frees CAN be used for everyday training runs and long runs. how do i know? i use them. from a medical/anatomic standpoint, barefoot is good for your feet, legs, back etc. barefoot training is good also, but frees offer you some protection from rocks etc. can you just go out and run a long distance your first time using these shoes??? NOOOOOO. Your feet have to get used to them, and you have to strengthen all of your foot muscles first. this also goes for other natural movement minimalist type kicks including lunaracers. I used to run in structure triax, and asics kayanos, BOTH with arch supports due to my flat feet (overpronate) and i would also get knee pain. i started off with the free 5.0 v1, and whoa, no pain in my arches, no knee pain. i also have had the asics gel kinsei 1 and haven't had any issues either and can wear them without insoles/ orthotics. when i first began to use the frees, i could only go up to 5 miles before my feet would start hurting. my feet got used to them, and now i have been doing several half marathons a year for the last 3-4 years exclusively in my free 5.0s. after rupturing my achilles tendon and undergoing surgery, i only wore free 5.0v4 during the rehab stage, and still wear them mostly every day at work, and do all my training runs/races in them. (i train on concrete)
My wife also has had issues with finding the proper running shoes, and finally settled on free 5.0/3.0s over the last few years. she recently switched to lunarglides and loves them.
Frees go against the traditional view of what we need in a running shoe.... cushioning, stability, support etc. when i was going through medical school, when i was home on breaks, I used to work in an athletic shoe store which prided itself on fitting customers into the proper shoes, especially runners, we sold asics, nike, brooks, saucony, adidas, reebock, new balance etc so i know how much technology and support and cushioning are stressed. Even staff that work in running stores will advise against using frees for running, that maybe you can use them for lite training or post race, but not for actual long runs. the last half marathon i did was in huntington beach last month, and there was also a full marathon going on, and i was NOT the only participant wearing some loud color free 5.0v4s there. even saw some barefoot runners too. remember there are barefoot runners from other countries that do marathons.
If you are looking the strengthen the muscles of your feet, and have a more natural stride, go with the frees. if you are looking for a more natural stride, but want some cushioning and want to stay with nike, try the lunaracers, glides etc. Vomeros are great too.
check out the asics kinsei 2 also, they adapt to your gait and stride, and have a more natural motion too them also.
Some may say i contradict myself because I love zoom air (see the zoom BB threads) and am a great proponent of it especially for basketball shoes, but for running in my situation with my overpronation, frees (5.0) are the best shoes i have ever owned for running. ( i have had air max, asics, etc). for me, less is more. ok, end of sermon.
PS NIKE, if you are reading this, PLEASE RETRO THE FREE TRAINER 5.0 v1's. I LOVE THOSE SHOES!!!!
