How To RUN STRONG: Choosing the Right Natural Running Trail Shoe

[@kulch2008]

I have lived this foot strength journey in 2020. Gone from hokas/ASICS into Altra torins, into Altra Escalante and now I can run half marathon on Xero minimalist shoes. Your book and videos have shown the way, thankyou again virtual coach Eric 🙏

[@BornToRunCoach]

This made my day, thank you and keep running strong.

[@toddboucher3302]

Great video now things make sense after running in five fingers for years when I run in a shoe or try to run an issue that has a high built-up arch I just get pain. I was thinking about the Solomon sense pro little bit thicker stack over the slab and a better price for a longer rocky runs. Or should I go with the g 270. I already own barefoot shoes and sandals for milder easier runs in and I also have the superiors and I’m just looking for something you know like you’re saying for more rocky longer days.

[@leslielu2358]

I loved this video! I learned so much! I'm one of those people who fell into the zero drop or bust beliefs, but I don't recall having any real issues with 4mm and 6mm drop shoes other than a couple cases of the toebox not working for me. Are there certain types of runs where having shoes with some drop might be beneficial?

[@kapittsalt]

That shot at 1:36 is really fuqin classy dood. Well done. Knucks.

[@christianbeyer5576]

Eric, I am a big fan of yours. I have watched all of your youtube videos and I am going through them a second time to extract all the valuable information. I have bought the "Cool Impossible" three times, because I gave a copy away twice. Anyways: Another aspect when it comes to running shoes: For me, it feels like cushy shoes take away stability and slow down leg speed. That's an issue for me with most Altras. The Escalante Racer (the one you present) is great for me but the Escalante is not. I have an Solstice that is also great. I have mixed feelings about the Superiors: they are roomy and comfortable but again quite cushy. The short/little lacing add some more instability. I have turned to Inov-8 and bought a Trailtalon 235. The sole is more rigid and less cushy, which allows a much better leg turn over. The TerraUltra are on the shopping list. Thank you very much for all the important insights and constant inspiration. Keep on running... and stay healthy.

[@BornToRunCoach]

Hi Christian - thanks for this awesome post and you are absolutely right about the cushion. This is why I love the Salomon S Lab line so much, and the Inov8 TerraUltra is truly unique in that is provides great leg turnover/energy return but with some comfort for long days. Thanks for your great comments and glad you are enjoying the videos. Let me know if you have any specific topics you might like covered in the future.

[@christianbeyer5576]

@@BornToRunCoach Thank you very much Eric. Questions and topics come up regularly, almost every run: -). I would glad to share some of those with you. Please feel free to pick up any and discuss them in one of your teaching videos. Right now, I am trying to figure out the following dilemma: I wish to raise my cadence without losing run form that I built the last two months. During "normal" runs, my cadence is 165 steps/minute. Once, I raise it to 175 steps/minute, I either lose breath (because I need to pick up pace) or my run form worsens. I do the run drills once or twice a week, the isometric strength drills once a week, and strength training (15 to 25 s hill sprints) once a week. In between, mostly easy running. Focusing on "driving the leg into the ground", helps to increase cadence, but again requires much more effort. In this regard, I am also wondering if, mentally, I should focus on "driving the leg down" very early, which is before landing of the foot on the ground, or later with landing of the foot on the ground. My descriptions may sound weird, but I often first process movements conciously and then try to bring them back in the control of the unconcious mind. Thank you very much, Christian.

[@wappkid]

Great video. Thx for breaking it down.

[@matttittle7788]

God, Wyoming is beautiful!!!

[@TheSandkastenverbot]

The Altra Superior 4.5 are my absolute favorites! I've wasted too much money buying shoes that don't support a forefoot strike

[@jschwartzlow]

One of the best explanations of what to look for in a shoe that I have seen. Thank you for real experience and real content.

[@SteveSavageAguaspan]

Great video, thanks.

[@stefanfeldmeier1134]

Hi Eric vom Germany! Really enjoy your Videos and advices. I am going to run the Trans Alpine Run in 2021, which is a 7 Stage Race in the Alps. Can you please tell us your opinon regarding the sizes I Love my terraultra g260 in a UK 8,5 which is a 42,4. this is also my Standard Salomon size. But when I testet the Kaptiva and the feline up pro i have to size up a Full size - otherwise my Toes gets hurt in the Front. Thank you! Stefan

[@BornToRunCoach]

Hello from Wyoming. Great to hear from you and I am jealous of the Trans Alpine Race. What a great course! Keep us posted on how your training is going and what shoe you plan to use. I also had to size up a FULL size for Dynafit and half a size in the Kaptiva. Also, be on the lookout for a new Dynafit shoe this Winter/Spring. You will probably be able to get it soon in Europe. It is called the Dynafit DNA Alpine. Very light, 6mm drop for mountain running. I have not tried it yet, but looks interesting. Thanks for watching and thanks for your comment.

[@TrailrunnerTroy]

Just coming off a 100-miler and appreciate your perspective. The winner of the race (lots of roots, mud and - surprisingly for this Coloradan - hills in Central Louisiana - wore cross-country racing flats! That’s the kind of foot strength to which we all aspire. I had used the Merrell Long Sky successfully in a technical 100 k in Colorado last September. In retrospect that might have been a better choice than my trusty Hoka Evo Mafate 2s; they were just fine but really too much shoe for this last race. I used to swear by those Hokas, but listened to you discuss foot strengthening - and applying those exercises you teach for doing so - seems to be pushing me away from the pillowy goodness of my not-so-distant past. What’s next? A 100 miler in late March that’s a mix of asphalt and gravel. I may even go Newton for that one.

[@BornToRunCoach]

Great post and thanks for sharing. What race are you doing in March? Cant wait to hear what shoe you chose. The Inov8 TerraUltra might be something to look at for that mixed terrain.

[@TrailrunnerTroy]

@@BornToRunCoach thank you. Let me think on that. I like the G 270 very much but, because of the major right Achilles’ tendon replacement surgery I had in ‘17, the zero drop really aggravates my left Achilles, which already is overworked because of the comparatively weaker right tendon. (Hey, I’m not supposed to be able to run at all ;-) If Inov8 made that same shoe with, say, a 4-mm drop I’d be ok. Maybe a different insole? Newtons seem to work well on the road for me and I ran a 1:26 half marathon road race last Spring at age 56 in the Distance Elites. The race is the Prairie Spirit Ultra in Kansas - rails-to-trails out and back. Looking for a PR having had my share lately of rugged alpine and high desert.

[@robertburpee9473]

Hi Eric, your detailed video comparing different shoe types and their comparative strengths and weaknesses while paring this with foot your strength as the foundation of your shoe choice was incredibly well done and informative, thank you for taking the time to put this together. About 2 months ago I bought a pair of INOV8 Trailroc 285 with an 18 mm stack height and 6mm drop, my first ever pair of INOV8 shoes and I absolutely love them. They give me protection I need without being too stiff and rigid while allowing me to still feel the ground. I run on a lot of hard sun baked ground that is covered with gravel and small rock that absolutely destroy shoes and I've run just under 600 km (375 miles) in them and you can only now just start to see any wear. My previous 2 pairs of shoes were the Solomon Speedcross 3 and they were both destroyed in just on 3 months and 4 months respectively with the outer soul in places being completely worn away as was much of the mid soul. I have also found the INOV8 Trailroc 285 great on bitumen road and concrete footpaths. Have you ever used them?