Minimalist Bloggers vs the World

I enjoy a good footwear discussion. It's quite entertaining to read all the stuff out there especially when it comes to Natural Running. Below is the short list:

1. Runblogger

2. Zero Drop

3. Barefoot Ted


I highly suggest you read what they have to say. It's best to be fully informed on all things running shoes if you care to talk about it.

Today I'm going to speak to the Runblogger and his recent post.  I clearly can't go toe to toe with a college professor. I'd have my lunch handed to me in some kind of peer reviewed research study. But I will go after him on the practical matter of running shoes.

"Sure, ASICS makes racing flats that are similar to many minimalist shoes, but good luck to the recreational runner who wants to find a pair to try on and doesn’t have access to a specialty running store. It’s pretty darn unlikely that you’ll find the Piranha or Hyperspeed at your local Foot Locker or Dick’s Sporting Goods. Until recently, the average runner has had little choice but to go with the 12mm lift, heel striking model. Thankfully, progressive companies like Saucony, Merrell, Altra, Vibram, and New Balance are bringing alternative options to the running masses."


Asics makes performance running shoes. The fact they are similar to minimalist shoes doesn't matter. What matters is that they work for runners who run fast. You are right you won't find them at Foot Locker or DSG.  They simply can't turn "racing" flats fast enough.   Running shoes have been the hot trend for years and now the low profile shoes are driving the trend a trend these retailers can turn fast. This has nothing to do with recreational runners and everything to do with what people wear. The recreational runner would be best served going to a full service running running retailer (Note take a look at the Top 50 Running Retailers for a start) to receive good sound advice on buying the best shoe for their running style. If that happens to be one of your favorite Low drop running shoes great. 


"Based on this comment, ASICS appears pretty content to avoid following its major competitors (e.g., Saucony, New Balance, Nike and soon Brooks) into the minimalist fray. To be honest, I don’t really care if they do – there are plenty of options out there nowadays from other companies, and it’s ASICS loss if the movement continues forward and they lose out on a growing sector of the running shoe market (according to Leisure Trends Group, minimalist models made up 39% of all trail shoes sold in April 2011 – they accounted for only 3% in 2010)."


You of all people runblogger should know to qualify your sources. Do you know how Leisure Trends does their research? You are quoting something that we in the shoe business know just a bit about. As I mentioned before, running shoes have been hot for a number of years. The new low profile running shoes are taking market share from all athletic shoes. But it's important to know Leisure Trends doesn't care if you are a runner or not. They are only counting shoe sales. Since we all know that most shoes are not sold for the purpose of running we know that the majority of the low profile shoes you are so excited about never see a piece of dirt and never hit the road running. That's the beauty of the running shoe business. You can build something that is so relavent to the consumer today that they buy it to wear all day. Today at the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon there were a number of barefoot runners, a number of runners in 5 Fingers and lots of runners in racing/lightweight trainers. But where did I see the largest market share of 5 Fingers today. Not in the marathon but at Whole Foods on folks who haven't run a step in the last 10 years. 


"How do you know which category you belong to? What you’ll find next are instructions on how to determine your arch type based on the “wet footprint test.” Once you determine your arch type, you can translate it into a pronation category and choose a shoe from one of three categories: high arch gets cushioning, medium arch gets structure cushioning, low arch gets maximum support. These are basically different words for neutral, stability, and motion control. Since we’re in the business of asking for peer reviewed, published evidence, I’d ask what the evidence for using arch height to choose a shoe might be?"


I'm going to tell you that peer review studies aren't needed here. I suggest you head to Europe for a start. Virtually every running store on that side of the Atlantic uses a mirror box to start the qualification standard. What does that mirror box do? Shows the foot especially the arch under weight.  The last thing you want to do is tell a retailer in Germany that what he's been doing for 20 years is full of shit. He'll stuff your peer review up....you know where.  I also give you Road Runner Sports the largest running retailer in the world. For the first 20 years of the company all the running shoe sales were done over the phone or on the internet. We set the bar for how running shoes were sold through the mail. Although it's not even close to perfect the wet foot test was the only thing we had to describe why you may be different as a runner. The results were staggering. Double digit growth over and over and over again. Is that because we put people in the wrong shoes? We probably did sometimes. But I know for a fact we were more right than wrong. You don't build a business like that being wrong. 


Finally, instead of railing against Simon why don't you walk up and shake his hand. You'll find that you probably have more in common than you think and for sure you'll find him to be one of the brightest minds to work in the world of running shoes.