I often see long distance runners wearing this kind of flip-flops:
Iāve tried it a couple of times, but my feet keep slipping (especially when I sweat or when itās raining). Is there a special technique for running with them? Or socks that help the sandal to stay in place?
Should I switch to this kind of closed flip-flop instead?
I like the idea of running with sandals because I am already used to run in Vibram fivefingers, but sandals seem better suited to the rain and humidity. I would appreciate any help or advice from other runners in the forum.
This is something Iāve seen several times and never understood it. It has to hurt your feet. I could consider other options like running barefoot (you see quite a few people doing it), but flip flops? no way.
Youāre a woman? I donāt know why I thought I knew you were a guy!
I am also completely bamboozled regarding how people can (seemingly comfortably, efficiently) run in flip-flops/sandals.
I am all for running with minimalist shoes (I love my cheap, light-as-air FUFA shoes I use on my weekly runs), but I thought flip-flops were really bad for your feet and could cause problems just through extensive casual use? Maybe there are special brands that are engineered to fix this issue?
Iāve only seen it in Taiwanā¦when I was in high school I did Cross Country and Track and would often join community group runs/events or group runs the local running shops would organize and Iāve never seen anyone wear those flip-flops that are so popular in Taiwan.
On that note thoughā¦I donāt think Iāve ever noticed any legit running specialty shops/stores here. Only one I know of is the Asicās store in Taipei, but in Taichung I canāt think of anyā¦I just buy my stuff online.
They look similar to the shoes described in āborn to run,ā where Mexican endurance runners wear little more than strips of rubber, tied up with twine.
Running shoes are always a head scratcher to me. Are they needed? Do they contribute to making your body better or worse? Are Hoka running shoes not cheating? I run. Quite a lot. ( I recently completed the Brighton marathon and took part in a 48 hour endurance run around the green belt area of London.) I find that runners talk about their shoes a lot.
For me out boils down toā¦ do these shoes give me blisters? Thatās really the only question I ask myself.
I would run in whatever makes your feet feel comfy when you run. Those plastic jobbies look like they wonāt be comfy to run in.
They talk about pronation, overpronation and supination. I personally donāt know how much this is marketing bullshit, but reportedly it isnāt. And maybe it isnāt.
Then you have the cushion. If you havenāt had any knee issues caused by running, Iām happy for you, but many others go through a lot of recurrent issues.
This is so true! Runners love buying new shoes and talking about them. Ironically, one of the things I love about running is that it really ālow frictionā: you just need to go out, put on your shoes, and move your legs. But somehow, lots of us keep overthinking on ways to make the experience more comfortable.
I think I will stick with my froggy toe shoes then.
Itās one of those things that I canāt get in to. Chatting about energy gels etc also not on my radar.
Iāve never run in those, but truly they are the gold standard for running. Almost as nature intended. My hat is off to you for running in skin shoes.
Itās marketing bullshit. We are nomadic apes, evolved to run across large sections of land. Probably not for 60 or 70 years, like science now enables us to do, but certainly we evolved naked and outdoors.
Yeah, fuck that and fuck those. I never use them. I refuse to do it even when theyāre handed to me for free. I even make my own energy drinks, occasionally xD
Yeah, well, what can I say. I spend a lot of time naked and a lot of time outdoors. But heyā¦ before you call the policeā¦
When jogging distance, the limiting factor for me is the bones in my feet hurting. Iām often tempted by these squishy flops, but I cannot imagine the effort of keeping them on my feet wouldnāt rub them raw.
Iāll try it and report back, but I need to buy new ones; my mom stole my squishy flops.
Ohh, you mentioned on your Shimen-Pindong walk thread that your feet ended up hurting for years after you finished. Did you use ānormalā running shoes or any kind of special footwear for your impressive feat? (BTW, your topic got me motivated to do more long distance running/walking across Taiwan!)
Actually, the flops my mom took are the ones I broke down and bought at the end of my trip. I started out with Swedish On shoes. Iāve had about four pair of those and that is what I still jog in now.
Without the flops, I wouldnāt have been able to finish. Concrete and a heavy pack killed my feet.
I use them for marathons and training for distance, every four miles. Tomorrow Iām doing a chatty half marathon (round Little Marlow, it is gorgeous) with friends and wonāt bother with a gel as I wonāt be pushing myself.
I thought a runner would provide some insight into why those flip-flops are so often used in Taiwan. I wear a very thick shoe. Nikes but they look a bit like Hokas. And I run mostly uphill and walk down the mountain. My knees canāt handle several runs per week on flat ground anymore. Iām actually headed up the mountain soon. My dog is pacing back and forth because he knows its not a workday and the mountain is what we do on these days.
