I’m wearing. I don’t feel my toes bump when I run, but my big left toe sometimes grazes the front of my shoe when I’m walking. Very strange.

Since I’m a girl and these things matter, I thought they would be cuter than they are. Not that they are ugly (they aren’t Vibram five fingers, for instance), but they just look a little dopey. But I can wear them out to the movies without feeling like a stupid American Tourist with my bright white tennis shoes, so that’s a bonus.

So, there you have it! I’m going to continue running in my Merrells and my Asics, hopefully building up the muscles in my legs to make longer minimalist runs a little easier. I also think they will be the perfect shoe for the Survivor Mud Run and the Tough Mudder — the less shoe there is for the mud to cling to, the better!